History
The Buffalo Tennis & Squash Club (or T&S as it is fondly called) is one example of the sporting associations formed by leading businessmen, lawyers, doctors, and merchants of Buffalo, many of whom lived in the stately mansions on and around Delaware Avenue, near the present location of the Club. In the late 19th century, Buffalo was one of America’s wealthiest cities, and its citizens came together to create a number of clubs and organizations, many of which still thrive today.
The T&S was founded in 1915 by some of Buffalo’s most prominent citizens. Included were Edward H. Butler, owner and publisher of The Buffalo Evening News; William J. Donovan (WW I hero, and first commander of the Office of Strategic Services, founded during WWII and forerunner of the CIA); Lyman Bass (Grover Cleveland’s former law partner); Langdon Albright (son of J.J. Albright, donor to the Albright Art Gallery, now the Albright-Knox Art Gallery); Norman Clement; Conger, Bradley and Charles Goodyear; James McMitchell; Dexter Rumsey; William W. Smith; Daniel Streeter; Elbridge Spaulding; Ward Wickwire; and Dr. Park Wright. Arnold B. Watson, who was also instrumental in forming the Club, was the first President from 1915 to 1923.
The building, designed and built by the firm of Lansing, Bley and Lyman, was completed in 1916 in one of the city’s most notable early-twentieth century residential districts, now known as the Elmwood Village. Originally, the Club contained six singles squash courts, one indoor tennis court, men’s and women’s locker rooms on the ground floor, three clubrooms (one for men, one for women and one combined) and a kitchen on the second floor (between the men’s and women’s club rooms).
The inclusion of a women’s locker room was a very advanced idea in an era when many men’s clubs did not allow women to enter most portions of their buildings. Never-the-less, women were not admitted as members until 1952 when Mary "Bibber" Truscott (later Jebb), a single woman, was admitted to membership. In 1989, Barb McQueeney became the first woman Board member. In 2000, the Club elected its first woman President, Sally Russell.
The building has undergone several structural alterations, although when viewed from Elmwood Avenue, the exterior appearance looks much the same as it did in 1916. In 1926, Bley & Lyman widened each of the singles squash courts to comply with new national court standard dimensions. They did this by moving successive interior walls eastward, and included the construction of new foundations for the eastern exterior walls of the wings, which now project beyond the central section by about two feet towards Elmwood Avenue. (This change is hardly noticeable from the street.). In 1929, two doubles squash courts were added on the west side of the building. With these improvements, the T&S became a major venue for local, national, and international squash competitions.
The lone indoor tennis court fell far short of satisfying the playing needs of the tennis members. Intense demand for the court during prime-time hours occasionally led to acrimony, and there was very little time available for the tennis pro to give lessons. Although the club enjoyed a long waiting list for membership in the post WW II years, the Board of Governors was reluctant to increase the maximum number of members while there was only one indoor tennis court. In 1966, Club President Ernie Montgomery oversaw the purchase of an adjacent property on Summer Street. Peter Castle, architect and grandson of Duane Lyman, was asked to design a second indoor tennis court, which was completed in 1968.
From 1923 to 1975, the Club hosted major amateur tennis tournaments (before the Open era of professional tennis). Included were top world players such as Bill Tilden (1923, 1925 and 1928 winner); champion Lindley Murray (who later married a woman from the Hooker family and became President of Hooker Chemical Company in Niagara Falls); Frank Shields (grandfather of actress Brooke Shields); Don McNeil (who married into the local Hyde family of the Mentholatum Company); Billy Talbert; Vic Seixas; Tony Trabert; Dick Savitt; and Dennis Ralston. When professional tennis became popular in the mid1970s, the Club could not compete against the large awards given in the new, nationally televised tournaments. However, the Club continues to host tournaments for its members and their guests on a regular basis.
In 1994 and 1998, three international singles squash courts, an expanded men’s locker room and a much-needed exercise room were created from five squash courts to comply with new international squash court standard dimensions. The Club now has 3 singles and 2 doubles squash courts.
In 2009 the building was included on the National Register of Historic Places.
The T&S was founded in 1915 by some of Buffalo’s most prominent citizens. Included were Edward H. Butler, owner and publisher of The Buffalo Evening News; William J. Donovan (WW I hero, and first commander of the Office of Strategic Services, founded during WWII and forerunner of the CIA); Lyman Bass (Grover Cleveland’s former law partner); Langdon Albright (son of J.J. Albright, donor to the Albright Art Gallery, now the Albright-Knox Art Gallery); Norman Clement; Conger, Bradley and Charles Goodyear; James McMitchell; Dexter Rumsey; William W. Smith; Daniel Streeter; Elbridge Spaulding; Ward Wickwire; and Dr. Park Wright. Arnold B. Watson, who was also instrumental in forming the Club, was the first President from 1915 to 1923.
The building, designed and built by the firm of Lansing, Bley and Lyman, was completed in 1916 in one of the city’s most notable early-twentieth century residential districts, now known as the Elmwood Village. Originally, the Club contained six singles squash courts, one indoor tennis court, men’s and women’s locker rooms on the ground floor, three clubrooms (one for men, one for women and one combined) and a kitchen on the second floor (between the men’s and women’s club rooms).
The inclusion of a women’s locker room was a very advanced idea in an era when many men’s clubs did not allow women to enter most portions of their buildings. Never-the-less, women were not admitted as members until 1952 when Mary "Bibber" Truscott (later Jebb), a single woman, was admitted to membership. In 1989, Barb McQueeney became the first woman Board member. In 2000, the Club elected its first woman President, Sally Russell.
The building has undergone several structural alterations, although when viewed from Elmwood Avenue, the exterior appearance looks much the same as it did in 1916. In 1926, Bley & Lyman widened each of the singles squash courts to comply with new national court standard dimensions. They did this by moving successive interior walls eastward, and included the construction of new foundations for the eastern exterior walls of the wings, which now project beyond the central section by about two feet towards Elmwood Avenue. (This change is hardly noticeable from the street.). In 1929, two doubles squash courts were added on the west side of the building. With these improvements, the T&S became a major venue for local, national, and international squash competitions.
The lone indoor tennis court fell far short of satisfying the playing needs of the tennis members. Intense demand for the court during prime-time hours occasionally led to acrimony, and there was very little time available for the tennis pro to give lessons. Although the club enjoyed a long waiting list for membership in the post WW II years, the Board of Governors was reluctant to increase the maximum number of members while there was only one indoor tennis court. In 1966, Club President Ernie Montgomery oversaw the purchase of an adjacent property on Summer Street. Peter Castle, architect and grandson of Duane Lyman, was asked to design a second indoor tennis court, which was completed in 1968.
From 1923 to 1975, the Club hosted major amateur tennis tournaments (before the Open era of professional tennis). Included were top world players such as Bill Tilden (1923, 1925 and 1928 winner); champion Lindley Murray (who later married a woman from the Hooker family and became President of Hooker Chemical Company in Niagara Falls); Frank Shields (grandfather of actress Brooke Shields); Don McNeil (who married into the local Hyde family of the Mentholatum Company); Billy Talbert; Vic Seixas; Tony Trabert; Dick Savitt; and Dennis Ralston. When professional tennis became popular in the mid1970s, the Club could not compete against the large awards given in the new, nationally televised tournaments. However, the Club continues to host tournaments for its members and their guests on a regular basis.
In 1994 and 1998, three international singles squash courts, an expanded men’s locker room and a much-needed exercise room were created from five squash courts to comply with new international squash court standard dimensions. The Club now has 3 singles and 2 doubles squash courts.
In 2009 the building was included on the National Register of Historic Places.