Toledo Yacht Club

The Toledo Yacht Club is the 11th oldest yacht club in the United States; it was founded on August 14th, 1865; however, during this time the club was known as the Toledo Boat Club. The first home of the club was on Elm Street, next to the Maumee River. The first official clubhouse was constructed in 1878, and the name Toledo Yacht Club was first used. Multiple Toledo Boating organizations existed during this early period in 1896 the Toledo Yacht Club merged with the Ohio Yacht Club to form the Toledo Yachting Association. The Toledo Yachting association acquired the land that the club still stands on today in 1898. The original lease was for 25 years. The association agreed to erect a clubhouse worth not less than five thousand dollars and to improve permanently, reclaim, beautify and construct waterways upon the leased land. In 1901 the club changed its name back to the Toledo Yacht Club. 

          The original Toledo Yacht Club headquarters was constructed around 1906. This original headquarters was in colonial style; however, on February 5th, 1906, the building burnt to the ground. The building that still stands today as the home of the Toledo Yacht Club was designed in 1907-1908 by Toledo Architect A. Burnside Sturges. The building was designed in a “Venetian Renaissance” style the primary building material was steel and concrete; this is due to the loss of four previous clubhouses being lost to fire. 

          The Toledo Yacht Club is home to two historic events in the yachting world. Both the Presidents Cup and the Mills Trophy both originate at the Toledo Yacht Club. The Mills Trophy originated with Commodore Merrill Mills from Detroit, Michigan. Mills launched to first race in 1907 with the trophy being a sterling silver punch bowl donated by Mills. The race was held every year until 1917, when the death of a popular sailor and World War 1 caused the event to be discontinued. The race was re-established in 1995, in its first year back the race brought a crowd of 161 yachts and has continued to be a popular race in the great lakes area. The Presidents Cup was established by President William Howard Taft, in 1909. The President gifted a silver cup as the trophy in order to encourage sailing on the great lakes. This race is also still annually run. 

TOLEDO YACHT CLUB, http://www.associatedyachtclubs.com. Accessed December 2nd 2019. http://www.associatedyachtclubs.com/History/Toledo%20Yacht%20Club%20History.htm.

Ligibel, Ted . Toledo Yacht Club . National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form . Published December 12th 1976. National Register of Historic Places .

The Toledo Yacht Club, https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/. August 12th 2012. Accessed December 2nd 2019. https://www.greatlakesscuttlebutt.com/news/featured-yacht-club/the-toledo-yacht-club/.