The photograph shows the West Side Tennis Club looking north to West 89th Street just west of Central Park West, dated between 1892 and 1902. The north side of 89th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue retains historic features, including 291 CPW’s red-and-white striped facade and continuous row houses. The West Side Tennis Club began on three clay courts in 1892. By 1902, the New York Tribune reported land would be cut up for building, prompting the club to begin relocating as Manhattan development moved uptown and property values rose.
Welcome to another installment in the Rag's Historical Photo Challenge. The image above was taken somewhere on the Upper West Side, sometime in the past. Can you figure out where, when, and what it shows? Look closely; this week's challenge photo, like the others in the series, includes clues that will help you identify the scene, if you're a dedicated UWS history sleuth.
Clues: The north side of 89th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue is a paragon of preservation, starting with 291 CPW's distinctive pattern of red and white stripes, and continuing with an unbroken series of row houses that extend nearly to Columbus. What tennis players saw in 1900 is what you still see today! The rest of the story: There were several space-requiring enterprises that kept relocating as Manhattan development moved uptown and UWS property values increased.
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