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The Shaker Lakes Canoe Club was founded in 1907 as a private social and recreational club on the shores of Lower Lake. Early members contributed $800 towards a clubhouse built by the City of Cleveland Parks Department in 1914. The City also operated a refreshment stand and boathouse across the water on the North Park Boulevard side of the lake.
The Shaker Lakes Canoe Club was founded in 1907 as a private social and recreational club on the shores of Lower Lake. Early members contributed $800 towards a clubhouse built by the City of Cleveland Parks Department in 1914. The City also operated a refreshment stand and boathouse across the water on the North Park Boulevard side of the lake.
Most of the founding members were single, blue-collar workers from Cleveland, but as they married and raised children, the club became a family gathering place. The club was inexpensive but exclusive, only allowing membership to white men. The Canoe Club became known for its annual regattas and summer moonlight carnivals featuring Japanese lanterns and decorated canoes.
Most of the founding members were single, blue-collar workers from Cleveland, but as they married and raised children, the club became a family gathering place. The club was inexpensive but exclusive, only allowing membership to white men. The Canoe Club became known for its annual regattas and summer moonlight carnivals featuring Japanese lanterns and decorated canoes.
Membership peaked in the 1920s but began to decline by the 1960s. The Canoe Club eventually dissolved in the early 1970s. After much consideration, both the Cleveland and Shaker Heights Landmark Commissions rejected the Canoe Club as a possible landmark, and the structure was razed in 1976. All that remains today is the concrete foundation of the clubhouse.
Membership peaked in the 1920s but began to decline by the 1960s. The Canoe Club eventually dissolved in the early 1970s. After much consideration, both the Cleveland and Shaker Heights Landmark Commissions rejected the Canoe Club as a possible landmark, and the structure was razed in 1976. All that remains today is the concrete foundation of the clubhouse.
This documentary, created by Shaker Historical Society Board Member Hazel Smith, features oral histories with Jack Ulman, the last commodore of the Shaker Lakes Canoe Club. Jack was interviewed by Cleveland Voices on July 11, 2006 and the Shaker Historical Society on April 30, 2021.
Albert Pickford Scrapbook, 1920s
Albert Pickford Scrapbook, 1920s
Albert Pickford worked for Union Trust in the Estates Trust Department. Pickford was a member and officer of the Shaker Lakes Canoe Club in the 1920s and served as Commodore in 1924-1925. Our archives hold his scrapbook that holds photographs, mementos, and newspaper clippings related to Canoe Club activities during the 1920s. Many of the photographs and ephemera below were stored in the album.
Gift of Albert Pickford’s Family, 082.1907 Sha
The Canoe Club participated in many activities throughout the year in addition to regattas and moonlight carnivals. Members held an annual banquet with music, reminiscing, and the presentation of the W. C. Sell trophy (shown below). Commodore Albert Pickford presided over the 1926 ceremony as seen in this Annual Banquet program (left). The 1927 season program (right) notes additional activities in Shaker Heights and beyond, including holiday parties, Brecksville hikes, and cruises in Akron and Canada.
From the Albert Pickford Scrapbook, Gift of Albert Pickford's Family, 082.1907 Sha
Painting of the Shaker Lakes Canoe Club, signed "Withington" // Gift of Jack Ulman, 2021.3.1
Shaker Lakes Canoe Club, 1920s
Interior of the Canoe Club, 1920s
"Old Timer's Night" // From the Albert Pickford Scrapbook
Valentine's Party // From the Albert Pickford Scrapbook
"Shaker Lake Is Cool Oasis for Canoe Set," The Plain Dealer, July 14, 1966
Canoe Club "initiation" // From the Albert Pickford Scrapbook
Canoeists on Lower Lake // Collection of John Barber and Peggy Spaeth
Members of the Shaker Lakes Canoe Club, 1923 // From the Albert Pickford Scrapbook
This Plain Dealer article (right) was published September 26, 1915, shortly after the completion of the official Canoe Club building. Ethel J. Fisher, the “champion girl canoeist of New York,” remarks in the article, “Why shouldn’t girls canoe! As sport it’s simply wonderful; as exercise it surpasses anything else ever tried or heard of to bring back color to the cheeks, sparkle in the eye and–my, oh my, what an appetite!”
Canoeing was becoming a more popular recreational activity and sport for women around this time, and many women canoed on Lower Lake and participated in club activities despite being denied membership.
Cleveland Metropolitan Yachting Association Official Medal, 1926
Cleveland Metropolitan Yachting Association Official Medal, 1926
Many Shaker Lakes Canoe Club members participated in neighboring boating and yachting associations. Albert Pickford was an officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan Yachting Association and served as an official in CMYA regattas and races.
From the Albert Pickford Scrapbook, Gift of Albert Pickford’s Family, 082.1907 Sha
10th Annual Regatta Point Cup, 1919
10th Annual Regatta Point Cup, 1919
The Shaker Lakes Canoe Club was famous for its regattas with both traditional races and novelty competitions, such as canoe tilting and submarining. B.O. Moore won this trophy in the 10th annual regatta at Lower Shaker Lake in 1919. This was the first regatta in over a year as club members returned from military and naval service during World War I.
Unknown Donor, 1900.280.1.1
W. C. Sell Trophy, 1925
W. C. Sell Trophy, 1925
The W. C. Sell trophy, named after Canoe Club co-founder and first Commodore William C. Sell, was designed by Cleveland sculptor Walter A. Sinz. Sinz attended and taught at the Cleveland School of Art and was renowned for his bronze and medal work. He is most famous for designing the Thompson Trophy that was awarded in the National Air Races in the 1930s. The figure in the canoe was modeled after John Ulman, a former club commodore and the donor’s father.
Gift of Jack Ulman, 2021.3.2
These wooden canoe dock rollers from the Shaker Lakes Canoe Club were used to avoid damage while moving a boat on or off the dock. // Gift of Tori Mills, 2017.10.1-.2
In addition to traditional regattas, the Canoe Club held novelty regattas with a variety of boating races and competitions. Seven types of competitions were identified in the Albert Pickford scrapbook, including tilting, submarine, single, bouncing, front end, front man, and two man races. Perhaps the most unusual was the submarine race in which canoers had to paddle their boats filled with water.
In addition to traditional regattas, the Canoe Club held novelty regattas with a variety of boating races and competitions. Seven types of competitions were identified in the Albert Pickford scrapbook, including tilting, submarine, single, bouncing, front end, front man, and two man races. Perhaps the most unusual was the submarine race in which canoers had to paddle their boats filled with water.
From the Albert Pickford Scrapbook, Gift of Albert Pickford's Family, 082 1907 SHA
Submarine
Tilting
Single
Bouncing
Front End
Front Man
Two Man
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