On behalf of the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Barge, I want to thank you for your interest in our rowing club. We have a proud heritage, dating back to 1861, as indicated in our logo. In the many years between 1861 and 1955, Pennsylvania Barge was recognized as a powerhouse of rowing, winning 14 National Championships, and medalling in 5 events at Olympic Games between 1920 and 1932.
Throughout the 19th and and first half of the 20th century , Pennsylvania Barge members were a vibrant and successful group of Philadelphians, champions on the river as well as in the civic life of the city.
The great American realist painter,Thomas Eakins, was a longtime member of Pennsylvania Barge Club. Among his many accomplishments as an artist, Eakins completed all the paintings in his “Rowing Period”, from 1871 to 1873, while an active member of the Club. Perhaps the most famous work of this period is the painting entitled, “The Champion Single Sculls”, depicting his close friend, Max Schmitt, and Eakins himself in a self portrait in the background. Eakins’ last painting of this period depicts Pennsylvania Barge Club members rowing a four-oared shell on the Schuylkill River.
Among the many prominent Club members was Ernest H. Bayer, who was a formidable competitor, and long-time executive with the first national organizing body of the sport, the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen. He was inducted twice into the National Rowing Hall of Fame. He was the father of the “First Family” of American rowing; his spouse, Ernestine, and his daughter, Ernestine Jr, were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Due to the casualties of the Second World War and Korean War, the Club lost many members, and found it impossible to sustain itself as a membership rowing club. So, in 1955, the Club resigned from the Schuylkill Navy, and re-established itself as the “Schuylkill Navy Association”, dedicated to preserving the boathouse, and providing office space for organizing bodies of American rowing. These included the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen (later re-named US Rowing), the Schoolboy Rowing Association (later re-named the Scholastic Rowing Association), the Schuylkill Navy, the Dad Vail Regatta Organization, the Middle States Regatta Association, the Masters Rowing Association, and the Pennsylvania Center for Adaptive Sports. Also in 1955, the Association leased the boat bays to Drexel University, to house their collegiate rowing program.
In 1960, the Schuylkill Navy Association was re-named “US Rowing Society”, reflecting its importance to the national organizing bodies of the sport. When the NAAO was re-named “US Rowing”, the US Rowing Society was re-named “Philadelphia Rowing Society”, to avoid confusion with the national organizing body.
In 2008, the Trustees of the Philadelphia Rowing Society re-named the organization as the original Pennsylvania Barge Club, commenced rowing operations again, and re-joined the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia.
Today, the Club serves as the home base for the La Salle College High School rowing team, and a select group of masters rowers. The Club continues to provide office space for the Schuylkill Navy and the Pennsylvania Center for Adaptive Sports.
From 2010 to 2013, extensive interior and exterior renovations were completed, and electrical/plumbing/HVAC systems were brought up to modern standards.
Today, PBC members enjoy top-notch rowing shells and equipment, as well as beautifully appointed public and private spaces, including the Board Room, Trophy Room, Main Reception Room, Bathrooms, Kitchen and a brand new Pub. There are new Men’s and Women’s Locker Rooms on the completely renovated third floor. The Club has two large-screen TV’s on the second floor, and Wi-Fi throughout. Throughout the Club are displayed many historical objects and artifacts that celebrate Philadelphia rowing history.
Club members compete at all the Philadelphia regattas, as well as The Head of the Charles, USRA Masters Nationals and FISA World Masters.
PBC also sponsors the annual Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta, which is held on the last regatta weekend of November, and features events for junior, collegiate and master men and women.
We hope you will share with us the glory of the past and the enthusiasm for the future as we rebuild Pennsylvania Barge Club towards a promising and vibrant future.
Michael J. Ragan
