The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-20
RACQUET COURT CLUB HOUSE


DESCRIPTION or THE NEW EDHIcE-rs IN
TERNAL AREAScEMESr-ro DE OPENED TO.
DAY.
Peculiar among the buildings OF New York Is the one
recently completed AT Sixth avenue and Twenty sixth
street. II was designed and built Under the auspices
Of Racquet Court Club OF this city The house has
frontage OF 100 icet West Twenty sixth and
seventy Two feet Sixth avenue The building aud
its probable have puzzled all who were aware
OF the organ zation OF tho Racquet Court Club.
Early in 1873 number OF the prominent gentlemen in
this city organized the club and mado liberal subscrp-
tons toward the building Of club mousse. In May,
1875. work commenced on tho foundation, nut
much delay caused by meeting mass OF granite
feet below the surface and covering tho entire
site Steam rock-drills we're employed and tho
energy OF tho architect put to It's test One month
ago the Racquet Court Club commenced play IN their
alleys, and to-day they will formally receve their
invited guests One thousand invitations have been
sent out After the usual reception the guests viii
witLcss several match games OF IA quet and other
athletic sports The club Is composed OF $50 mem
hers and is limited 70 500 Tho entrance fec is $50.
and the annual dues the same amount Tho officers
dsn s' suyvcs"n Vice President,
Watts sherman, Treasurer; NJ. Morgan Secretary
Governing Committee--willam r. Travcrs, Ruthcr
furd Stuyvesant, Edward La Montague, A. Wright San
ford Charles O. Francklyn. Henry L. Burnett John A.
Lowcry william Watts sherman, Matthew Morgan,
George : Bowdoin Roland Redmond, Isaac Bell, Jr,
Edward G. Field, Frederic Bronson Henry G. Babcock,
James v. Parker. Charles r. strong, William r.
Douglass, George T.. Wctmorc. Louis l.. Lorillard,
James Curphey, Cornelius Fellowes David Lydg and
Racquet Court committcc--E. l.. Montague, r.
stuyvesant David Lydig, H. c. Babcock and +. q.
Field IA
Gymnasium Com miitce-Frederck Bronson Isaac
Bell Jr., Roland Redmond and A. w. Sanford.
House Com mtce--Henry l. Burnett, W. W. Sher-
man, j. Curphcy c. f. Strong and NJ. Morgan.
club
All OF the singular thoughts awakened by the pccu-
liar architecture OF the club house are met aud fully
answered in close scrutiny Of tho building Tho
Twentysixth street front, just above the first floor
four windows, shaped like VS.. jutting from the
house and rising almost TO tho flying balcony just
unper a strangely built roof that Dvcrhangs the walls
The windows were planned nrst with Wow to the
convenience OF members within the house. giving them
full views east and west through Twenty-sxth street.
Tho external appearance was made TO conform 10
tho general syle Tho lower sashes Of the
Of stained glass in Kaleidoscope colors Tho
balcony the whole length Of the Twentysixth
street front q level with the racket gallery Tho
peculiar overhanging root has attracted much attcn.
ton II designed to prevent tho rays Of the sun
IRON penetrating the racket courts aud To enable the
members TO leave the upper windows OF the racket
open for ventilation without using blinds This
arrangement has proved 10 be very satisfactory For
greater strength and economy the walls on The two
fronts buttressed the butresscs beng connected
by arches turned between them at height Of eighty
above tho street, that height receiving the feet
OF the roof trusses There are no windows on
the Sixth front above tho second story,
portion OF tho front forming one OF the sides OF
the day racquet court The ground door 10 devoted Ia
stores and the basement stores and the engine and
heating apparatus. Entering tho porch OF the CluD
House tho Twenty sixth street 'front.' the visitor
ushered into short hail. brilliantly lighted and pass
ing up short flight OF stairs reaches the first door.
In spacious hall noorcd with yellow pine,
the sides trimmed with ash Opening on NIL sides arc
suits OF private bachelor apartments, comprising
paror, sitting room, bathroom, closets, &c. The
ncxt floor Is occupied by tho social rooms Of
the club, the bathing and dressing rooms,
and the On the Twenty sixth street front OF this
door occupying onchali ofhe length OF 1he building
is tho paror II IL modcstly but richly furnished.
Adjoining on the east, is pleasant smoking room,
and next the billiard room containing two tables I'M
ishcd in ash correspond with tho other trimmings OF
the house. The presidents rooms tho Sixth
avenue front of this floor On the third noor or
Is termed .the racquet court ioor Is gymnasium,
thirty feet wide feet long ana thirty
feet in heigh,h In gallery about twelve
feet above the floor two bowling alleys
with seats SO arranged that members and their
invited guests can witness the athletic sports
Opening IRON the gymnasium Is corridor giving
access the racquet courts. Tho courts are OF
the same size being sixty-thrce feet long, thirtyone
feet six inches wide, and the extreme height TO Tho
skyIight forty feet The sides are built OF BRICK
covered with thin coating OF Portland cement, tho
day court is colored red, and the night
court white Tie floors IN each court ara
Of Portland cement, lorcd the tho
walls. Fronting the racquet courts are two
galleries for the accommodation OF spectators capable
OF seating about Ave hundred people. About thirty
feet the floor oi the court IS running track,
making the circuit OF the two courts distance about
the twentieth OF mile. The entire building 10 pro-
vided with tho approved heating and vcntilans
apparatus Tho owner IL NJ. A. 8. Thorp and the
architect Mr.. Alfred II. Thorp.