The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-21
THE RACQUET CLUB HOUSE.
Yet Anetser Attraction Added TO the anny In
tho Madison square Region.

Yesterday was the opening day Of the
racquet court at Tvou;y-sIxth street .uu sixth
Avenue. and the wealthy sporting gentlemen Of
the city filled the elegant establishment Many
Of the city bellies were guests. In the parlors
were Mr.. James Gordon Bennett, Judge John
r. Brady, Lawrence Jerome, August Belmont,
Henry ID. Palmer, william J. Florence. William
X. 1ravers, August Sandford, Robert Cutting,
Murray Livingstone, W. II. Marston, @. A.
Arthur, Rutherford Stuyvesant. W. Watts sher
man, Edward La Montague, c. q. Francklyn,
Louis l.. Lorillard, David Lydig, Henry l.. Bur-
nett, William p. Douglass, Frederic Bronson,
and about 300 others. Every nook and corner Of
the spaciou four-story. queer-shaped, ana mys-
teriOusly constructed edi1ce was Inspected.
Early In 1875 several wealthy gentlemen OF this
city organized the Racquet Court Club and con-
triouted literally toward the building Of
handsome house. The work was begun In May.
1875, and Yesterday was announced as the OPEN
Ing day. The ground floor Is for stores. On
the Twenty-sIxth street front In the second
story are the parlors. Adjoining on the east Is
the smoking room, and next IL the billiard sa-
loon. The Presidents rooms ara on the Sixth
avenue front Of this story. Below ere the social
rooms OF the club, the bathing and dressing
rooms. and the bar. There are no windows ON
that part Of the front forming one of the eides
OF the day racquet court. There Is balcony
running the whole length OF the Twenty sixth
front on a level with the racquet gallery.
1he peculiar overhanging roof has attracted
much attention. 1t was designed to prevent
the rNJs Of the sun from penetrating the racquet
courts, and to enable the members to leave the
upper windows OF the racquet court open with
out blinds. For greater strength and economy,
the walls on the two fronts are buttfessed, the
buttresses being connected ny arches turned be-
tween them at height OF eighty feet above
the street. and that height receiving the feet Of
the roof trusses. In the third story IL a gym
nasum. In n gallery about twelve feet above
the floor are two bowling alleys, with seats so
arranged that members and their guests may
view the exhibition Of athletic sports. Opening
from the gymnasium Is a corridor, through
which access IL had to the two racquet courts.
The courts are alike In respect Of size, being
90 feet long. 81 feet 9 inches wide, and the ex-
treme height to the skylight Is 40 feet. The
sides are built OF brick with thin coating OF
Portland cement. The day court Is colored red
and the night one Ia white. The floors In each
court are of Portland cement, colored the same
as the walls Fronting the racquet courts are
two galleries for spectators. About thirty feet
above the floors of the courts Is a running track
that measures 1-18th OF n mile.
The programme yesterday was q freeman ed
match game of racquets, best two In three
games, G.. A. Lowery and ". II. Douglass play-
ing against II. ". Miller aud Frederic May.
This was won by Messrs. Miller and May. Then
there was single match game between Mr..
Soutter ana Mr.. thorpe. which was decided IN
favor OF Mr.. Soutter. Tho boxing match be-
tween Mr.. ONeil and Dr. Meiggs was won by Mr..
0Nail