Courtesy photo
UNICO Donates to Help Preserve Shady Rest
The Scotch Plains – Fanwood UNICO chapter donated $1,000 to the Preserve Shady Rest Committee during a presentation held at the Shady Rest Clubhouse on March 10th.
In 1921, the Shady Rest Golf and Country Club became the first African American owned and operated country club in the United States. It was also home to John Shippen Jr., the first American-born golf professional, and featured entertainment by legendary jazz musicians including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, and Billie Holiday. The Preserve Shady Rest Committee, formed in 2013, is committed to preserving the historical significance of the facility. This includes the restoration of the clubhouse (originally built as a farmhouse in the 1700’s), the creation of a multi-purpose center and museum, and the recognition of the site as a national historic landmark.
“UNICO is honored to make a $1,000 donation to help preserve Shady Rest”, said Angelo Ucciferri of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood UNICO Chapter. “Our UNICO chapter has been proudly contributing to charitable, cultural, and educational organizations in the Scotch Plains – Fanwood community for 50 years, and we are grateful to the Shady Rest Preservation Committee for recognizing and preserving this important historical heritage within our town.”
