As others here have written, the IBM County Club was a focal point of our lives. The IBM Quarter Century Club hosted their annual venue there on the rear patio area and first tee; there were great shows in the field house (when a young child, that is where we - the children of IBM employees -were taken during the Christmas holiday to get our age-appropriate girl or boy wrapped gift) and when in junior high school, I saw the Cowsills perform there; and in later years there were many music venues performed in that field house with dances. I attended MANY wedding receptions in the ballroom, and golfed on the course all my life. We used to love the vanilla cokes we were able to order in the cafeteria afterward. I learned to swim and high dive in the pools. My brother and I loved to bowl in the lanes that were provided. When we were quite young, there was the fenced, supervised large playground to the east of the pools. We loved spending an afternoon there either outside on the various playground rides but also in the partially enclosed area that offered coloring, and arts. I also took my tennis lessons there from a well-known local pro. All in all, you will not ever find any place like that anywhere again. It was truly unique, much-loved and will be sorely missed. So sad to see this piece of so many people's history come to this end. IBM took exceptional care of the property.
Worked there 1985-1986 in the coffee shop, and worked occasional banquets 1980-1986 Yes little doors were the main entrance on that side. When it was IBMs that was also our “badge in” door when we opened up in the morning. Attended as an IBM employees kid all the Christmas parties, and trophy banquets. My Dad worked for IBM 41+ years, me 10, my brother 25, and sister 15 ish. It’s like losing a dear friend.
Very cool and so very sad to see this as I spent a great portion of my youth there. One slight critique if I may. Love the drone shots, but they were too fast/quick…trying to focus on certain areas as it pertained to the golf course etc was hard. But all in all great you are capturing what was something very special to thousands of families of a bygone era. :(
Asbestos is the issue with many older buildings, not something to be played with. Sad to see it go but it could not be allowed to stand as it is today. The bricks should be sold for like a buck a piece and the money go to a local charity.
I heard that a builder is going to build affordable housing on the site. If that's true then it'll turn into a ghetto and high crime quickly just like ely park and the apartments across from the old Kmart in Binghamton. You can't take ghetto mentality n give them some place nice n expect them to change . It would be much better if an assisted living center were built. Then those living in the houses nearby wouldn't have as much to worry about criminals stealing from them.
Hey how many of you kids out there remember asking to play in there pool only to be told if your parents did not work for ibm you could not be on the property. To use evan so much as the bathroom. This could not have happened soon enough. It was an evil that needed to be torn down. I liked it better when ibm stock went In to the toilet. I like that most of it was as if God from above sent a message down letting these people know of the evil they had in there hearts
As others here have written, the IBM County Club was a focal point of our lives. The IBM Quarter Century Club hosted their annual venue there on the rear patio area and first tee; there were great shows in the field house (when a young child, that is where we - the children of IBM employees -were taken during the Christmas holiday to get our age-appropriate girl or boy wrapped gift) and when in junior high school, I saw the Cowsills perform there; and in later years there were many music venues performed in that field house with dances. I attended MANY wedding receptions in the ballroom, and golfed on the course all my life. We used to love the vanilla cokes we were able to order in the cafeteria afterward. I learned to swim and high dive in the pools. My brother and I loved to bowl in the lanes that were provided. When we were quite young, there was the fenced, supervised large playground to the east of the pools. We loved spending an afternoon there either outside on the various playground rides but also in the partially enclosed area that offered coloring, and arts. I also took my tennis lessons there from a well-known local pro. All in all, you will not ever find any place like that anywhere again. It was truly unique, much-loved and will be sorely missed. So sad to see this piece of so many people's history come to this end. IBM took exceptional care of the property.
That little door was the main lobby entrance to the old IBM club.
There was 4 doors back in the day before the demo.
Thanks for the update, Frank. Nicely filmed, by the way.
Worked there 1985-1986 in the coffee shop, and worked occasional banquets 1980-1986
Yes little doors were the main entrance on that side. When it was IBMs that was also our “badge in” door when we opened up in the morning. Attended as an IBM employees kid all the Christmas parties, and trophy banquets. My Dad worked for IBM 41+ years, me 10, my brother 25, and sister 15 ish. It’s like losing a dear friend.
My father worked at IBM for 38 years and I grew up in this club. I can't believe what it's come down to...
Thanks for the update, love those drone shots!
I remember going to a trophy dinner with my dad here and getting a baseball trophy from Yankees great Phil Rizzuto.
Frank the place your calling the basement , was the bowling alley. The door was to he bowling alley
Definitely sad to see it go, spent many hours there years ago inside and out. Thanks Frank.
What is going to happen with the property after demolitions
😒😒
Thanks for the update 😊
Very cool and so very sad to see this as I spent a great portion of my youth there. One slight critique if I may. Love the drone shots, but they were too fast/quick…trying to focus on certain areas as it pertained to the golf course etc was hard. But all in all great you are capturing what was something very special to thousands of families of a bygone era. :(
Smell is from the floods of 2006 and 2012
When did the country club shut down?
Asbestos is the issue with many older buildings, not something to be played with. Sad to see it go but it could not be allowed to stand as it is today. The bricks should be sold for like a buck a piece and the money go to a local charity.
I'd buy a brick!!
I heard that a builder is going to build affordable housing on the site. If that's true then it'll turn into a ghetto and high crime quickly just like ely park and the apartments across from the old Kmart in Binghamton. You can't take ghetto mentality n give them some place nice n expect them to change .
It would be much better if an assisted living center were built. Then those living in the houses nearby wouldn't have as much to worry about criminals stealing from them.
It would be so cool if they could repurpose those bricks.
Hey how many of you kids out there remember asking to play in there pool only to be told if your parents did not work for ibm you could not be on the property. To use evan so much as the bathroom. This could not have happened soon enough. It was an evil that needed to be torn down. I liked it better when ibm stock went In to the toilet. I like that most of it was as if God from above sent a message down letting these people know of the evil they had in there hearts
Are you related to Sam Palmisano?
I don’t think so
Adios country club