An Ace in Reston

Tennis has a strong history in Reston as a recreational pastime.  The picture above from the Attempting aces and looking for love has a long history in Reston.  Trails Along the Pipestone history book written in 1981 doesn't indicate a date for the game in the picture although I might guess it was the teens by the clothing.  This Reston Train Station was built in 1907 at the east end of town.  

Alexander Kippen Cates bought his home on Main Street just north of where the Memorial Theatre stands today.  Reston Recorder editor Russell Manning his wife Fletch and their family also lived there for many years.  Cates was a lawyer with an office at the far south end of Main Street. Kippen and his wife Elizabeth bought the home in 1910 and also owned the land across the street where the Petro Canada station is today.  It was here that Cates put in a tennis court for his family including three daughters and son who were born between 1911 and 1920.  The nets and court remained until after his death in 1946. 

Dr. Frank Clark lived and had his office in the big house on 134 Fifth Street just north of the tracks. It has been written that he and his family had tennis courts between theirs and the Dr. Chapman home to the north.  His wife Winnifred was a community supporter in many ways and they raised two sons and a daughter.  

Muriel Bulloch - Mc Kee Archives 

The clipping below from the 1922 Reston Recorder indicates the brand new Reston Memorial Park would have courts as well. the courts were levelled and seeded to grass by volunteers.  I just had to Google the term avoirdupois and found it was a gentle way to talk about someone's weight! The transposed letters in the word on the third last line remind me that each letter in the Recorder was handset and there was no spell checker or autocorrect to help them with spelling. 

In 1938, the courts in the park were improved with the installation of a clay surface instead or grass.  It is described in the history book that the clay came from the nearby dugout. I am just imagining the mess until it hardened!  A 6 foot high wire fence was installed around the court on 8 foot tall posts. J. McMurchy and A. D. Anderson were credited with taking on this project.  Enthusiasm waned and the courts were empty for many years.   

The Reston Lions Club spearheaded the revival of tennis in Reston Park in 1979 when they took on the project to hard surface the courts and install a new fence.  At that time, the club had 200 members and it saw a lot of use.  Interest has ebbed and flowed over the years and at the time of writing the history book in 1981, Rob Johnson was president over a Reston Tennis Club that included 40 members. 

As a neighbour to the Park, we hear the sound of a tennis game occasionally.  The courts have also been used for pickleball. This past summer saw the construction of a tennis practice wall (pictured to the right) by community member Brian Sytnyk with financial support from the Park Board.  Another ace with an amazing community history!