Buffalo Tennis and Squash Club
Also known as: Buffalo Tennis Club
Why it's listed
Buffalo's Elmwood Avenue is home to an indoor tennis and squash clubhouse built in 1915-1916 for a group of the city's prosperous families. Designed by Lansing, Bley & Lyman, the symmetrical Classical Revival building is built of hollow tile with stucco walls, brick details and hipped roofs. It combines a central club building with locker rooms and lounges, flanking wings of squash courts and a skylit indoor tennis court at the rear. Bley & Lyman widened the squash courts in 1926 and added two doubles courts in 1929; a second tennis court was added in 1968. The club admitted both men and women players, unusual for its time. It has hosted national tournaments, including singles events in 1942, 1953 and 1962, and an invitational doubles tournament begun in 1954. It was listed for its architecture, its association with Buffalo's social and recreational history, and its place in the development of American squash. The building keeps its original appearance to a remarkable degree and remains in use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a well-preserved early twentieth-century indoor tennis and squash club in the Classical Revival style, and an early work of architect Duane Lyman. It also documents the sporting associations of Buffalo's wealthy 'mansion families' and the club's role in the growth of squash, especially doubles play, locally and nationally.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08001141, listed December 5, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 314 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | December 5, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08001141 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1916-1929 |
| Architect / builder | Lansing, Bley, & Lyman (1916), Bley & Lyman (1926, 1929), Lyman & Assoc. (1968) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The club continues in its historic use as a tennis and squash clubhouse; two squash courts are now used for a weight room and storage. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Delaware Park-Front Park System |
| Coordinates | 42.90738, -78.87723 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08001141.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4985866
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.