Virtual Museum and Hall of Fame Opens – the mission is to capture the history of the game

Technology has been wonderful to our under-known sport. With the advent of the computer, communication has become more cohesive and streamlined. Archived photos reappear for the world to see. And the history of the game, previously existing in just a few books and deep memories, has been given a new place to live. The virtual Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame has breathed new life into the dusty chronicles and is now welcoming visitors.

The backstory of The Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation sits on a few shoulders. Bob Brown and Chuck Vasoll were important cheerleaders for a Hall of Fame museum. In 2002, under the guidance of then APTA President John Horine, The Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation finally became a registered 501 (c ) (3) non-profit that has the mission of capturing the history and the great camaraderie of the game and celebrating those players and others who have grown and enhanced the sport.

The next thrust was to create a “bricks and mortar” facility, and efforts continue to locate such a site. In 2005, Bob Brown attempted to get space dedicated at the Fox Meadow Tennis Club, the birthplace of platform tennis, without success. In 2008, the Foundation tried again, and the next “almost” building was at Centercourt in Chatham, New Jersey. Once more, the project didn’t stick. In the meantime, it was widely believed that to significantly enhance how to capture the history of the game, employing digital technology, rather than just limiting it to a physical facility, was the way to go. Many traditional museums have moved in this direction as they see opportunities to deliver content in more visually exciting and interactive ways, with the added benefit of attracting “visitors” without the need to physically visit one location.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters, the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame has made significant progress towards realizing this dream……[click on images to read more]

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 1 Sept./Oct. 2013