WEST JERSEY TABLE TENNIS CLUB HISTORY
Our club officially began in the basement of Gene Wonderlin in January of
1966 as "The Pennsauken Table Tennis Club" playing one night a week. As membership increased it was expanded to two nights
a week. Seeing an opportunity to expand even more, we began renting evenings at the Maple Shade 25 Club in Maple Shade, NJ
in March of 1967. It was at this time the name was changed to "The West Jersey Table Tennis Club". Each evening lights would
be strung across the room and four tables set-up. Most evenings there was free beer left over from parties.
The next move was to the second floor above the Woolworth store at 26th and
Federal streets in Camden, NJ in April 1970. For several years this was utopia. We enjoyed wooden floors, barriers between
the now five tables and good lighting. The tables were set up all the time and people could play whenever they wanted. During
our stay at this location, two United States Table Tennis Association (USTTA) sanctioned tournaments were held.
All good things come to an end. Due to vandalism and declining membership
the club was forced to move.
In 1982 the club returned to Pennsauken to the present location where we rent
the gymnasium at the Pennsauken United Methodist Church two nights a week. Each evening of play we now set up eight tables
and barriers. One group of tables is for the more advanced players. Netting is also placed on the sides of the tables
to reduce the ball travel and interference to other players. During this time Jack Born was president and Bill Camlin, treasurer
When Jack Born passed away Norm Schmidt took over the Presidency in September
1998; Alden Head became the Treasurer at that time. Big improvements for the club included six new tables that were purchased
between 2000 and 2002, the lighting replaced, and net barriers were constructed. Our club "paddle" logo was conceived
in 2000.
In 2002 we are now again affiliated with the national table tennis association
now called: United States of America Table Tennis (USATT).
In 2003 Norm and Gene, retired from the officers' position and the current officers took over. Monthly meetings were started
and two Stiga tables added for a total of eight tables.
