"Scotty" Wilcox (Rear Commodore), John Buehler (also Commodore in 1956), August F. Much credit and appreciation must be given to the founding members during this early period: Jack Messmer (First Commodore, 1955), Clair E. During the next few months, this group of eager sailors met regularly to formulate a Constitution, By-Laws, Safety Rules, blueprints for the club house and plats for roads, docks, and other grounds improvements, as well as a lease with the Water Company. On November 26, 1954, Messmer gathered some of his sailing buddies at the Athenaeum in Downtown Indianapolis to form a sailing group. Up until 1954 Geist Reservoir was used by only a few fishermen. Immediately after the reservoir was completed, rules forbade swimming, boating and ice skating. Although controversial, the reservoir was completed in 1943. (The Club's annual Germantown Sprints commemorates this history). The purchases included the small village of Germantown, which today lies at the bottom of the reservoir. Geist had spent the 1920s and 1930s purchasing land in Fall Creek Valley to make room for a reservoir. Geist, a former owner of the Water Company. Geist Reservoir had been built in 1943 as a water source for the City of Indianapolis by damming Fall Creek. Jack Messmer, a local builder and visionary who had a love of sailing in his German blood, had discussed the possibility of organizing a sailing club on Geist Reservoir with his friend Howard "Scotty" Morse, President of the Indianapolis Water Company. The history of the Indianapolis Sailing Club dates back to 1954. ![]() By Club Historian - Andrea "Annie" Townsend
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