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| Location | #7 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. |
|---|---|
| Home water | Schuylkill River |
| Established | 1851 |
| Navy admission | 1854 (founding member) |
Key people | |
| Membership | 250 active members[1] |
| Colors | Royal Blue and White |
| Affiliations | Chestnut Hill Academy, Springside School, University of Pennsylvania Alumni Rowing, and Head of the Schuylkill |
| Website | http://www.universitybarge.com |
University Barge Club of Philadelphia (also known as UBC)[2] is an amateur rowing club located at #7 in the historic Boathouse Row of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark.[3] The club's founding, in 1854, is considered the "dawn of organized athletics in the University of Pennsylvania."[4] Known as "the upper-class rowing club," UBC is a founder, and the most senior member, of the oldest amateur athletic governing body in the United States, the Schuylkill Navy.[5]
University Barge Club was founded in 1854 by ten members of the University of Pennsylvania's freshman class:[6] They first rowed out of a Schuylkill boathouse near the Fairmount Waterworks known simply as "Charlie's boathouse".[7] The club was officially formed when the founders purchased its first boat, the Hesperus, from Bachelors Barge Club.[8] Club members wore sailor uniforms from clothier Jacob Reed that were monogrammed with "U.B.C." on their hats and belts.[2] In 1855, members of the club, in conjunction with the Philadelphia Barge Club, built a one-story brick boathouse on rented land.[8] The club purchased a second boat, named Lucifer.[7] After 1860, both boats were moved to a space rented from the Philadelphia Skating Club, which is now the Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club.[9]
At first, membership was limited to students enrolled at Penn, but the club was not listed as a student organization of the university until 1867, when the University Barge Club won the Schuylkill Navy championship flag.[7] Membership was later opened to Penn alumni and certain non-alumni.[7]
Although the club was still affiliated with the university, it gradually began to cater more to non-students.[8] As the club's membership became dominated by Old Philadelphians[10] from the upper-class[5] aristocracy, student enthusiasm waned.[7]
In 1871, the Fairmount Park commission allowed the club to build its own boathouse on Boathouse Row.[11] In 1872, Penn students formed an alternative club, the College Boat Club, to cater to students and focus on preparing for intercollegiate competitions.[7]
In 1887, University Barge Club leased an additional upriver clubhouse for social functions called The Lilacs on the west bank of the Schuylkill.[5][10] Today, while many of the University Barge Club's members are University of Pennsylvania graduates, the club has no official affiliation with the university.[7]
University Barge Club is the sister club of Union Boat Club of Boston.[12] For more than 60 years, the two sister clubs have held an annual interclub "UBC" regatta.[12]
The boathouse, at #7-8 Boathouse Row, dates from 1871, and was greatly expanded in 1891.[13] Originally, University Barge Club only occupied #7, while Philadelphia Barge Club occupied #8. In 1932, University Barge Club acquired #8 when Philadelphia Barge Club ceased operations.[13]
