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A Short History 
of 
White Rock Lake
and the
Corinthian Sailing Club

This history has been compiled starting with a piece by Gay Means and information collected for the CSC 60th Anniversary celebration in 1999. It was expanded using information collected for the White Rock Lake Museum in 2004 and updated as new information becomes available.

The history is divided into the following sections to make it easier to read and navigate. To get going, click the small photos or use the navigation links below. If you click on the photos in each of the articles, you will be able to see an enlarged photo. There is also a list of source material and some additional goodies relating to this history listed at the bottom of this page.



White Rock Lake Dam ConstructionThe Dam
White Rock Creek was dammed to form  White Rock Lake in 1911 to provide water for Dallas following a severe drought. The lake was out in the country and a weekend retreat.
Dallas Sailing Club was the first saling club on the lakeEarly Sailing Clubs
The sailing clubs had their origins in the boathouses of the 20s.  The first sailboat race was held in 1926.  The lake's first sailing club, the Dallas Sailing Club, was formed in 1928. There have been four sailing clubs on the lake.
White Rock Lake Park is formedPark Develops in 30s
White Rock Lake Park developed along with the sailing clubs in the 20s and 30s.  Many of the parks structures, as we know them today, were constructed by the CCC during the great depression.
CSC  formation  and the 1930s, 40s and 50sCSC Formed
The Corinthian Sailing Club was formed in 1939. World War II slowed, but  did not stop sailing on the lake.  The lake dried up for a couple of years during the droughts in the 1950s.
Lake was dredged four timesDredging
White Rock Lake collects silt from the creeks feeding the lake.  The lake has been dredged four times.
CSC History - 1960sCSC in the 1960s
The 1960s brought mass production, fiberglass boats to the lake permanently changing the sailing landscape.  The club expanded rapidly though the decade to become the largest sailing club on White Rock.
CSC History - 1970sCSC in the 1970s
The 1970s were an active time at CSC with sailing participation at an all time high. There were problems with unruly visitors in the park that lead to partitioning Lawther Drive.
CSC History - 1980sCSC in the 1980s
The facilities were again expanded in the 1980s and the new clubhouse constructed. CSC received the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy for outstanding race management.
CSC History - PresentCSC in the 1990s
CSC celebrated its 60th anniversary in 1999. The White Rock Sailing Club was disbanded and Snipe Fleet 1 moved to CSC. The Women's Racing Program and CSC Special Olympics participation began. The North Gazebo and North-South walkway were rebuilt.
CSC in the 2000s
The Leukemia Cup Centerboard Regatta was all started. The Laser Fleet moved to the club. CSC went online with e-mail communications and this website. A long term plan to renovate the club facilities was initiated.
WRL Centennial LogoCSC - The Present
That brings us to the present. White Rock Lake celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2011. CSC hosted US SAILINGs Championship of Champions that same year. The club started accepting credit cards for payment of dues, etc.

SourcesThese are the sources from which this history was drawn.

Other Goodies:



A Note from the Webmaster

We would like to build on this foundation.  If you have memories or photos that you would like to share with CSC club members, we will try to work them into this history. Some items that would help round out this portrait of our club include - Why CSC was formed?  Information and photos of CSC in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. A list of members in the early 1940s. A list of CSC sailor's successes such as Kelly's Championship of Champions and Mallory wins would be interesting.  There are surely many more stories that members would enjoy. 

Please take the time to jot down your thoughts, if you would like to help capture our past, and send them to the webmaster or call Frank Richards, 214-827-4434.