City Island by Fay Schmahl Jordaens (c)2005

My father [Fred Schmahl] first came to City Island [1926] when he mustered out of the Coast Guard and began working on his 120 foot gasoline barge situated between City Island and Hart Island, straight out from Jacobs famous Shipyard.

City Island shipyards [Jacobs, Nevins and Minnefords] were famous for building large, quality gas guzzler yachts and there was a need for a floating gasoline barge that was able to cater to such a clientele. At that time the 'yards' boasted of having naval architects in their employ along with a large crew, including master carpenters. The Cordes brothers were master carpenters who lived on the Island during that era. They were brothers to Adelaide Cordes Cronk, of Island Diner fame. Architect Henry Devereau, whom our family knew, worked for Henry Sayers, owner of Minnefords. Because so many craftsmen lived on the Island, we met them and socially interacted. Some of the workmanship of the carpenters can still be seen in the older homes on City Island where carpenters plied their trade during their 'off' season. This fact was made known to me by the Landmarking Commision when they surveyed City Island for potential landmarking, and earmarked Belden Street's waterfront Hinck home.

Magnificent yachts of that era came to City Island yards for their repairs and other yachting services. Some were built on the Island. One hundred foot yachts and larger, fueled up at Fred Schmahl's gas barge. Aside from a Captain, these yachts carried full crews, and were owned by the Vanderbilt's, Whitney's and Payne's. Slowly these yachts became obsolete after the crash of 1929 and the yachting industry on City Island began to wither. There was a resurgence of boating needs when the government issued contracts to all of the viable City Island yards during the Second World War [ 1941]. After the war ended in 1945, huge yacht building for private owners was replaced with small boat building [and repairs] and this impacted negatively on the shipyards. Yards began to close. The shipyards that changed course when glass boats became fashionable, survived.

City Island changed, but my father was there during the time of City Island's Golden Age of Yachting. One of dad's brothers, Rudy Schmahl is pictured here crewing on the "Thalia,"[the name is inscribed on his shirt]. Rudy said that while working in winter and cruising in warm climates, they wore dark colors and changed to white dress for formal occasions. The Thalia was owned by a grain dealer from Chicago. Rudy also sailed on the "Rene"... a yacht owned by the CEO of General Motors [1932]. His last crewing job was on the "Vagabondia," a 150 foot yacht with a crew of 35, owned by the Mellon family. For five winters, Rudy secured crewing jobs on these yachts because he worked on the gasoline barge and had access to the ship's Captain. It was a shame when the era of big yachting ended.