Club History
The past does not define us, but it is the reason we are where we are today. 

South Shore Boat Club originated on the south bank of the Illinois River. It was nothing more than a wooden plank walkway, located just downstream from the old Peru River bridge, across the channel from the present Red Door Inn and Putnam Street hill. The plan walkway, where they docked the boats, officially became the South Shore Boat Club on June 17, 1935 when they received a state charter. 

The founding officers were former Mayor Joe Lemler as Commodor, William Philips as Vice-Commodore, Henry Ostertag as Secretary and Otto Wibiralski as Treasurer. 

In April, 1937, the Club purchased a wooden barge 100 feet long and 30 feet wide to serve as its floating headquarters. Two months later a small cabin was erected on the barge. The old bridge with wooden cribbing provided fine fishing but its narrow channel for barge traffic cause wake damage to member’s boats.

By the end of World War II, the plank bridge was badly deteriorated. It was closed to foot and auto traffic in the late 1940’s. The center span, operated by ropes and a turning wheel on shore, was swung permanently open for barges. When the bridge closed, the Boat Club lost it’s easy access to the South Shore.

In spring, 1950, the old barge was pushed to a new location at the west end of Water Street by a Mertal Gravel Company towboat. That location remains the site of the Club today. But the name didn’t change, there was just a simple addition: South Shore Boat Club “On the North Shore.” The decision in 1950 to change the club’s location to new property purchased at the west end of Water Street enabled the Club to grow and prosper over the long term, but it didn’t solve all the problems.

The wooden barge was replaced by 1947 by a newer floating barge. Some improvements were made, the runway (ramp) was installed in 1953 and a gas dock was added in 1955.