During the war years, the squadrons ran schools to train men for navel merchant marines, and armed guard services, and they practiced naval maneuvers by flag signals.

Following World War 1, interest in the work of USPS fell off. By 1935, there were only 14 or 15 squadrons in existence with about 700 members. The Detroit Power Squadron was kept alive primarily by two of its original members, R.S. Gehlert,Sr., the last duly elected commander, and R.S. Gehlert, his son, secretary of the original squadron.

In 1935, a gentleman by the name of William K. Anderson, came on the Detroit scene. A number of Richardson cruisers were being purchased from a Leonard Thompson. When Anderson discovered how little use was being made of boats in this area, he agreed to organize and guide cruises to various points in Canada and the United States. It soon became apparent there was an almost total lack of piloting skill and navigational knowledge in the area.

Between Leonard Thompson and William Anderson, classes were given in the back room of Thompson's boat business, Soon the facility became too small and the classes were moved to the Detroit Yacht club. The club has been the home of Detroit Power Squadron ever since.

Anderson was helpful in organizing many squadrons around the Great Lakes Area. He had attended the Inter-Lake Yachting Association meeting at Toledo (OH) to explain the work and purposes of the Power Squadrons as carried on in Detroit. He agreed to help establish squadrons at any port on the Lakes by furnishing courses, materials, instructors and holding of final examinations.

Nothing was available from USPS that was usable on the Great Lakes or Western Rivers for a piloting course or as aids to instructors. These materials were written, mimeographed and distributed from Detroit.

In 1937, three members of the fairly new Windsor Yacht Club (Canada) were invited by Anderson to attend classes at D.Y.C. They were Fred Dane, George Ruel and G. William Bowman. The course was then known as Junior Piloting. They all passed.

The Canadian Power Squadron was organized in the spring of 1938 with G. William Bowman as first commander. He also taught a Junior Piloting class that year at Windsor Yacht Club as well as attending Advanced Piloting class at D.Y.C. with the same two classmates as before.

During the early expansion on the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes inter-squadron conference and rendezvous was originated. There was no district organization in the USPS at the time. These conferences became the pattern for district and national conferences now used throughout USPS.

Our own District 9 was organized in 1940, and many of the early meetings (conferences) were held at D.Y.C.

The largest expansion of squadrons was accomplished in the course of three years, and Detroit would take credit for a very large part of this.

Detroit grew over the years to a membership of 1150 by 1966. As the suburbs developed, many members moved away from Detroit and formed new squadrons closer to their homes.

Detroit truly is the grandfather of many squadrons, and if it were not for its many dedicated members, we would not be celebrating our 85th anniversary this year.

Leonard H. Thompson received his 50 year Award in 1986 and died at the age of 100 in 1993.

William K. Anderson became Chief Commander of USPS in 1941 and died in 1967. There has been one other Chief Commander from Detroit Power Squadron. He was P/C/C Richard S Weber, N and served in 1962-63, and died October 9,1994 having earned 53 Merit Marks.