Cobwebs and Rafters
and the
Theatrical Colony Yacht Club
(aka - T.C.Y.C)
In August of 1920 word passed that the Actors' Colony would erect a new club house. No one knew that before long, the colony would be on its last legs, as many members would move on to pursue their careers.
Despite the movement of a few name performers, the colony was as strong as ever. While Joe and Myra Keaton's oldest child, Buster, had "Busted into Movies" in 1917, a new organization had taken root in Bluffton. The Theatrical Colony Yacht Club, formed in 1916, held a first anniversary celebration on July 11, 1917, "at their club house on Muskegon Lake in the shade of old Pigeon Hill." Races for speed boats, launches, out-board motor boats and all other pleasure boats was a feature of the club's first Regatta. A total of four silver cups were awarded to the winners of races..
The Actors' Colony had been established in 1907. Soon after, the group built their first clubhouse, Cobwebs and Rafters on the shore of Muskegon Lake on land donated to the group by founding member Lew Earle.
Renown for it unfinished state, the structure had serve the group well. A huge crowd enjoyed the 1917 event, and the Regatta was expanded to a four-day gathering for 1918. Seven races were planned for each day, with a long course of about 15 miles and a shore course of six miles. Events kicked off at 2:00 p.m.
The 1919 Regatta was greeted with ideal weather, enthusiastic crowds and strong rivalries between racers. Races on Muskegon took entrants to Bear Lake channel on the north side, across to the paper mill and back to Bluffton creating excellent views of the triangle course for spectators. Muskegon's Beerman's Band provided the soundtrack, while Captain William Gatfield's Life Guard crew (today recognized as the Coast Guard) staged a drill for the benefit of the crowd. In a few short month, the group's skills would be put to the test when the Crosby steamer Muskegon crashed into the pier early one October morning during a a Milwaukee to Muskegon crossing.
The decision was made to build a handsome clubhouse that would rival anything else found on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
In July of 1917, the Club held their first found success in the movies, the colony had Success