In the spring and summer of 1977, the man who would become the first president of the ACBS Niagara Frontier Chapter, Tom Frauenheim, began speaking with wooden boat owners he knew about their interest in forming a boat club. Inspired by the chartering of the Antique & Classic Boat Society in Lake George, New York in 1975, Tom and his brother, Joe, took their recently restored 1910 Minette, Rollo, for a ride up Ellicott Creek where they tied up at Jack Barron’s boathouse. Talking with Jack, his wife Jean, and their daughter, Michelle, who owned a 17-foot Chris Craft Sportsman, they soon were discussing a location to hold a rendezvous for old “Woodie” owners.
In October of 1977, an open house “Get Together” was hosted at Jafco Marina. It was here that Jack and Lida Frauenheim’s 1929 Chris-Craft Commuter, Lida Mar, made her debut. Many who would become members of a newly formed Niagara Frontier chapter also brought their woodies out from Winter storage to display alongside new Chris-Crafts. A banjo band, old time piano, hot dogs, popcorn, 10 cent beers, straw hats and striped shirts set the theme for a cold and wet evening. Needless to say, a good time was had by all! This was the first Rendezvous of old woodies and the beginning of ACBS on the Niagara Frontier.
In March of 1978, the group held its first display of woodies at the Marine Trade Association’s boat show at the Niagara Falls Convention Center. Ray Nelson of ACBS flew in and together with Tom Frauenheim showed slides of woodies and newly formed ACBS chapters. After handing out 3 x 5 cards, Ray asked if the group would be interested in holding a boat show. Eighty-eight signed! Before Ray left town, a meeting was held at Jafco Marina to hear more about ACBS, which in 1978 had a membership of 375.
Spreading the Word
Chuck Clemons and Joe Glaser, who wrote for the Tonawanda News & The Buffalo Courier Express, respectively, deserve much credit for spreading the news of ACBS. In the spring of 1978, a meeting about the formation of a local chapter was held in the Buffalo Launch Club with Ray and Jean Nelson of ACBS in attendance. All those in the overflowing room voted to form the Niagara Frontier Chapter of ACBS (NFC) and our Charter was approved.
On July 16, 1978, the NFC planning board met to organize our first boat show. Those in attendance: Tom Frauenheim, Joe Geary, Don Richter, Chuck Clemons, Jim Holler, John Du- bickas, Jim McKlosky, Rich DeGlopper, Al Damiani, Kathy Morales, Jack and Jean Barron and Michelle Barron Telash. Little did this group realize what was to follow in the years ahead!
The Chapter’s first show, “THE WAY IT WAS”, took place on Sunday, September 10, 1978, in the basin of the Buffalo Launch Club on its 75th Anniversary. With a budget of $75.00, our first President, Tom Frauenheim and his planning board held a very successful judged show with 58 boats registered and Chuck Clemons acting as chief judge and announcer. Chuck’s saying at the time still holds for the chapter today: “Give ‘em a little bit of action, a lot of fun and don’t make it too serious”.
The Chapter’s first workshop was held inside Jafco Marina’s service building on January 27, 1979. There were four presenters and plenty of coffee and donuts for a fee of $1.00. The chapter currently hold two workshops per year.
Marie and Joe Frauenheim were the first editors of our newsletter which was initially published four times a year. Tom became editor when his brother and family moved to Seattle. Jack Barron, Donna Feathers, Jack Weibel, Naomi Grunditsch, Paul Reid and Ed Dominiak are also past editors and have all done a tremendous job. The newsletter continues with a goal to publish three editions per year.
A Commitment to Community Service
The NFC began participating in community service events in 1979 with the “Salute to Waterfront and Erie Barge Canal Cruises”. Since then we have participated in many other events including The Friendship Festival, Canal Fest of the Tonawandas, World University Game ’93, Historical Society, and The Buffalo State Boat Building Program.
Since the Chapter’s formation, space has been provided for members to work on their boat restorations at Buffalo Merchandise Distribution Center on Great Arrow Avenue, NFTA Terminal on Fuhrmann Boulevard, Rich Marine on Dann Street and currently at the Buffalo Maritime Center on Arthur Street, all in the City of Buffalo.
ACBS Leadership
Two Niagara Frontier members moved through the ranks of ACBS to serve as president: John E. (Jack) Barron (1986-87) and John Howard (2017) and Sharon Dickinson served on the ACBS Board of Directors for several years.
Although ACBS and its chapters began as organizations for wooden boat owners, as ACBS has embraced owners of classic boats constructed of all materials (fiberglass, aluminum, steel, etc.), so too has Niagara Frontier chapter. This friendly and welcoming group is a thriving participant in both the greater Buffalo area events and in the boating community write large.