The Mentor Harbor Yacht Club was originally incorporated on July 9, 1928, and although the harbor has not yet become “an American Venice” as advertising and promotional literature for the development thought it might, the club itself has grown almost continuously since that time. The old Mentor Harbor Company became insolvent by May of 1934, and liens were attached on all its property by the principal contractor. Through the following years, however, S.L. Mather allowed the club members to use the clubhouse without charge.
It was against this background that the club grew. By 1935 there were 200 members and a fleet of 90 boats. In 1936 the organization was re-incorporated as the Mentor Harbor Yachting Club, then boasting 140 boats, power and sail.
In 1944 the harbor was improved by the placement of a barge breakwater at one side of the channel in order to break waves entering the channel and reduce the surge of water inside the harbor. In the following year, a large electric “A” frame crane, with a lifting capacity of 35 tons, was erected north of the clubhouse. This steel structure was a major part of the boatyard scene until its purpose was superseded by our modern travel lift. The A-frame was removed in 2001.
The Quonset hut was constructed during the winter of 1949-50 by Harold Seymour, a member who was having a 40-foot yawl built at the club.
The severe winter of 1951-52 required harbor improvements for a section of the channel wall which was undermined and broken through by the lake. In 1952 the Board of Directors set up a program of permanent improvements and authorized the issuance of $100,000 of bonds. With the proceeds it was possible to rebuild the east break wall, install new steel docks, make improvements to the clubhouse and provide a new water supply system, develop a picnic area, add to the skeet facilities, create a children’s play yard, and make numerous improvements to the grounds.
The Club’s facilities expanded rapidly in the years of 1960 through 1980. Some of these facilities included the swimming pool an locker building (1961), enlargement of the Clubhouse to include a new reception area, enclose the porch which is now “trophy row,” building of the cantilevered bar overlooking the lake, channel and breaches, a snack bar at water level, the harbor master’s building, and the new T docks (1968); the T docks for the East Beach, a new gate and fence at the front entrance (1971), the assumption of the operation of the boat yard, purchase of a 20-ton travel lift, the tennis courts (1972); a new large mast shed (1973); the purchase of the floating cutter-head dredge with proceeds from loans by members (1975), shelter and showers on the East Beach (1976); and the completion of 16 new docks on the East Beach and fire fighting system on the main docks (1980).
In 1980, both harbor and clubhouse capital improvements were started. These included sea wall repairs to the harbor entrance and inside harbor walls, the upgrading of Crows Nest and Wet Hens sailing fleets and renovation of the Boat Room to the Spinnaker Room, being used for club and private parties and also meetings.
In 1982, to combat the surge problem we had in the harbor, the Board of Directors approved spending $200,000 to install weir walls (groins) in the channel. A total of 14 weirs were installed which are working well. In addition to the weirs we also reconstructed the gas dock walls and walks.
Major improvements for 1983 included complete remodeling of the reception area, dining and living rooms. The club offices were completely reconstructed and remodeled.
At age 22 our swimming pool needed a major face lift. As a result, in 1984, it was completely renovated with two new filtering systems.
During 1985 and 1986 shoreline erosion protection was installed at the East Beach and boat docks were elevated due to high water. House improvements included new air conditioning and heating for the bar and a new club sound system donated from the proceeds of “The Dry Rot Revue.”
By 1989, the main dock bulkhead, now over 60 years old, had deteriorated to the point where it had to be replaced. Construction of a new steel and cement wall was started at the end of 1989 and completed in May of 1990 at a cost of $445,000 – the largest single project ever undertaken at Mentor Harbor Yachting Club to date. The planting of new trees and upgrading of dock lighting along the wall greatly enhanced the appearance of the area.
