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Philadelphia Canoe Club

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Coordinates: 40°00′49″N 75°12′27″W / 40.013598°N 75.207506°W / 40.013598; -75.207506
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philadelphia Canoe Club
Formation1905 (1905)
Purposepromoting paddle sports
Location
  • 4900 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, United States
Membershipapprox. 250[1]
Commodore
Todd Zielinski (2025)
AffiliationsAmerican Canoe Association
Award(s)ACA Stroke of Achievement Award (2005, 2000)
Websitephilacanoe.org

The Philadelphia Canoe Club (PCC), founded in 1905, is one of the oldest paddling organizations in the United States. Headquartered in a 17th-century mill at the confluence of the Wissahickon Creek and Schuylkill River in Manayunk, Philadelphia, PCC counts among its members more than 200 canoeists, kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders. The nonprofit club offers classes in all these disciplines at a variety of levels and styles.

Activities

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PCC is a nonprofit organization with a mission of promoting recreational and competitive paddle sports by allowing more people to improve their skills and safety in paddling. All of the club's activities are open to members and nonmembers alike.[2][3][1]

PCC offers classes in paddling canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards in whitewater as well as flat and gently moving water.[1] The classes are taught by volunteers, and the club's training stresses technique and safety. The instructors are trained by the American Canoe Association (ACA) and certified in wilderness first aid.[4][2] The club's training program won recognition from the ACA, which awarded it its Stroke of Achievement Award for superior performance and program development in 2000 and 2005.[5] The Class II whitewater section of the Schuylkill between Flat Rock Dam and the club is used for whitewater training and practice.[6][7]

Members organize paddling trips, both official club trips that are advertised to the public, and unofficial pick-up trips.[3] In the winters, the club organizes pool sessions, where paddlers can practice rolling, with or without the help of an instructor.[2][3] Social events at the club include an annual open house, featuring a barbecue, music, boat rides, and a used boat and gear sale,[4][8] and an annual square dance and dinner around Thanksgiving.[9] The club partners with other organizations to clean up trash from Philadelphia's waterways.[10]

History

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The Robeson rolling mill in 1815

The mill building currently serving as the home of PCC was probably erected by 1690 as a grist mill. It was part of a complex of mills operated by Andrew Robeson, and later by his descendants. Around 1800 it was converted to a rolling mill and later was used to mill logwood for dyes. In the 1870s, Fairmount Park acquired all mills along the Wissahickon.[11] In 1876 the building was leased to the State in Schuylkill and served as its clubhouse until 1887. The State in Schuylkill abandoned their lease in 1902 after a flood inundated the building.[12] Since 1905 Fairmount Park has leased the building to the Canoe Club. The club pays nominal rent of $1 a year but is responsible for the maintenance of the historic building and grounds. Of the dozens of mills that were once in operation along Wissahickon Creek, the PCC clubhouse is the only one still standing.[4]

The clubhouse is full of markers of the club's long history: from the 34-foot war canoe hanging from the rafters, built in 1911 and which the club still paddles annually at its June meeting, to the high-water lines of various flood that inundated the building over the years, marked on the center pillar of the main room.[3] The focus of the club has shifted over the years to reflect members' interests, most notably, under the influence of Paul Liebman, who, in the 1970s revitalized the club's commitment to paddlesport education and instruction and initiated the club's involvement in whitewater paddling. In those days, with no commercial whitewater kayaks available, PCC members would build their own fiber glass boats from molds at the club.[3][8]

Prominent Members

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Olympians

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ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships medalists

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Gallagher, Amanda (2018-04-24). "Philadelphia Canoe Club welcomes enthusiasts, novices alike". The Times Herald. Archived from the original on 2025-04-04. Retrieved 2025-04-04.
  2. ^ a b c McDevitt, John (May 14, 2023). "'I never knew this was here': Philadelphia Canoe Club long on paddling knowledge, short on visibility". KYW. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Canoe Club's open house gives novices a shot on the water". WHYY. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on 18 Jun 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Pirro, J.F. (May 20, 2010). "The 105-year-old Philadelphia Canoe Club carries a boatload of great memories—some yet to come". Main Line Today. Archived from the original on Jun 19, 2025.
  5. ^ "Stroke of Achievement Award". American Canoe Association. Archived from the original on Apr 25, 2025.
  6. ^ "Schuylkill:Flat Rock Dam". American Whitewater. Archived from the original on 15 Jul 2025.
  7. ^ Barker, Jeremy (November 9, 2005). "Olson wants to build course, trails". Roxborough Review (The Times Herald). Archived from the original on July 16, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Philadelphia Canoe Club offers water-lovers a paddle and a place to grow". WHYY. July 12, 2012. Archived from the original on Dec 6, 2024.
  9. ^ "Time for the Turkey Trot". WHYY. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on Nov 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "RECAP: Manayunk Canal Cleanup 6.14.25". United By Blue. July 1, 2025. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "Robeson Rolling Mill" (PDF). Philadelphia Canoe Club. Archived (PDF) from the original on Mar 31, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Deserted Old Fish House" (PDF). Philadelphia Inquirer. Dec 8, 1902. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 Mar 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Clarence McNutt's profile at Sports Reference.com". Archived from the original on 18 Apr 2020.
  14. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Frank Krick". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2011-08-28.
  15. ^ Sports-reference.com profile
  16. ^ Sports-reference.com profile
  17. ^ Sports-reference.com profile
  18. ^ Ron Avery, Marion Ambros, ed. (2005). The Philadelphia Canoe Club 1905-2005: 100 years of paddle sports in Philly!. Philadelphia, Pa: Philadelphia Canoe Club. OCLC 61695209.
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Official website

40°00′49″N 75°12′27″W / 40.013598°N 75.207506°W / 40.013598; -75.207506

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