Artie Seifert and the Bronxonia Yacht Club
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A BTR PRIL 12-18, 2019 57
Artie Seifert was a good
friend and would often stop
by my house, always unannounced,
and sometimes by
himself and sometimes with
a friend. Sometimes he’d stay
for coffee and at other times he
might opt to eat with us. Occasionally
he wanted to drag me
along to some adventure.
He had a nice framed photo
of the Bronxonia Yacht Club
taken at Higgs Beach on Clason
Point where the club started.
The photograph showed the
Third Annual Clambake and
he wanted to donate it to the
Bronxonia and wanted me to
come along just in case I wanted
to nose around down there.
The old building on Ellsworth
Avenue is rather historic itself
as it started life as one of the
army barracks on Rodman’s
Neck during World War I.
Higgs Beach and Campground
was established around
1898 when Thomas Higgs and
his son, William, took over
management circa 1914. The
camping site soon became a
bungalow colony and after
President Warren Harding
passed away in 1923, the area
was renamed Harding Park
in his honor. The waterfront
community is home to about
240 families and is still a fascinating
place to visit. Although
Arthur did not live in Harding
Park, it was one of his favorite
places and he spent a lot of time
there and always enjoyed touring
guests around the area.
William Higgs didn’t take
over management of the campgrounds
until later, but it was
he who helped establish the
Bronxonia Yacht Club circa
1910. He also drew up the rules
and regulations of the club,
served as their manager and
provided their fi rst meeting
place.
As more of Bill Higgs time
had to be spent on his bungalow
colony at Harding Park, it
was decided to fi nd a new location
for the Bronxonia Yacht
Club and the old barracks on
Ellsworth Avenue that a Mr.
Anderson had purchased and
installed off Weir Creek in
Eastchester Bay seemed ideal.
The new club purchased the
barracks and property, elected
Nick Holstrom as the fi rst Commodore
and the club now had a
permanent home of their own.
They built themselves a
dock which was battered and
damaged by subsequent storms
but always rebuilt just a little
bit stronger. The clubhouse,
too, had to be improved but if
you look closely, you can still
see some of the original work
therein.
The men of the Bronxonia
were workmen who knew their
trades and managed to create
a great club at a great location.
It is conveniently located
just across the street from Weir
Creek Veteran’s Bicentennial
Memorial Park’s back entrance
on Ellsworth Avenue in
Throggs Neck.
(Above, right) William H. Higgs provided the fi rst meeting site and drew
up the rules and regulations of the Bronxonia Yacht Club when it was established
at Higgs Beach on Clason Point. It is now located on Ellsworth
Avenue in Throggs Neck.
(Below) Arthur Seifert provided this photograph of the third annual
clambake of the Bronxonia Yacht Club when it was located at Higgs Beach
on Clason Point. He indicated that the picture was taken circa 1915.
REPRINTED FROM 7-22-2010
BRONX SCENE