JIBBOOM CLUB #1 at the Custom House Maritime Museum in New London
“The Jibboom Club No.1 of New London was founded in the 1870’s by officers of whaling vessels. The Club took its name from the jibboom which was “a spar extending the bowsprit, and taking a forward stay and the foot of the forward jib,” (Visual Encyclopedia of Nautical Terms under Sail, Basil W. Bathe, et al, Section 01.01, 1879, Crown Publishers Inc., NY).
In the early days there was no formal organization; the men met in the rigging loft of John Haynes on the New London waterfront. On January 29, 1891 the Club was formally organized, and a Commodore, Captain and a full complement of officers were elected. Membership included deep water sailors and those they chose to invite. An 1891 roster of members shows Captains and seamen from the area around New London and as far away as New York and Maine.”
