CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On the night of Dec. 25, 1935, a fire of unknown origins destroyed most of Edgewood Country Club except for one thing - the squash courts. Today, almost 78 years later, squash is still thriving at the Charleston landmark.

Each year starting in October, players begin the unofficial squash season at Edgewood with games played every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening as part of a league. This season nearly 80 players participated.

Charleston resident Doug Meeks plays in the league and also helps coordinate its schedule and assists with running the tournaments, such as the league championship tournament played Saturday at Edgewood.

Meeks has been playing for about 10 years, he said, and was introduced to the sport by a friend.

"I was just looking to have some exercise, really," he said. "A friend recommended it - John Hussell. That's really how a lot of these guys get started. A lot of them are golfers looking for something to do during the winter to get fit."

Squash is a peculiar sport with both singles and doubles matches. In squash, as opposed to racquetball, the ceiling is not in play.

The racquets used in squash have a long, thin handle and resemble a cross of sorts between a tennis racquet and a badminton racquet. Singles games are played on courts smaller than those used for doubles contests.

Another difference between singles and doubles squash are the balls. In singles there is a much softer ball as opposed to a harder doubles ball.

"I think here the doubles portion of it is a good social thing as well as exercise," Meeks said. "The majority of it takes place in winter so it's inside and never really hindered by weather. It's nice to get out and do something in the winter."

The courts that survived the Edgewood fire are singles courts, with the country club adding the doubles courts in the early 1990s. Charleston resident Richard Merrill, who has been playing the sport for nearly 30 years, said squash's popularity has steadily grown in Charleston since the addition of the doubles facility.

"Before Edgewood built the doubles court in 1993 or '94 there were probably 20 people who played on regular basis," Merrill said. "Today with the doubles court we have a league. Doubles is a great equalizing game. It's easier for a person that is just learning the game to take it up and play because he has a partner that can help him out. It can be a very confusing game to start with."

As far back as the 1920s and '30s, squash players from Charleston competed against players from places like St. Louis, Atlanta and Louisville. Meeks said the Charleston players recently started traveling again, going to Louisville to play last year and hosting a group from Louisville at Edgewood this year.

Interest has also spread to women and young people. Merrill said the majority of the players ranged in age from their 30s to their 70s but there are also several women who participate in doubles and a youth group of 12 players that also wrapped up its season Saturday.

For Merrill, however, the squash season doesn't end. He said unlike many in the league he plays year round and will be back on the courts in no time.

"I've got a game scheduled early Monday morning already," he said. "A lot of people will take up other activities but this is the principle source of exercise that I get."

Reach Tom Bragg at tom.br...@wvgazette.com.