History

HISTORY OF THE FARMINGTON FIELD CLUB

In January 1963, a group of neighbors got together with a vision of building a tennis and swim club for Farmington residents. People had tried several times in the past fifteen years and failed, but the group still realized the community need, with only a few private courts and pools nearby. Ten families organized an executive committee and secured a loan of some $165,000 from the Farmington Savings Bank.

The committee met faithfully. Members were Art Phinney, vice president, and in charge of pools; Sallie Norris, tennis; Weir Stewart, bonds; David deRham, finance; Monte Williams and Granny Smith, rules and grounds; and Graeme and Ann Smith, Art and Beth Woods, and John Filer.

The committee jumped into action looking for a site. After many meetings, an agreement was struck with the Trustees at Hill-Stead Museum for a 5.7acre plot of land at the end of the newly built Hilltop Road. Corporate papers were drawn up for the proposed facility and an application was submitted to the Town Planning Commission. The hearing was set and after several hours of discussions, permission was granted.

Jack Sinclair and Charlie King became the architects, John Donahue and Graeme Smith served as lawyers. A $1,000 bond would be requested from each member family and the goal was 150 families. Soon, however, challenges arose. The Club was taken to court where every neighbor (except one) objected, being afraid of noise, traffic, and obnoxious children. The court at first ruled against the Club and denied the permit though it was later granted. Construction was delayed and member applications slowed, at this point there were only ten family members. It was decided to recruit some out-of-town members. Ann Reed responded and “so completely cased the area that… the initial 150 membership goal was reached.”

By the fall of 1963, construction problems mounted: trap rock ledge, requiring relocation of the pool, a well 200 feet deeper than estimated, a larger than anticipated septic tank and sanitary drainage field, the need for poured concrete footings for the one-story bath house with a concrete slab floor resting on solid ledge and more. Finally, on July 24, 1964, the Club officially opened. A few days prior, however, on a very hot day, it is observed that about 75 members, parents and children, were seen dunking in a scant two feet of water in the “painfully slow filling pool.” But the water was crystal clear and cold from the 380 foot well.

Ben Cheney began his presidency that fall. Monte Williams covered the pool management and hiring of life guards. There was no Club Manager initially, only many helpful Club members. Sallie Norris hired tennis instructors, organized tennis ladders and successful interclub competitions began. The Farmington Open, a USTA tournament, got its start in 1953 and has attracted top-notch players from all over New England and beyond. It is the second longest running tournament in New England. In 1983 the Farmington Open was renamed as the Children’s Classic Tennis Tournament to benefit the UCONN Children’s Cancer Programs.