Much to my chagrin, I could not easily catch the canoe, and I had to increase my stroke rate to close the gap. In the meantime, the canoeist’s paddling remained steady and casual. Eventually I did catch the canoe, but I really wanted to know, “Who is this guy?”
That question led me to Alan Pierce, the commodore of the Dayton Canoe Club (DCC). The club is located in an unassuming building on the river near the corner of Riverside Drive and the Helena Street Bridge in Dayton. I am sure thousands of drivers pass by every day without noticing the structure, yet the inside of the club is an architectural jewel that includes a ballroom with hard maple floors and a vaulted ceiling of pine.
During a carry-out lunch Pierce described how DCC did not have an auspicious beginning. It was founded in 1912. In early 1913, the foundation was poured and some framing was up. Then in March, the Great Dayton Flood washed over the site. Like the City of Dayton, however, the building emerged from the mud better and stronger, and the club even left some of the river mud on the rafters as a memento.
Today, if you want to get out and enjoy our rivers, the DCC is one of the best bargains in town. The annual dues of $150 give a member access to a charming spot where one can watch the river flow by from the comfort of the club’s fireplace-lit lounge, or in nice weather arrange a picnic on the adjoining terrace. Members can rent the entire ballroom, including disco ball, for a mere $100. If a member does not own a canoe or kayak, one can be borrowed from the club. For the novice free training is available on how to handle a paddle. (Pierce told me I have been using the wrong technique for 60 years.) Own your own boat? Boat lockers are available for a pittance.
If one is up for more adventure than drifting in a canoe around Island Metro Park, the club organizes races and outings that include the spring Blue Heron Float on the Great Miami River from Sidney to Piqua, which includes a close look at a Great Blue Heron rookery. For baseball fans, there may be the option of canoeing down the river to a Dragon’s game. Ever imagine yourself hurtling along in an 11-person Indian war canoe? Members and nonmembers alike can don war paint and compete in the annual races in June or watch the action from the shore.
By the way, Pierce also revealed to me the identity of the speeding canoeist I had trouble catching. He was Bill Corrigan. My fragile ego was somewhat assuaged by the fact that Corrigan is a champion canoeist who can paddle a racing canoe weighing less than 20 pounds at speeds in excess of 6 miles per hour.
Want to learn more? The DCC's website is at www.daytoncanoeclub.org.
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