Cape May Tennis Club
“Recollections”
by Robert C. Alexander (1912-1988)
Our History
The William J. Moore Tennis Center is located on Washington Street
in Cape May, New Jersey, amid the surroundings of a fine old estate
with its large shade trees, hedges, lawn and garden once owned by Dr.
Emlen Physick.
The location was selected from several places under consideration in
the autumn of 1961 by Mr. Thomas W. Harris, Jr., who thought there
was a need for a tennis center in the seashore resort.
In December of that year, nearly one and three quarter acres of
ground in the estate were given to the City of Cape May by Mr. & Mrs.
Thomas W. Harris, Jr., Dr. & Mrs. Sidney Newcomer and Mr. Robert C.
Alexander, with the stipulation that the land must be used for tennis and
related activities.
In 1962, in the middle of April, construction of tennis courts and
renovation of buildings at the center were begun under Mr. Harris’s
supervision. The work was financed entirely by private contributions.
In May, the Cape May Tennis Club was organized and incorporated
for the purpose of leasing, operating and maintaining the city-owned
center as public tennis courts. A twenty-year lease was obtained from the
city by the Club.
The court next to Washington Street, the first one to be completed,
was ready for play by the second week of June 1962.
In the summer of 1962, the new tennis center consisted of five tennis
courts built of local clay; the frame “Pro-Shop” moved from the old
courts on Lafayette Street; a one-story frame tool house which was
converted into a shower and lavatory facility; a small two-story red-brick
building erected in 1895, said to have been the gardener’s potting house,
remodeled for a clubhouse; and a driveway and parking area.
An unusual feature at the center was the arrangement of four of the
tennis courts in pairs. Each pair was surrounded by tall, private hedges in
what had once been a part of the garden of the estate. The hedges
provided protection from the wind and glare of the seashore, and the
courts in pairs limited the number of players walking behind and across
the courts or retrieving errant tennis balls.
Mr. William J. Moore, known as “William” by his many tennis
friends, was put in charge of building the courts. He had been a tennis
pro and manager of the clay courts at the Cape May Golf Club on
Lafayette Street for nearly half a century. After that golf club failed, he
had leased and operated the courts there himself on a year to year basis.
This summer, 1962, William was in the “Pro-Shop” at the new tennis
center having been hired as pro and manager. He was assisted by his son
“Ossie”, who replaced him as pro and manager when he retired at 94
years of age in 1966.
Activities at the center during the first summer included a party for
William on Saturday, August 4, in celebration of his 90th birthday, which
also marked the “official opening” of the tennis courts; interclub tennis
matches with a team from Moorestown, N.J.; a boys’ and girls’
tournament; and men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles
tournaments.
Officers of the club were Mr. Robert C. Alexander, president; Mr.
John Myers, vice-president; Mrs. John E. Davison, secretary; and Mr.
Paul Vanneman, treasurer. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Harris, Jr. were
elected honorary life members.
In 1963, another pair of courts was built and ready for play by the
summer; and an adjoining parcel of ground consisting of about one and
one half acres was given to the City of Cape May for the tennis center by
Mr. Alexander.
Mr. William J. Moore’s contribution to education and tennis were
well-known. His “Teaching Tennis to Beginners” was published in 1960
with a second printing in 1979. In 1957 and again in 1972, The United
States Lawn Tennis Association recognized William’s many
contributions to the game of tennis by issuing letters of appreciation and
congratulations. In 1968, at the 8th Annual Philadelphia International
Indoor Open Tennis Championships, the Middle States Lawn Tennis
Association presented William an inscribed silver plate for his “loyal
and meritorious service to tennis.”
On Saturday, August 5, 1972, William was honored in celebration of
his 100th birthday anniversary at the Annual Luncheon held on the lawn
by having the center dedicated as the William J. Moore Tennis Center. It
was a poignant occasion.
Three days earlier, William had fallen while hitting a tennis ball on
the first court and had broken his hip. There was deep concern for him
and a question as to whether or not he would be able to attend the
dedication. At the last moment, an ambulance transporting him from
Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital in Cape May Court House on a
hospital bed arrived at the Center. His sister, and all nine of his living
children were there; the Mayor of the City of Cape May was there; and
countless tennis players and friends were there. A bronze plaque on the
red brick clubhouse marks the dedication. William died the following
year.
