History of ASC&DC
written by Art Simington, 2008
updated and abridged by Gavin Key, 2024
Early History of the Court (1910-1958)
In 1900, Theodore Roosevelt was about to become the youngest president of the United States, electric trolley cars carried folks through Keene, New Hampshire, and the first local movie houses were just opening. Most people in Keene had never heard of a game called squash racquets, because squash in America was in a state of discovery and evolution.
At the turn of the century the enthusiasm for indoor racquet sports in Boston was carried to Keene by five Faulkner cousins who were all Harvard undergraduates during those years. They were able to convince their families to put up the existing Court on the Faulker property on West St. (now the site of TD Bank). The building was constructed circa 1910 using clear maple lumber and included the main section for play, an entrance foyer, and an upstairs loft. Lighting was initially accomplished with long rows of glass windows at the tops of the sidewalls, and during cold months heating was supplied by a wood stove in the foyer.
For its first 50 years Court use was sometimes heavy and sometimes sparse. Initially players were Faulkner family members, but as the allure of the sport grew, a large circle of family friends was included in play. However, by the 1950’s the building stood mostly idle, and the Faulkner family was planning to sell the West Street home and property.
Founding of the Organization (1958)
At the 25th anniversary banquet of the ASC&DC in 1983, John Colony, Jr., the first president of the organization, recounted the birthing of the squash club: “A hastily called meeting was held in Bill House’s living room after word got out that the Win Faulkner property on West Street had been sold to become the site of a supermarket. It was also reported that an oil company planned to buy the Squash Court building and gut it for use as a garage or a storehouse.
“Those at the meeting felt that everything possible should be done to save this historic building as a squash court, because it was one of the oldest squash courts in the country. The nucleus at the meeting managed to get 22 individuals to cough up enough money to buy the building and move it east onto Colony property.
“When the corporation was being organized, the selection of a corporate name posed a problem. Some of the founders who were less enthusiastic about the game of squash and more enthusiastic about the chowder dinner socials, felt that the name should be more inclusive. The final compromise was to add ‘Chowder and Development’.”
The annual meeting and first decade (1958-1970)
In addition to other informal gatherings, the club established an annual meeting, to determine rules and updates for the coming year. They were originally held in private homes—usually the home of the sitting president. The annual meeting became the source of many unique and hilarious club traditions. Among the many traditions of ASC&DC none has ever been more important than the organization’s first goal: to have fun. Certainly the hilarious minutes drafted by founding secretary, Jack Goodnow, set the tone for the proceedings, and this format has continued. The office of the presidency rotated liberally among the membership, and for a long time it was an important tradition to choose a new president who was absent for the election. Perhaps the most infamous annual tradition is the singing of “The Fireman’s Band.” The origin of the Fireman’s Band Marching Song tradition remains cloaked in mystery. However, this arcane setting of an otherwise beautiful German Lied, O Tannenbaum, demonstrates no apparent relationship to the game of squash OR chowder OR development, but nevertheless continues to enjoy perplexing regular appearances and discordant renditions at annual meetings.
John Faulkner Jr and Gordon Brown at the first Annual Meeting, January 20th, 1962
1970’s and 1980’s- 2nd court move and continued expansion
Many 1970’s meetings were spent responding to the news that now the Colony property was on the market, and the Court would have to be moved yet again. Vandalism was continuing to be a problem, and one weekend a small group of uninvited, pot-smoking trespassers was discovered to be living in the Court—evidence for a campfire near the back wall remains today. Possible new locations for the Court included Martel Court (to merge with the tennis club), a George Kingsbury property in West Keene, Keene Country Club land, and a small piece of Markem property on Martin Street. The Markem invitation became the most advantageous, and plans for a move proceeded in earnest.
Court maintenance occupied much of the organization’s efforts through the first decade, and with increasing growth of shrubbery and easy access from Gilbo Avenue the Court became the target for considerable vandalism. Electrical outlets were added to accommodate the chowder dinners, and a long series of discussions was started to address how to create a workable shower and toilet facility—discussions that continue to this day. During this time many children of members learned how to play squash on the Court, and several went on to play at prep school and college. Exhibitions put on by outside experts—including world champion Mohibulla Khan from Boston on at least two occasions—reinforced enthusiasm for the playing of squash.
In June 1976, the Court was successfully moved south on Main Street, across Route 101 and Optical Avenue to its new home on Martin Street and firmly seated on newly poured footings. With many members starting to complain about playing with cold balls, Charlie Post, acting as general contractor, added a telephone line and engineered the electrical wiring so the gas heater could be activated from home in advance of a planned match. Arriving to a partially heated Court became so agreeable that insulation under the roof and a ceiling fan were added in the following years to save on heating expense and to make the building even cozier.
An upstairs playing registry was introduced, and for the first time the ASC&D joined the US Squash Association—membership to which subsequently led to the unexpected recognition and exciting reciprocal membership with the Doha Club, a swanky and exclusive club located on the shores of the Arabian Gulf in Qatar. (To date no emirs or oil potentates have arrived in Keene to take advantage of their reciprocal membership with us.)
The court landing at its third home at the end of Martin Street, where it still stands today
1990’s-present- Bringing the club to the 21st century and beyond…
The game of squash changed drastically in the mid-‘90’s when the international soft ball became the sanctioned ball for all tournament play. Most ASC&DC hardball players struggled with the transition to softball, but were helped by some tutoring by the new Dartmouth squash coach, John Power, who came down to Keene for a few workshops.
The Safety Committee has borne the responsibility of making the membership aware of the possibility that a fire could block any egress to players during a match in progress. Therefore a trapdoor mechanism has been carefully maintained in the front wall tin. Lacking sufficient city code specifications to call this device a “fire exit”, the organization has chosen to designate it a “thermal overload outlet”. For many years, new members were required to prove their ability to leave the building by crawling through the portal. This tradition has since been discontinued.
The Corporation ushered in the new century by introducing an internet reservation system—making us, we believed, the only known corporate body with a website but without plumbing. In 2003 our organization and Court were briefly cited in the definitive new book on the game, Squash, A History of the Game (New York, Scribner, 2003), and that year author Jim Zug was a guest at our annual meeting.
Even as the organization has matured, several newer traditions were accepted and institutionalized. For over 20 years the treasurer’s reports were delivered in a variety of incomprehensible languages. At annual meetings since 2012, President Vaughan Hennum has based the visions and goals for the coming year on a different historically terrible world dictator. This presentation is of course done in - ASC&DC does not condone terrorism.
In recent years, a wonderful relationship has blossomed with Gary Gargan, assistant squash coach at Tufts University, and former assistant coach at Dartmouth College. Gary has brought the club to new heights as the club pro, providing expert lessons, and establishing a friendly yet competitive rivarly with his other court, SquashWest of Acton, MA. In 2019, ASC&DC joined Club Locker.
Although the original Court dimensions and ceiling beams continue to defy compliance with international court regulations, the Amalgamated Squash Chowder and Development Corporation continues to be the premiere squash experience of southwestern New Hampshire. Indeed, as we look to the future, it’s clear that the Corporation is well poised to meet the demanding challenges laid down by its founders: “To promote the health, pleasure, and social and mental improvement of the members.”