History of Tennis in Aurora

Thanks to the Aurora Historical Society (AHS) for this exhibit of pictures. The ACTC Board was represented on the AHS Pan Am Program Committee that sponsored the Tennis in Canada Exhibit which featured these series of pictures.

All images courtesy of the Aurora Historical Society

This is the earliest known image of the Hillary House Lawn Tennis Court. It features men, women, and children playing tennis on the North Lawn of Hillary House c. 1890. The earliest version of the tennis court in this location was on an angle. By 1910 the court was reoriented to its current position.


The earliest image of the Lawn Tennis Court at Hillary House aligned in its current position


The Aurora Lawn Tennis Club in 1911, the first year of its existence. The names are listed on the back of the original photo as follows:
Front Mrs. Halliday, Mrs. Hillary, Florence Patterson, Evelyn Pratt, Charlie Underhill, George Clarke, Gwen Howard
Back Mr. Procloi, Dr. Hillary, Miss Pearson, Ash Halliday, Dr. Scrivener


Aurora Lawn Tennis Club 1913 gathered on the court at Hillary House.


Aurora Tennis Club 1930 gathered on the Veranda at Hillary House.


Flo was a life time member of ACTC. A few years ago, the ACTC Board chose to honour her by creating the Flo Murry Volunteer of the Year Award. Flo's last service to ACTC was her presentation in November 2012 to the Aurora Council as the ACTC Board advocated for an all seasons, multi - use facility at Fleury Park. At 94  years of age she was as sharp as a tack.
 
I can still remember the hour and half we spent in her apartment as she asked us in-depth questions about our proposed Fleury Playhouse facility and how it could benefit all of Aurora. She was a passionate supporter for tennis and loved to promote worthy community building projects. You can read her full obituary here. The two pictures below will give you a sense of ACTC history as well as Flo's sparkling and vibrant life. 



First ever Canadian Pan Am Tennis Medal Winner, Bob Bedard, playing with recent Canadian Pan Am Tennis Gold Medal Winner, Gaby Dabrowski on the recreated Lawn Tennis Court on the Hillary House North Lawn on July 18, 2015.

 

Exhibit at Hillary House, Tennis in Canada: From Early Beginnings to Global Success.Display of tennis rackets in the exhibit ranging from c. 1890 to c. 1930.


Recreation of the 1913 image of the Aurora Lawn Tennis Club taken on July 6, 2015 on the recreated Lawn Tennis Court on the Hillary House North Lawn.


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