NJ Monthly: Canoe Club Among Best in State

For the second year in a row, the was named runner-up in New Jersey Monthly magazine's best canoeing and kayaking. 

"We have a hidden gem here in town, and I'm glad it's getting recognized," said  Director Steven Robertazzi about the mention.

The century-old club has a storied history in Cranford, the Rahway River here a draw for many people across generations. However when it first opened shop, the Cranford Canoe Club was definitely not the only game in town.

A club with the name of Cranford Canoe Club was formed in 1908, but at the time was one of many similar clubs, both formal and informal. According to  curator Robert Fredlington, there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 canoe clubs in Cranford, up and down the Rahway River, between 1908 and 1930. Fredlington says boys would start clubs, perhaps build a building or a lean-to for a clubhouse, then lose interest, and the club would either die out or would be reinvigorated by one or two people that had the funds to do it.

It's difficult to estimate the exact number of clubs overall that appeared in Cranford, says Fredlington, because so many of the organizations were informal, just like-minded individuals with their own canoes. Some, like the Lobster House club, rented canoes, like today's business model. Fredlington says the Cranford Canoe Club was "the cream of the bunch," and moved into the current building, formerly owned by the Ulhigh Canoe Club, in 1934.

These days, visitors will be able to enjoy a day on the Rahway River between the third week in April and November 1, according to Circelli. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the club will be open seven days a week; before and after those dates, it will be operating on the weekends only. This year, the club will continue its Fourth of July tradition of canoe races, and look out for a Family Fun Day at about the same time.

The township has owned the Cranford Canoe Club since 1990 and Robertazzi's department is responsible for overseeing its operation. Since 2007 however the club has been run by Ralph Circelli. Circelli, a contractor by trade, is responsible for the renovations made to the Canoe Club's building in 2007, then applying to become the concessionaire when the previous manager's contract was up.

"I used to go there back in high school in the '70s, and was just looking for a fun thing to do," said Circelli. "I love to be around people, and as a general contractor, I don't get to do that as often as I'd like."

Circelli won the two-year contract in 2007; in 2009, the township opted to extend the contract another two years, and renewed it this year.

"Ralph's terrific," said Robertazzi. "He's the one that really took (the Canoe Club) to the next level."

Circelli said one of the main differences between himself and his predecessor is that he does not require reservations, which he says discourages walk-ins. He also plans to offer free lunch on certain days during the week in the summer, when he says that business is slow.