Tennis at Town Hall?  The building we know as Town Hall was originally the Eldridge Gymnasium, built in 1892.  Located within easy walking distance of hotels and boarding houses in Norfolk at the turn of the last century, the Gymnasium was a popular gathering place for both residents and visitors.  People played croquet on the lawn and tennis on the courts in front of the building, where the Norfolk Farmers Market now takes place. In addition to tennis, the Gymnasium provided exercise equipment, rowing machines, and bowling alleys in the basement.  There were morning and evening concerts, as well as lectures and dances.  In 1906, Mark Twain’s daughter, Clara Clemens, made her singing debut at the Gymnasium. Her father was in the audience that night and, in an effort not to upstage Clara, waited until after her performance to tell the audience about his own debut as a public speaker. “My heart goes out in sympathy to anyone who is making his first appearance before an audience of human beings,” he commented wryly. In conclusion he thanked the audience for their appreciation of Clara’s singing “which is by the way hereditary.” 

Ann Havemeyer

Photo courtesy of The Norfolk Historical Society