In 1979, the Cape May Tennis Club received a new lease from the
City of Cape May. Retroactive to 1978, it was for a term of fourteen
years with an automatic option for an additional ten years. In 1982, the
“Pro Shop” was enlarged.
In 1982-1983, a chain link fence was erected enclosing all of the
courts, except numbers 2 and 3 where the original wooden posts and
wire fence were left as a reminder of the earlier days.
“Ossie,” who had been guest of honor at a “Surprise Reception”
sponsored by the club in 1981 at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Clarence
Farmer in West Cape May “for 45 years of continued service” to tennis,
died on February 27, 1983.
On July 4th, 1983, at Independence Day ceremonies, the new William
J. Moore Tennis Center flag, designed by then-president Mr. John
Bodnar and donated by Mr. George Lee, was dedicated in memory of
Ossie.
On August 6th, 1983 at the Annual Luncheon, a bronze plaque on the
red brick clubhouse was dedicated in the memory of Mr. Thomas W.
Harris, Jr., who died November 27, 1982.
In 1983, the City of Cape May provided ground for additional tennis
courts at the center.
In 1985, four quick-drying Har-Tru courts were built replacing clay
courts number 6, 7, 8, and 9. This improvement was made possible
through the generosity of thirty-five lifetime contract holders each of
whom paid $1000 for the privilege of playing tennis here. A memorial in
the amount of $2000 was given by friends of Mr. Mort Zirin, a tennis
player, for annual playing contracts for two deserving Cape May
youngsters to be selected each year by the Board of Directors of the
Club.
Ms. Amaleta Moore, William’s daughter, and Mr. Alexander were
elected honorary members of the Board of Directors.
The Cape May Tennis Club is a non-profit corporation. All officers,
directors, chairpersons, members of the committees serve without pay.
Those on staff are paid.
Through the years, there have been many tournaments, many social
events, and many happy times. We congratulate all those who have
helped make these public tennis courts a success. The William J. Moore
Tennis Center is a pleasant and friendly place to enjoy tennis.
The purplish-pink trumpet shaped flowers that grow near court 2 every
summer are Magic Lilies (Lycoris Squamigera), perennial plants of the
Amaryllis family. They have grown there, in front of the former potting
house of the Dr.Emlyn Physick Estate since the estate was built.
by Robert C. Alexander (1912-1988)
Our History
The William J. Moore Tennis Center is located on Washington Street
in Cape May, New Jersey, amid the surroundings of a fine old estate
with its large shade trees, hedges, lawn and garden once owned by Dr.
Emlen Physick.
The location was selected from several places under consideration in
the autumn of 1961 by Mr. Thomas W. Harris, Jr., who thought there
was a need for a tennis center in the seashore resort.
In December of that year, nearly one and three quarter acres of
ground in the estate were given to the City of Cape May by Mr. & Mrs.
Thomas W. Harris, Jr., Dr. & Mrs. Sidney Newcomer and Mr. Robert C.
Alexander, with the stipulation that the land must be used for tennis and
related activities.
In 1962, in the middle of April, construction of tennis courts and
renovation of buildings at the center were begun under Mr. Harris’s
supervision. The work was financed entirely by private contributions.
In May, the Cape May Tennis Club was organized and incorporated
for the purpose of leasing, operating and maintaining the city-owned
center as public tennis courts. A twenty-year lease was obtained from the
city by the Club.
The court next to Washington Street, the first one to be completed,
was ready for play by the second week of June 1962.
In the summer of 1962, the new tennis center consisted of five tennis
courts built of local clay; the frame “Pro-Shop” moved from the old
courts on Lafayette Street; a one-story frame tool house which was
converted into a shower and lavatory facility; a small two-story red-brick
building erected in 1895, said to have been the gardener’s potting house,
remodeled for a clubhouse; and a driveway and parking area.
An unusual feature at the center was the arrangement of four of the
tennis courts in pairs. Each pair was surrounded by tall, private hedges in
what had once been a part of the garden of the estate. The hedges
provided protection from the wind and glare of the seashore, and the
courts in pairs limited the number of players walking behind and across
the courts or retrieving errant tennis balls.
Mr. William J. Moore, known as “William” by his many tennis
friends, was put in charge of building the courts. He had been a tennis
pro and manager of the clay courts at the Cape May Golf Club on
Lafayette Street for nearly half a century. After that golf club failed, he
had leased and operated the courts there himself on a year to year basis.
