Elizabeth Town & Country Club
Encyclopedia
The Elizabeth Town & Country Club was an athletic and social club in Elizabeth, New Jersey
that hosted a number of top amateur tennis tournaments during the last century. The club also hosted a number of social and political events for the citizens of Elizabeth and surrounding communities.
The club was founded in 1896 when land was acquired near North Broad Street in Elizabeth for a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse. Among Elizabeth Town's charter members was US Senator John Kean (New Jersey)
and George C. Thomas, founder of the Thomas & Betts
company. The original clubhouse was built in the Shingle Style architecture
popular in the late 19th century. One of the club's first golf professionals was John Shippen, the African-American/Native American pioneer golfer.
After a fire in 1925, the clubhouse was rebuilt in American Colonial style, the results of which earned favorable reviews in the March, 1926 issue of Golf Illustrated. Shortly after though, the golf course was sold, and the main focus became tennis, squash and swimming. Elizabeth Town was the venue for such tournaments as the Eastern intercollegiate championships, the New Jersey State Open and the Eastern Father & Son Clay Court championships. Among the players who competed were Pancho Segura
, Doris Hart
and Peter Fleming, best known as John Mc Enroe’s doubles partner, but a top singles player in his own right, having reached a world ranking of #8.
The Elizabeth Town Club was the scene of numerous receptions for local dignitaries such as US Labor Secretary James P. Mitchell
and US Senator Harrison Williams
as well as many private social affairs
and weddings
Among the members in the 1950s and 60s was New York Stock Exchange Chairman James C. Kellogg III
and New York Knicks coach Eddie Donovan
.
In 1980 an outside banquet company began operating the clubhouse as “The Old Mansion” while members continued to enjoy the red clay tennis courts, swimming pool and squash courts. A frequent tennis guest in the 1990s was ex-Governor Brendan Byrne
who sat on the Board of the nearby Elizabethtown Water Co. (now part of New Jersey American Water
Company).
In 2004, the property was sold to the City of Elizabeth Board of Education for construction of a new school, and the Elizabeth Town & Country Club came to an end.
The only trace of the club today is 'Country Club Lane', a small development of single family homes built adjacent to the club property on part of the original golf course.
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
that hosted a number of top amateur tennis tournaments during the last century. The club also hosted a number of social and political events for the citizens of Elizabeth and surrounding communities.
The club was founded in 1896 when land was acquired near North Broad Street in Elizabeth for a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse. Among Elizabeth Town's charter members was US Senator John Kean (New Jersey)
John Kean (New Jersey)
John Kean was an American lawyer, banker and Republican Party politician from Elizabeth, New Jersey. He represented New Jersey in the U.S. Senate from 1899 to 1911 and served two separate terms in the United States House of Representatives, from 1883 to 1885, and from 1887 to 1889...
and George C. Thomas, founder of the Thomas & Betts
Thomas & Betts
Thomas & Betts is a designer and manufacturer of connectors and components for electrical and communication markets. Thomas & Betts is notable as the inventor of cable ties in 1958...
company. The original clubhouse was built in the Shingle Style architecture
Shingle Style architecture
The Shingle style is an American architectural style made popular by the rise of the New England school of architecture, which eschewed the highly ornamented patterns of the Eastlake style in Queen Anne architecture....
popular in the late 19th century. One of the club's first golf professionals was John Shippen, the African-American/Native American pioneer golfer.
After a fire in 1925, the clubhouse was rebuilt in American Colonial style, the results of which earned favorable reviews in the March, 1926 issue of Golf Illustrated. Shortly after though, the golf course was sold, and the main focus became tennis, squash and swimming. Elizabeth Town was the venue for such tournaments as the Eastern intercollegiate championships, the New Jersey State Open and the Eastern Father & Son Clay Court championships. Among the players who competed were Pancho Segura
Pancho Segura
Pancho Segura, born Francisco Olegario Segura , was a leading tennis player of the 1940s and 1950s, both as an amateur and as a professional. In 1950 and 1952, as a professional, he was the World Co-No. 1 player...
, Doris Hart
Doris Hart
Doris Hart is a former World No. 1 American female tennis player.As a child, she suffered from osteomyelitis, which resulted in a permanently impaired right leg...
and Peter Fleming, best known as John Mc Enroe’s doubles partner, but a top singles player in his own right, having reached a world ranking of #8.
The Elizabeth Town Club was the scene of numerous receptions for local dignitaries such as US Labor Secretary James P. Mitchell
James P. Mitchell
James Paul Mitchell was an American politician from New Jersey. Nicknamed "the social conscience of the Republican Party," he served as United States Secretary of Labor from 1953 to 1961 in the Eisenhower Administration. Mitchell was considered a potential running mate for the 1960 Republican...
and US Senator Harrison Williams
Harrison A. Williams
Harrison Arlington "Pete" Williams, Jr. was a Democrat who represented New Jersey in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate . Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981 for taking bribes in the Abscam sting operation, and resigned from the U.S. Senate in 1982...
as well as many private social affairs
and weddings
Among the members in the 1950s and 60s was New York Stock Exchange Chairman James C. Kellogg III
James C. Kellogg III
James C. Kellogg III was Chairman of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the New York Stock Exchange.Kellogg attended the Pingry School, graduating in the class of 1933...
and New York Knicks coach Eddie Donovan
Eddie Donovan
Eddie Donovan was a professional basketball coach and executive.He coached the New York Knickerbockers from 1961 through 1965, and was the coach on the opposing sideline when Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain had his record-setting 100-point game in Hershey, Pennsylvania on March 2,...
.
In 1980 an outside banquet company began operating the clubhouse as “The Old Mansion” while members continued to enjoy the red clay tennis courts, swimming pool and squash courts. A frequent tennis guest in the 1990s was ex-Governor Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
who sat on the Board of the nearby Elizabethtown Water Co. (now part of New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water is the largest water utility in the U.S. State of New Jersey, serving around two and a half million people in 183 communities in 17 counties throughout the state, supplying high-quality water and wastewater service...
Company).
In 2004, the property was sold to the City of Elizabeth Board of Education for construction of a new school, and the Elizabeth Town & Country Club came to an end.
The only trace of the club today is 'Country Club Lane', a small development of single family homes built adjacent to the club property on part of the original golf course.