Algonquin Tennis Club: Honoring A Legacy
By Andre’ White, Recreation Operations Supervisor, WD Hill Recreation Center
The W.D. Hill Recreation Center was the backdrop and host for the unveiling of a North Carolina Historical Highway Marker and program celebrating the legendary Algonquin Tennis Club on Thursday, August 15th, 2019. Among the many tennis greats who played at the tennis club during a time span ranging from the 1930's thru the 1960's included Arthur Ashe (Wimbledon and U.S. Open Champion as well as human rights champion, Althea Gibson (1st African American female to win Wimbledon, (prelude to) the U.S. Open and 13 Grand Slam titles) John Lucas ( All –American at the University of Maryland), Bonnie Logan (1st African American Female in the Virginia Slims professional tennis circuit), Joe Williams (Men’s Singles NCAA Champion) and Irwin Holmes (NC States first African American graduate and the 1st African American to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference). The history of the W.D. Hill Recreation Center is directly intertwined with the Algonquin Tennis Club and as a result was the perfect location for the historical marker program that followed the unveiling.
In addition to tennis, the club was an institution for community social functions, such as holiday parties, dances, weddings for the African American elite of the Black Wall Street era. The August 15th date also marks the 84th anniversary for the first meeting of the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, a political strategy group that regularly met at the club (and still exists today, known as the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People). The North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mechanics and Farmers Bank contributed greatly to the clubs’ and Durham Committee’s creation and success.
In February of 2019, the W.D. Hill Recreation Center staff was approached by Mr. Eddie Davis, Former City Council Member/Historian of Durham, Dr. E. Victor Maafo, a former official of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Mr. Nathan Garrett, eminent retired Certified Public Accountant and Attorney; who represented members of the planning group that submitted the application for the Historical Highway Marker to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
After several meetings with Durham Parks and Recreation staff and community members, a group was formed and officially named ‘The Algonquin Tennis Club Historical Marker Planning Group, moving forward. The team made it clear that they wanted to have a large role in the August 15th event. Apart from the Planning Group, the W.D. Hill Recreation Center staff (including all part time staff) collaborated on a building lobby venue which featured an interactive Mural Art piece, a 7 minute video on the Algonquin Club, 3 historical display boards and 5 bulletin boards with event relevant information. In addition, historical artifacts displays were contributed by Andre’ Vann, Coordinator of Archives at North Carolina Central University and the family of Ms. Mary L. Newby, a hostess and administrator at the Algonquin Club and
The Algonquin Tennis Club’s official address (as well as location of the Marker) is 1400 Fayetteville Street, which would put it right at the location of the W.D. Hill Recreation Center Dance Studio and Multi-purpose room. The tennis courts used for the club, which totaled 3, were located in the foot of Hillside Park. Overtime, the Recreation Center and Tennis Club would interchange between the two buildings.
The event proved to be a tremendous success, with over 200 major U.S. cities media outlets covering the story and over 200 citizens and dignitaries in attendance. We welcome and encourage residents to swing by W.D. Hill Recreation Center to view the newly unveiled historical marker honoring the Legacy of the Algonquin Tennis Club.
The W.D. Hill Recreation Center was the backdrop and host for the unveiling of a North Carolina Historical Highway Marker and program celebrating the legendary Algonquin Tennis Club on Thursday, August 15th, 2019. Among the many tennis greats who played at the tennis club during a time span ranging from the 1930's thru the 1960's included Arthur Ashe (Wimbledon and U.S. Open Champion as well as human rights champion, Althea Gibson (1st African American female to win Wimbledon, (prelude to) the U.S. Open and 13 Grand Slam titles) John Lucas ( All –American at the University of Maryland), Bonnie Logan (1st African American Female in the Virginia Slims professional tennis circuit), Joe Williams (Men’s Singles NCAA Champion) and Irwin Holmes (NC States first African American graduate and the 1st African American to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference). The history of the W.D. Hill Recreation Center is directly intertwined with the Algonquin Tennis Club and as a result was the perfect location for the historical marker program that followed the unveiling.
In addition to tennis, the club was an institution for community social functions, such as holiday parties, dances, weddings for the African American elite of the Black Wall Street era. The August 15th date also marks the 84th anniversary for the first meeting of the Durham Committee on Negro Affairs, a political strategy group that regularly met at the club (and still exists today, known as the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People). The North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company and Mechanics and Farmers Bank contributed greatly to the clubs’ and Durham Committee’s creation and success.In February of 2019, the W.D. Hill Recreation Center staff was approached by Mr. Eddie Davis, Former City Council Member/Historian of Durham, Dr. E. Victor Maafo, a former official of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, and Mr. Nathan Garrett, eminent retired Certified Public Accountant and Attorney; who represented members of the planning group that submitted the application for the Historical Highway Marker to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
After several meetings with Durham Parks and Recreation staff and community members, a group was formed and officially named ‘The Algonquin Tennis Club Historical Marker Planning Group, moving forward. The team made it clear that they wanted to have a large role in the August 15th event. Apart from the Planning Group, the W.D. Hill Recreation Center staff (including all part time staff) collaborated on a building lobby venue which featured an interactive Mural Art piece, a 7 minute video on the Algonquin Club, 3 historical display boards and 5 bulletin boards with event relevant information. In addition, historical artifacts displays were contributed by Andre’ Vann, Coordinator of Archives at North Carolina Central University and the family of Ms. Mary L. Newby, a hostess and administrator at the Algonquin Club and
The Algonquin Tennis Club’s official address (as well as location of the Marker) is 1400 Fayetteville Street, which would put it right at the location of the W.D. Hill Recreation Center Dance Studio and Multi-purpose room. The tennis courts used for the club, which totaled 3, were located in the foot of Hillside Park. Overtime, the Recreation Center and Tennis Club would interchange between the two buildings.
The event proved to be a tremendous success, with over 200 major U.S. cities media outlets covering the story and over 200 citizens and dignitaries in attendance. We welcome and encourage residents to swing by W.D. Hill Recreation Center to view the newly unveiled historical marker honoring the Legacy of the Algonquin Tennis Club.
Comments
Post a Comment