Club History

History of Brattleboro RacquetSports, Inc.

In the late 1970's a small group of people made regular fifty mile round trip journeys to Deerfield Academy just to play squash. Dr. Moin Khan, who was a truly great squash player, had obtained permission from the squash coach there for the use of the courts in return for his acting as a "sparring partner" for Deerfield's squash team - usually resulting in the systematic demolishing of their best players. At the time the group had dreamed of a local squash facility. When Moin's negotiations with the tennis club to allow the placement of a single squash court adjacent to their facility were unsuccessful, the group persisted in looking for an alternate site. Land was ultimately leased from the tennis club, and the squash group, now significantly larger, was able to join forces with a similar group interested in racquetball and handball to build a new facility to house two squash courts and two racquetball courts.

The initial organizational skills of Eric Anderson and Peter Gibbons were augmented by those of Mike Held and Phil Feidelseit with incorporation occurring on November 20, 1980. In 1981 115 interested parties were each able to contribute $2050, some with the aid of low interest loans secured from a local bank supporting this project, to enable the facility to be completely built with no outside financing. A grand inaugural was held with a squash exhibition arranged by Moin Khan, which included two of the legendary members of the Khan clan, Mohibullah Khan and Gul Khan. Unfortunately within a year of the inauguration of the club in 1982, Moin succumbed to a brain tumor. The courts were named for him as a gesture of gratitude for his guidance during the formative stages of the building and out of respect for his great skills and sportsmanship as a squash player and his conduct as a person.

The club is governed by a Board of Directors elected from the membership for staggered three-year terms. A small list of improvements include the installation of maple floors in all four courts (1992), new high impact resistant front walls in all courts (1993), enlargement of the men's changing room (1995), the installation of a variety of exercise equipment (1997-1999), and the refurbishment of the sauna (2000), and addition of sliding windows in one squash court and one racquetball court.

During the summer of 2008 the cost of an addition to the men's locker room and available general usage space, and the expansion of the squash courts - from American hardball to International softball - was facilitated greatly by the pro bono work of several members of Brattleboro RacquetSports as well as the contribution of 500 hours of labor by 45 volunteers.

Based on our current membership/dues structure, the initial dues of $62.50 in 1982 were gradually increased to $125 in 1989, $150 in 1995, $170 for 2002, $180 for 2008, and $190 for the 2009 playing year.

The club has prospered each year since its creation and the membership dues to maintain the facility have remained nominal. By exercising fiscal responsibility the board has been able to retain a capital expense fund for future repairs and purchases.