“Premiere club for Masters rowing” is quite a boast. Fairmount Rowing Association lives up to its reputation. Founded in 1877 Fairmount Rowing Association has a rich history. It stands proudly at #2 Boathouse Row. This location is part of Philadelphia’s historic Boathouse Row.
Fairmount Rowing Association initially drew in blue-collar youths. They lived in the Fairmount neighborhood. It took decades for the club to gain recognition. In 1916 Fairmount finally joined the Schuylkill Navy.
The boathouse itself has an interesting past. The structure we see now resulted from a 1945 expansion. This project merged #3 Boathouse Row into Fairmount Rowing Association’s building. Before Fairmount the Pacific Barge Club occupied this site.
The Pacific Barge Club built a stone cottage-style boathouse in 1860. Half was for Pacific Barge Club. The other half was rented to the Philadelphia Boat Club. Fairmount Rowing Association purchased #2 Boathouse Row and Pacific Barge Club’s equipment in 1881.
In 1904 Fairmount Rowing demolished the original stone building. Walter Smedley designed a new structure. He was a founder of the T-Square Club. The new building was a Georgian Revival style brick structure. Smedley specialized in colonial revival residences.
Let’s talk about the Camilla Boat Club and Quaker City Barge Club. Camilla Boat Club was a founding member of the Schuylkill Navy. However disagreements led to its disbandment. In 1858 remnants of Camilla formed Quaker City Barge Club.
Quaker City Barge Club bought #3 Boathouse Row from the Pacific Barge Club by 1866. Quaker City raced the first four-oared boat with coxswain. The Quaker City Barge Club declined in the 1880s. It became defunct in the 1940s.
In 1945 Fairmount Rowing Association acquired Quaker City Barge Club’s equipment. They also absorbed its boathouse. This became the northern half of Fairmount Rowing’s boathouse.
Fairmount Rowing Association has seen many changes. It has evolved over the years. Fairmount remains a vital part of Philadelphia’s rowing community. It continues to foster excellence in rowing at all levels. The Fairmount Rowing Association is also home to the rowing programs of La Salle University Episcopal Academy and Wharton Crew.
Fairmount Rowing Association was formed on September 17 1877. A small group of workingmen from the Fairmount neighborhood established it. The members purchased a six-oared barge. They stored it in an old building at Brown and 17th Streets. To row the members carried the boat six blocks to the river. The club was incorporated on October 23 1880. On July 1 1881 Fairmount found a permanent home at #2 Boathouse Row. They purchased the building and equipment from Pacific Barge Club.
Fairmount joined the Schuylkill Navy in 1916. It boasts a storied history of successful competition. The club won numerous national championships in sweeps and sculls at every level. These levels are junior intermediate senior elite and masters.
A pair of Fairmount members were recognized as the 2007 Masters Athletes of the Year. This happened during the Schuylkill Navy’s 150th Anniversary celebration. Red and Sara Sargent are accomplished scullers.
Fairmount tore down its half of the house in 1904. It replaced it with a two and a half story Flemish bond brick structure. This structure was in the Georgian Revival style. Walter Smedley a founder of the T-Square Club designed it. He was best known for residential architecture. The club was finally allowed to join the Schuylkill Navy in 1916. This happened after decades of rejections.
Fairmount Rowing Association purchased the entirety of Quaker City Barge Club in June of 1945. This included their house and equipment. A second story was added above the original 1858 structure. It connected the second floors of the 1875 and 1904 buildings. A new primary entrance was placed on the east side of the building. The new second-story room became the bar room. The exterior of the house has not changed substantially since then. However some interior renovations have been made.