Merion Cricket Club facts for kids
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Merion Cricket Club
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The "Main House," of brick and stone, replaced a wooden clubhouse that was destroyed by fire in September 1896.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Montgomery Avenue & Grays Lane, Haverford, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Allen Evans Furness, Evans & Co. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000759 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 27, 1987 |
| Designated NHL | February 27, 1987 |
The Merion Cricket Club is a special private club located in Haverford, Pennsylvania. It was started way back in 1865. The club's main building, called the clubhouse, has been rebuilt six times! The last four clubhouses were designed by famous architect Frank Furness and his partner, Allen Evans. Interestingly, Allen Evans was also one of the people who helped start the club.
In 1987, the Merion Cricket Club was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important place in American history. It got this special title because it played a big part in helping sports like cricket, golf, squash, and tennis grow and stay popular in the United States.
Contents
Club History: How It Started
The Merion Cricket Club was founded in October 1865 by two people, William Woodrow Montgomery and Marshall Ewing. Their very first meeting was held at William Woodrow Montgomery's home, called Glenays, on December 16, 1865.
At first, they thought about becoming a baseball club because they didn't have a permanent place to play. But they decided to stick with cricket! Their first cricket game was played in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, on May 19, 1866.
Moving to New Homes
From 1873 to 1892, the club used grounds in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. After that, they moved to their current location in Haverford. The club added new sports over time. The first tennis match was played in 1881. The first golf course was built in 1896, with more courses added in 1912 and 1914.
Club Facilities: What's Inside
The Merion Cricket Club has had several clubhouses over the years. The first clubhouse (from 1865 to 1873) was an existing house in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. The second (1873–1880) was an industrial building in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.
Fires and Rebuilding
The third clubhouse (1880–1892), designed by Furness & Evans, was in Ardmore and was destroyed by a fire in 1892. The fourth clubhouse (1892–1896) was at the current location but also burned down in January 1896. A fifth clubhouse was started in 1896 but was destroyed by fire before it was even finished!
The sixth and current clubhouse was built using the same plans as the fifth one. But this time, it was made with strong stone and brick to be fireproof. Alexander Cassatt, who was a vice-president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, helped pay for this new, safer clubhouse.
Sports and Activities Today
Today, the club grounds have many great facilities. You can find indoor and outdoor tennis courts, paddle tennis courts, and courts for both singles and doubles squash. There's also a bowling alley, dining areas, and a ballroom for events.
Depending on the season, the club hosts fun croquet and cricket events. The club also has a football (soccer) team called the Merion C.C. Football Club. This team plays every year for The Manheim Prize, which is the oldest amateur soccer trophy in the United States.
The club's tennis and squash facilities have been used for many important national and international championships over the years.
Merion Golf Club: A Separate Story
In 1896, some members of the Merion Cricket Club started the Merion Golf Club. This golf club became very famous and has hosted the U.S. Open golf tournament five times, starting in 1934. In 1941, the Merion Golf Club became a completely separate club from the Merion Cricket Club. The Merion Golf Club most recently hosted the U.S. Open in 2013.
Images for kids
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The fourth clubhouse (1892) was destroyed by fire in January 1896.
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Henry Scattergood playing at Merion (around 1897)
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John Lester playing at Merion (around 1897)
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Small Lester playing at Merion
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"The Cottage"
See also
- Philadelphia Cricket Club
- Germantown Cricket Club
- Belmont Cricket Club
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania
