Squash and Harkness
- Don Schueler
- 54 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Fast-Paced World of Squash: A Racquet Sport with Rich Origins and Harkness Connections
Squash is a dynamic and fast-paced racquet sport with a fascinating history that stretches back to the early 19th century. Its origins lie at Harrow School in the United Kingdom, where students created a new twist on the traditional game of rackets.
Origins at Harrow School
In the early 1800s, students at Harrow School began playing a variation of the game of rackets in a confined, walled court. Rackets originated in the 18th century in England and was derived from the game of handball. The game is very fast, the ball is small and hard like a golf ball and the walls are hard. It gained popularity among the upper classes and was often played in private clubs. The game has evolved over the years and has seen various changes in rules and equipment.
What set this new "squash" game apart was the use of a soft rubber ball, which would “squash” on impact with the wall versus the hard rackets ball. This unique feature not only inspired the game’s name but also introduced a different style of play—one that emphasized quick reflexes, strategic thinking, and controlled shot placement.
A Timeline of Early Development
1850s – Boys at Harrow School develop a new version of racquets using a recently invented vulcanized rubber ball and slightly altered racquets. They play in alleys and courtyards around campus.
1865 – Harrow opens three courts originally designed for Rugby fives (a handball game). Students quickly adopt these courts for their evolving game, which becomes known as "baby racquets," "soft racquets," or eventually "squash racquets."
1883 – The first squash court outside Harrow is constructed in Oxford, England, by a former student of the school.
1884 – James Conover, a teacher at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, builds the first squash courts in the United States. He models them after Harrow’s, with help from a college roommate who had attended the UK school.
Expansion into the United States
Squash crossed the Atlantic in the late 19th century and found fertile ground at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire. With limited access to official racquets and balls from the UK, students adapted the game using what they had, giving rise to an American version of the sport. These early innovations played a key role in spreading squash across the United States.
Growth and Formalization
By the turn of the 20th century, squash had begun to mature. Standardized rules were introduced, purpose-built courts appeared in clubs and schools, and the sport gained a more formal structure. National associations and tournaments were established, solidifying squash as a recognized and respected competitive sport.
Squash Today
Modern squash is a global game played by millions across the world. With professional tours, international championships, and players of all ages competing at every level, the sport is known for its speed, intensity, and tactical complexity. Squash continues to evolve, embracing new technologies and training methods, while staying true to its roots as a game that rewards skill, stamina, and strategy.
Squash and Harkness
The game of squash intersects with some members of the Harkness family in interesting ways. First, Edward Harkness attended St. Pauls School just as the game was being started in the US. We assume he played at St. Pauls, since he built squash courts in his carriage house in New York, down the street from Harkness House on East 74th street. He also added a squash court in his carriage house/casino at Eolia.
William Hale "Bill" Harkness also attended St. Pauls and played squash. He also graduated from Yale and Harvard. He was an avid squash player and continued to play despite a heart condition, which ultimately contributed to his death from a heart attack at the age of 54, reportedly after one last squash match.
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