New Jersey Athletic Club history

The Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. & A.M., also known as Bethany Lodge, was established in 1876, making it one of the city's oldest African-American organizations.

The year 1883 saw the birth of the Elks Club, and the North End Club came two years later.

George Brown built a boathouse at the foot of Delevan Street in 1907, where members of local prominent families supported a variety of riverfront activities.' Following World War I, the recreational use of the river declined with the rise of local industry.

The third and largest club to emerge from this period was the Newark Athletic Club (NAC), founded in 1919.

Bankruptcy and foreclosure followed in 1931 with the loss of $2.5 million.

At its peak, it boasted of 3,800 members which dwindled to less than 300 by 1938.

Larry Doby, the second African-American player to be signed to play in the major leagues and first to do so in the American League, played for the Rockers under Faber before Major League Baseball integrated minority players in 1946.

In August 1951, Ford took time off from his duties with the United States Army in Fort Monmouth and pitched a shutout for the Rockers – striking out 17 hitters.

Doby would enter the major leagues after a stint with the Athletic Club and go on to appear in seven All-Star games and place second in the 1954 MVP voting.

The Military Park Hotel in 1966.

Sefcik, who became a member with the club the first day he was invited by a friend in 1987, said he joined because of the people and opportunity to meet new friends.

Originally at 44 Park Place, its last home was at 52 Park Place, the building which is now being renovated as the new headquarters of the New Jersey Historical Society, which will open in 1997 as part of the downtown cultural complex.

In 2003-04, historical changes included the expansion of the conference women’s and men’s soccer tournaments to six-team fields; the implementation of divisional play in women’s and men’s basketball; and the expansion of both postseason basketball tournaments to six-team fields.

In 2004-05, the conference added its second affiliate football member in Western Connecticut State University.

In 2006-07, the conference added its third affiliate football member in Buffalo State College.

In 2008-09, the conference added Morrisville State College and The College at Brockport as its fourth and fifth affiliate football members respectively.

In 2009-10, the conference launched a new interactive web site: www.njacsports.com

In 2011-12, the conference added Farmingdale State College and St Joseph’s College-Long Island as its first-ever affiliate members in the sports of women’s and men’s indoor & outdoor track & field.

In 2012-13, the conference returned to a single-division format for both women’s and men’s basketball.