1919 - Boat House, Social Center of Early Days, Still Center
of Many Activities of Society
On a Sunday afternoon in the early spring of 1877 several young
blades of the town were whilling away the pleasant hours in the
lobby of the old Capital Hotel, the scene at that time of many
of Little Rock’s brilliant social gatherings.
As more of the town’s young male gentry strolled in, perhaps for
a gentlemanly drink or two, the young fellows fell to talking
about their mutual interests, and someone suggested, “Let’s
start a club of our own.”
And that was the beginning of the Boathouse, more formally known
as the Little Rock Athletic Association, which for more than a
half century has been the center around which much of the
activities of the society set has revolved.
The club was organized shortly after the Sunday afternoon
gathering, in a store operated by Berney and Mazwell, in the
Capital Hotel building.
Forty Charter Members
The first frame clubhouse constructed on the south bank of the
Arkansas river at the foot of Main street was was burned by a
fire which swept a large part of Little Rock in the eighties,
but the present building just west of the south approach of the
Main street bridge on about the same location as the first was
erected immediately after the fire.
Forty young men were charter members.
The membership was increased to 100 shortly before the turn of
the century. This was raised to 150 in 1902, 200 in 1909, to 250
in 1916, and the present membership is not limited in number.
Of the 30 original life members, which included descendants of
many pioneer Little Rock families, none are now living.
In its early days, the swift racing sculls of the Little Rock
Boathouse were known as the fastest in the Mississippi Valley,
and the crews competed successfully with rival aggregation from
the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
In 1892, turtle neck sweaters, briar pipes, virility and
football were all the go, so the Boathouse men organized a
football team under direction of H.W. Hennigin and this husky
football eleven met many of the best teams of the South.
Among the rugged footballers of the nineties playing for the
glory of the L.R.A.A. were Mr. Hennigin, Lucien Farrell, Gus
Remmel, Charles Baltzell, George Lowry, Forrest Croxon, W.G.
Hutton, John County, Angelo Marre, F.P. Wells, F. Bay and Arthur
Counts.
Entertained Debutantes
A writer in a special “Boathouse” log section of the Arkansas
Democrat of April 14, 1917, said in regard to social activities
of the club:
“Second to athletics are social features of the club, the most
attractive of which is the dancing. From the beginning the
Boathouse has been the favorite of Little Rock’s younger society
set. Its annual cotillion, given in honor of the debutantes of
the season, has for many years been an institution. Many of
Little Rock’s matrons who made their bow to society in the
Boathouse ballroom have attended the debuts of their daughters
in the same place.”
To illustrate the high plane of Boathouse Society this
chronicler of 1917 continued: “The Boathouse has never allowed
intoxicants to be used or sold on the premises, and the rule
against drinking is enforced rigidly.”
During the World war and shortly after the article from which
the above was taken was printed, the Boathouse was leased by the
United States government to house officers and men stationed at
Little Rock for training.
From that time until the end of war the clubhouse was filled
with uniformed young men awaiting orders to go overseas to fight
for their country.
Of interest is the fact that Henry (“Hy”) Nelson, the clubs
faithful negro porter and custodian of other matters, became a
military man when the government took over the clubhouse. The
athletic association’s contract with the government specified
that “Hy” should be retained as club custodian.
Accordingly, “Hy” was made a sergeant in the Quartermaster
Corps. He has an unbroken record of 25 years’ service with the
Boathouse.
Many well-known athletes of nation-wide fame have appeared at
the Boathouse.
Chief of these was former heavy-weight champion of the world,
Bob Fitzsimmons, who, while stopping in Little Rock on the way
to Reno, Nevvda to fight James J. Corbett, was persuaded to go
four rounds in an exhibition with Mr. Hennigin, Little Rock’s
champ of those days.
Mr. Hennigin stayed the four rounds, and all the boys got a huge
kick out of the show.
First Officers
The club’s first president was Creed T. Walker, and the first
secretary was J. Smith Pomeroy. In 1893, Dr. J.W. Beidleman was
president and the association was reorganized.
On the board of directors of 1893 were J.A. Fones, G.N. Peay,
W.G. Hall, W.H. Ragland, G.H. Van Etten, M.C. Marshall, George
E. Dodge, Oscar Davis, H.P. Johnson, and R.B. Courtney.
After the World war a $7,500 swimming pool was constructed on
the west side of the clubhouse. During the 1927 flood, engineers
said the concrete swimming pool was all that held the clubhouse
to the bank of the river after water rose three feet on the
first floor.
For years regattas have been held each Labor Day with rival
crews racing from the Baring Cross bridge to the Main street
bridge.
The bottom of the swimming pool was replaced a few weeks ago.
The pool opened June 1 and will remain open until this year’s
regatta.
A new covered shed for motor boats was constructed last spring.
Several canoes, rowboats, outboard motorboats, sailboats, and
motor launches are used by Boathouse members each summer.
Dances are held throughout the year with the annual cotillion
the highlight of the winter social season in Little Rock.
Officers of the athletic association this year are: John Hollis,
Jr., president; William Powell, vice-president; C.T. Wells,
captain; and J.F. (“Bucky”) Geister Jr., secretary. A board of
directors governs activities of the association.
