Benscreek Canoe Club
A canoe and kayak club in Johnstown, PA. A 501(c)3 charitable organization promoting paddling and conservation on local rivers.
Contact BCC
Phone: (814) 266-4276
Email: Rick Bloom rickpb@aol.com
Club History
This is a history of the Benscreek Canoe Club, one of the oldest canoe clubs in America. This might be the only “official history” of the club. The Benscreek Canoe Club started in 1970 at the Ideal Fire Hall in Benscreek, PA, and it is still going strong after 53 years, with planned paddling events throughout the year. Founding members of the Club included: Don Unger, Amos Cates, Bill Lehman, Bob Benson, Buck Sleek and Barry Springer, James Mayer, and Roger Hager. With the exception of Mayer and Hager (who were Johnstown Attorneys), the others lived along the Somerset Pike, in Conemaugh Twp., and were involved in the local Boy Scout Troop. The Benscreek Canoe Race was usually held on the third weekend in March, rain, snow or shine, when we had enough runoff. The race began at the former Stardust Hotel, continued under the Covered Bridge to the finish line at the Fun City Bridge (later known as Ideal Park and now Kidsport). What made the race exciting was, just around the first bend, paddlers had to duck under a rusty, steel cable that stretched across the stream. The cable always claimed a few hats and when the water was high, one had to really get flat in the canoe to avoid disaster.
The first ”official” race was held on March 12, 1971 and was won by Linda Unger, (daughter of Don and Twila), and Bill Lehman, (Don’s best friend). 22 boats were entered into the initial race. Several of the canoes for the first Canoe Race were handmade. Amos Cates made the first canoe, then Don Unger built his own with his brother in law, Bob Benson. (Amos’ son,
Bill was the first fool to let me drive his old car when I was 14.) They cut down their own trees and had the ribs and planking custom cut by Harold Shaffer at his sawmill near Thomas Mills. Don told me that they used white ash for the ribs (3/16”) and boiled them to bend them into shape. He said, ”the white ash was so soft that you could bend it into a circle.” The planking was red oak, cut to 7/8.” Then they would coat it with fiberglass. Don said that he burned his canoe in 1999 because, “I couldn’t patch it anymore.” Don and Twila Unger attended our Christmas Party in 2005 and he died a few weeks later.
When I returned to Johnstown in 1975, I was delighted to discover a group of crazy guys who raced canoes very close to our farmhouse. I ran in the Benscreek canoe race several times, when it was organized by Mike Ringler, after the older guys retired. Bruce Penrod joined the Club in 1980. Bruce and Mike became the second wave of leaders, as the club continued to grow. They coordinated many events and Bruce has a detailed history of the club during those years. Unlike the early 1970’s, this group became more a “drinking club with a paddling problem.” The meetings at the Old Pub in Westmont were fun. Other names involved in early activities include: Gary Johnson, Stan Dunn, Fred Thomas, Dan Stiffler
The Club’s biggest event, The Stonycreek Rendezvous, which annually draws hundreds of paddlers from ten states to Greenhouse Park in Tire Hill, is a direct descendant of the Benscreek Canoe Race. The first Stonycreek River Race was held on March 15, 1981. In 1990 with Bruce’s leadership the BCC sponsored the Whitewater Open Canoe Nationals on the Yough. Bruce wrote article appearing in the Tribune Democrat advocating water releases from the Que. And he wrote an article for the American Whitewater Journal that gave a detailed account of the Stony and other area creeks.
Steve Podratsky led the third wave of leaders in the Club. Other playing important roles were: Mark Antonic, Ben Faas, Mike Burk and Clark Fisher. The Stonycreek Rendezvous became the gold standard event and the club sold T-shirts saying “Release the Dam Water.” As increasing numbers of persons visualized these dam releases other likeminded progressives like Skip Picking, Mike Quinn and Mike Kane, were able to work together to gain funding to make the releases happen, to install a new release valve on the Quemahoning Dam. Around the same time, the former Yoder’s Greenhouse 11 acre Greenhouse Park, transitioned into Greenhouse Park, owned by Conemaugh Township, as members of the Canoe Club built the first pavilion in the park. The inertia kept moving in the right direction, as an opportunity arose to create a Whitewater Park adjacent to Greenhouse park on the Stonycreek River, one of only a handful of such parks in the USA. Boulders from the local landfill (Waste Management) were delivered to the park and anchored to
the stream bed to turn a flatwater section of the river, into a pleasurable whitewater playground for boaters. Members of the Benscreek Canoe Club visualized the dam releases first, and then it materialized. The Stonycreek is now a first class whitewater playground for boaters.
The club now has another wave of leaders led by Mike Cook.
Board Members
Mike Cook
President
Michael.Cook@inshoretech.com
(814) 244-2180
Steve Podratsky
Vice President
spodratsky@aol.com
Richard Bloom
Secretary
rickpb@aol.com
Janice Eastbourn-Bloom
Treasurer
janicee@aol.com
Club News
View the latest updates, event announcements, and inspiring stories showcasing our members’ passion for kayaking and canoeing. Join us as we navigate through adventures both on and off the water, fostering friendships and a shared love for the great outdoors!