The Orion Rowing Association, the pioneer boat club of Jersey City,
was organized in August, 1872, and Judge J. H. Lippincott was its
first president. The first club rooms were on the southwest corner of
Newark and Baldwin avenues, those formerly occupied by the Hudson City
Free Library. The first boat house was a fat factory on the meadows, a
quarter of a mile from the Hackensack River, but the enthusiasm of the
members was so great that they carried their four-oared barge to and
from the river until they were able to secure better quarters. Through
Mr. Levering's efforts Gill Ward, one of the famous Ward brothers, at
one time champion oarsmen of the world, coached the Orions in the fall
of 1872, and again for several weeks in the following year. In October,
1876, the Orions united with the Hudson Athletic Club, which had been
organized by Messrs. H. and C. Hoe, C. Rooney, F. Hill and W. H. Kuran,
and was henceforth known as the Orion Rowing and Athletic Association.
They then made their headquarters in the Beach block, opposite the
Court House, where they fitted up a fine gymnasium, with an instructor
from New York. These gymnasium privileges were extended to a junior
class.
For many years their receptions were social events and largely attended
by prominent people. Exhibitions were held every spring and autumn for
many years at the West Side Driving Park. The inaugural exhibition, on
Decoration Day, 1877, was a red letter day in athletic circles. There
was the largest list of athletic games on record up to that date, with
entries from most of the prominent amateur athletes in all lines,
from all over the United States. Stages were run from the ferries and
the elevator to the West Side Driving Park. From that date the Orions
gained and held a most desirable reputation for honor, fairness and
excellence in athletics, and became a very popular club. Referees and
judges, on field days, from the Orion members were selected by athletic
clubs, not only in New Jersey, but in other states. There are treasured
in the club annals a long list of names of athletes who won on numerous
fields honor and medals. In this same year, 1877, the club built their
boat-house on the Hackensack River, at the foot of St. Paul's avenue,
twenty by one hundred and twenty-five feet. On the lower floor the
association boats are kept, eleven in number--a barge, two four-oared
gigs, two pair-oared gigs, three single gigs, and one four-oared shell.
The second floor is used for lockers and dressing rooms, with tables
and chairs. A two-storied veranda extends across the building, and
the upper one makes a delightful lounging place for the club members.
From the flagstaff floats the blue and orange flag of the Orions. The
boat-house occupies an exceptionally fine location. It fronts upon deep
water, with a straightaway course of a mile and a half, where a dozen
boats could be sent off abreast. At no time are they prevented from
rowing by rough waters or heavy winds. Every year the Orions hold a
regatta, but no entries are allowed from other clubs. Competition and
honors are strictly among themselves. There is a long list of efficient
oarsmen whose names are honored in the club. Orions are famous for
their jolly good times; with all of their hard work, they have kept up
the social side of club life, and are deservedly popular. The Hudson
Boat Club, which was organized about the same time as the Orions, had
its headquarters at Communipaw Cove, near the Sugar House, and was
at one time a very popular club. The Jersey City Athletic Club has a
boat-house, and rowing forms a part of the athletic exercises.