Welcome to the Hudson Tennis Club
Web-Site
HTC is a club run by its members for its members to promote the
game of tennis in a friendly, social atmosphere. The club has no paid
staff but relies on "member volunteers" to help organize and run its
tournament and social events. If you enjoy tennis or if you
want to learn the game, join us in beautiful downtown Hudson at the Western
Reserve Academy courts for another summer of fun at the Hudson Tennis Club!
If you would like more information about the Hudson Tennis Club, please contact
Frank Eschweiler (330)801-3515 or Karine van Dijck (karine@roadrunner.com)
Directions:
From
intersection 91 and route 303 in Hudson downtown, head North on 91. Take a right
on Prospect, take a left on College, take a right on
Academy. Continue past the Murdough Athletic Center,
then right, follow the road until you come to the parking area close to the courts.
Club History
After
the conclusion of World War II in
1945, Hudson boasted a population of approximately 2,200 people including the
village and the township. John Hallowell, a reasonably good tennis player, was
appointed Headmaster of Western Reserve Academy, an institution, which then
dominated the
Hudson
scene. In our then small town, a
collegiate atmosphere prevailed with everyone seemingly knowing everyone else.
Hudson
had an Ivy League flavor influencing
tennis interest and sociability far more than was usual in Mid-western
communities.
Two
tennis enthusiasts, Tom Seelye and Jack Bennett, persuaded John to permit
Hudsonites to use the Academy’s clay courts under the auspices of a group known
as the Hudson Tennis Club which would be responsible for the maintenance and
discipline. Dues were $10.00 per year for families and $5.00 for single
membership. In the early fifties the number of members was small and it was
difficult to raise enough money to start the season. When the Academy
hard-surfaced the courts the Club worked out an arrangement to supply the nets
and a more realistic dues structure was established.
In
1955 Betty Spearman, having just moved to
Hudson
, suggested that it might be appropriate
to wear “tennis whites” and hire a pro to offer lessons to children and
adults. After the laughter subsided the “whites” idea was rejected, but
Betty was authorized to persuade Jerry Evert (Chris’s uncle) to come out from
his job as the professional at The Country Club in Pepper Pike, and teach
lessons on Mondays when his club was
closed. This sparked new interest
in HTC and membership increased. Later
Eddie McGrath, Jack March and Frank Longstreth helped to develop a number of
notable young players, including the
famous Todd Martin, during summers at HTC.
Through the years The Hudson Tennis Club was
privileged to have such notables as Don Budge, Frank Parker, the great Fred
Perry, and, yes, Bobby Riggs grace our courts for exhibitions in the late
fifties and sixties. The late Ash Graham, through his friend, Jack March,
arranged to “shanghai” these gentlemen on their way to Canton Brookside, to
entertain HTC members for a small fee, plus lunch and breakfast.
Hudson
’s interest in tennis has always
transcended the level of attention manifested throughout the rest of the country
and the Hudson Tennis Club has
been a focal point of summer tournaments and social events. In the seventies and
early eighties interest in the club rose to such a peak that new prospects often
found themselves on a waiting list until spots opened up.