This summer, 1962, William was in the “Pro-Shop” at the new tennis
center having been hired as pro and manager. He was assisted by his son
“Ossie”, who replaced him as pro and manager when he retired at 94
years of age in 1966.
Activities at the center during the first summer included a party for
William on Saturday, August 4, in celebration of his 90th birthday, which
also marked the “official opening” of the tennis courts; interclub tennis
matches with a team from Moorestown, N.J.; a boys’ and girls’
tournament; and men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles
tournaments.
Officers of the club were Mr. Robert C. Alexander, president; Mr.
John Myers, vice-president; Mrs. John E. Davison, secretary; and Mr.
Paul Vanneman, treasurer. Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Harris, Jr. were
elected honorary life members.
In 1963, another pair of courts was built and ready for play by the
summer; and an adjoining parcel of ground consisting of about one and
one half acres was given to the City of Cape May for the tennis center by
Mr. Alexander.
Mr. William J. Moore’s contribution to education and tennis were
well-known. His “Teaching Tennis to Beginners” was published in 1960
with a second printing in 1979. In 1957 and again in 1972, The United
States Lawn Tennis Association recognized William’s many
contributions to the game of tennis by issuing letters of appreciation and
congratulations. In 1968, at the 8th Annual Philadelphia International
Indoor Open Tennis Championships, the Middle States Lawn Tennis
Association presented William an inscribed silver plate for his “loyal
and meritorious service to tennis.”
On Saturday, August 5, 1972, William was honored in celebration of
his 100th birthday anniversary at the Annual Luncheon held on the lawn
by having the center dedicated as the William J. Moore Tennis Center. It
was a poignant occasion.
Three days earlier, William had fallen while hitting a tennis ball on
the first court and had broken his hip. There was deep concern for him
and a question as to whether or not he would be able to attend the
dedication. At the last moment, an ambulance transporting him from
Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital in Cape May Court House on a
hospital bed arrived at the Center. His sister, and all nine of his living
children were there; the Mayor of the City of Cape May was there; and
countless tennis players and friends were there. A bronze plaque on the
red brick clubhouse marks the dedication. William died the following
year.
In 1979, the Cape May Tennis Club received a new lease from the
City of Cape May. Retroactive to 1978, it was for a term of fourteen
years with an automatic option for an additional ten years. In 1982, the
“Pro Shop” was enlarged.
In 1982-1983, a chain link fence was erected enclosing all of the
courts, except numbers 2 and 3 where the original wooden posts and
wire fence were left as a reminder of the earlier days.
“Ossie,” who had been guest of honor at a “Surprise Reception”
sponsored by the club in 1981 at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Clarence
Farmer in West Cape May “for 45 years of continued service” to tennis,
died on February 27, 1983.
On July 4th, 1983, at Independence Day ceremonies, the new William
J. Moore Tennis Center flag, designed by then-president Mr. John
Bodnar and donated by Mr. George Lee, was dedicated in memory of
Ossie.
On August 6th, 1983 at the Annual Luncheon, a bronze plaque on the
red brick clubhouse was dedicated in the memory of Mr. Thomas W.
Harris, Jr., who died November 27, 1982.
In 1983, the City of Cape May provided ground for additional tennis
courts at the center.
In 1985, four quick-drying Har-Tru courts were built replacing clay
courts number 6, 7, 8, and 9. This improvement was made possible
through the generosity of thirty-five lifetime contract holders each of
whom paid $1000 for the privilege of playing tennis here. A memorial in
the amount of $2000 was given by friends of Mr. Mort Zirin, a tennis
player, for annual playing contracts for two deserving Cape May
youngsters to be selected each year by the Board of Directors of the
Club.
Ms. Amaleta Moore, William’s daughter, and Mr. Alexander were
elected honorary members of the Board of Directors.
The Cape May Tennis Club is a non-profit corporation. All officers,
directors, chairpersons, members of the committees serve without pay.
Those on staff are paid.
Through the years, there have been many tournaments, many social
events, and many happy times. We congratulate all those who have
helped make these public tennis courts a success. The William J. Moore
Tennis Center is a pleasant and friendly place to enjoy tennis.
The purplish-pink trumpet shaped flowers that grow near court 2 every
summer are Magic Lilies (Lycoris Squamigera), perennial plants of the
Amaryllis family. They have grown there, in front of the former potting
house of the Dr.Emlyn Physick Estate since the estate was built.
