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Since the club had no building of its own in which to hold dances, dinners, or other celebrations, it was decided, over the strenuous objections of Commodore Moses W. Collyer, to erect a ballroom at the north end of the clubhouse. William Merritt was asked to draw up specifications. Commodore Collyer was inflexible in his opposition and refused to attend all meetings at which the building of the ballroom and the mortgage to pay for it were discussed. The ballroom was completed in 1925, and a mortgage of $1500 was placed with Edw. F. Maloney to pay for it. A photograph taken from the railroad shows the back of the ballroom to the right of the clubhouse (93F16). The mortgage was paid off in April, 1929.
Then, in 1928, the club decided to have a well driven to supply water to the clubhouse. Again, Commodore Collyer objected and went so far as to order the well drillers (Cross and Sons) off the grounds. However, the well was driven, and a supply of excellent water at the rate of three gallons a minute was obtained at a depth of 54 feet. Although Commodore Collyer insisted that it was river water and unfit to drink, analyses at the Veterans Hospital and in New York showed that the water was pure. In 1931 the water was again analyzed at the Veterans Hospital and was reported by the then Commodore, Dr. James E.Dedman, to be unusually pure.
It is ironical that, in 1998, when Rear Commodore (House) William Jones had the water tested, the report came back that the water was unfit for human consumption. The coliform bacteria count was too high. After several attempts to purge the well failed, the club purchased an ultraviolet purification system. This was installed in 1999. In order for the ultrviolet system to work properly, a filter also had to be installed to clarify the water. Perhaps, again, the water can be considered unusually pure.
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