SAILING THROUGH HISTORY:
The Carter Lake Sailing Club
Jackie Gurley and Michael Gurley, Club Historians
In the weeks and months ahead, we will be transferring history from twenty years of Log articles to this web-based format. By providing an easy to access, comprehensive history of the Carter Lake Sailing Club, we hope to inform and celebrate the unique CLSC story, the vision and tenacity of Club founders, and the dedication and continued work of countless club members over the last six decades.
Introduction: The Commodore’s Box
Part 1: Rattlesnakes to Sailboats
We begin with what we know about the area called Rattlesnake Park, or Meadow Hollow, before the Carter Lake Reservoir was built.
Part 2: The Birth of a Sailing Club
Any retell of the early history of the Carter Lake Sailing Club, originally called the Denver Sailing Club, must rely on the handwritten words from Emmy Koehler, the first recording secretary. She details the development through a history she called the “First Seven Year Cycle of the Denver Sailing Club, Inc.” from before the first official meeting on August 20, 1953 to the end of 1960.
Part 3: The Clubhouse: Vision to Venue
The promise of a site for a clubhouse was an original incentive for a group of sailors from Denver, Colorado to make the drive north to the new Carter Lake Reservoir. A National Park Service drawing from 1959 shows the plan for six clubhouse sites west of the road, with Denver Sailing Club occupying Lot 1 and the other five from Lot 1 to the main road. It appears that only the Founders of the Denver Sailing Club pursued the vision of a club house as a place for to gather for potlucks, meetings and sailing camaraderie.
Part 4: The Waterfront: Moorings to Slips
How did the Club’s waterfront facilities evolve from the day-sailing recorded in September 1954, to the 50-slip configuration of 2020? From the archives of Club Logs and communications, a timeline of waterfront development can be followed.
Part 5: Awards and Trophies Through the Years
In the past, many trophies and awards have been donated, used, and sometimes lost to the Carter Lake Sailing Club. Recognizing deserving club members in racing as well as non-racing events honors contributions that sustain club spirit and facilities. While details on many trophies and awards are lost, history and LOG articles provide some details on Honorary Member Awards, Historical Trophies—1953 to 1970, and Perpetual Race Trophies—1970 to Present.