The following is an excerpt from "The History of The Neighborhood Club" written in approximately 1900 by Harry L. Ayer, one of the Club's founders.

In the Fall of 1890, five men; George H. Phelps, Henry B. Day, George A. Frost, Charles I. Travelli and Harry L. Ayer, all interested in the game of lawn tennis, held a meeting for the purpose of making plans to organize a club, to build tennis courts and a club house.

At this meeting it was suggested that each one of the original five men invite five other men to attend a meeting which was called for December 13, 1890. The thirty men, all living in West Newton, met and organized the Neighborhood Club. As the name implies, it was a family organization, and all the members' families were entitled to full privilege of the club. The members of the new club were all interested in the development of tennis and the class of sports which required no systematic methods of training and which provided a pleasant amount of recreation.

A copy of the formal Association document drawn up and signed at that December 13 meeting is presented below. You will note that one Henry B. Day was granted ownership of four shares of the Club, while the others were granted a single share apiece. In a moment we will see why.