The first meetings were held at Behan’s Restaurant, at the foot of 126th Street in College Point, until a fire in the spring of 1952 destroyed these premises members were not discouraged and continued to pursue their activities at the “5 Corners” restaurant located at 127th Street and 14th Avenue in College Point. In May 1953, the site owned by William Needham of College Point was leased. This handful of dedicated members proceeded to install tracks and equipment for the storage, haulage and launching of their boats. Whatever was left by the fire, served as the Clubhouse. This was a shack on the edge of the property. A membership drive during 1953 resulted in a large increase of members and fleet In March of 1954, a barge was purchased from the Steinway Yacht Club, Inc. and served as a floating Club located at the foot of 126th Street in College Point, New York. The construction of the hall, bar-room, kitchen and other facilities within the barge represented a major activity, all the more important because it has been in a large part performed not by paid labor, but by the efforts of the members themselves.