WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Canoe Club was formed in May of 1905; and
WHEREAS, The Club operates out of an old mill house which dates from about 1750 located where the Wissahickon Creek meets the Schuylkill River; and
WHEREAS, The mill house which is owned by the Fairmount Park Commission was in great disrepair and was scheduled for demolition when the Canoe Club formed in 1905 and leased the building from the Park; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, the Canoe Club has taken great care to rehabilitate and maintain this historically certified building which is now the last remaining mill house on the Wissahickon Creek; and
WHEREAS, During the 1920’s and 1930’s, the Canoe Club produced many great canoe racing teams and some Olympians; and
WHEREAS, In the 1970’s, the club was a national leader in whitewater kayak racing with several national champions; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Canoe Club has more than 180 members of all ages ranging from recreational canoeists and kayakers to competitive racers; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the Philadelphia Canoe Club trains many individuals in kayaking, canoeing and water safety using all volunteer staff and certified instructors; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Philadelphia Canoe Club have been excellent stewards of the old mill house, have organized routine clean-ups of the Schulykill River, and have provided opportunities for hundreds of Philadelphians to learn and enjoy canoeing and kayaking; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and commend the Philadelphia Canoe Club on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia Canoe Club as a symbol of this legislative body’s congratulations and sincere appreciation for its many achievements.
End