By KATHY KREAG WILLIAMS
Hamilton County Clerk
To help celebrate Noblesville Schools’ 150th anniversary, I thought it would be fun to do a little reminiscing. As a 1974 graduate, I can only recall up to 57 years: 12 years of school plus 45 years since I graduated. I am sure many of the NHS alumni feel like I do … where did the years go? As I prepare for our 45th reunion in October, I thought it would be fun to look back.
I have a collection of many of the NHS yearbooks, and it is always fun to look through them and find interesting tidbits from years past.
This weekend, I was trying to find the first Homecoming celebration. Even though I didn’t find it, I will keep looking over the next couple weeks, but I still found some interesting things in the 1941 yearbook, or the Shadow, as it is officially named.
When you open it up you see the picture of the high school. No, not on Cumberland Road or 17th Street. This was where the Boys and Girls Club called home for many years and even before the addition to the Club.
What first intrigued me, though, was on the fourth page; it was titled “The New Athletic Field.” It had a rendering of what the area would look like and where the parking and bleachers would be. A small little press box sat on top. It showed the football field and the quarter-mile track.
It would be located in North Noblesville, between Monument and 10th streets.
I think they might have meant between Monument and Harrison streets and 10th and 12th streets. My favorite part was the “North Noblesville.” Kind of tells you the “North” part of Noblesville has expanded quite a bit, as has the East, West and South.
“It was thought that the field would be ready this year (1941), but delays have made the realization impossible. In two years’ time the field will be the magnificent replica of the picture below.”
“In the future, Miller gridiron victories will be staged here. Greater track records will be set on its cinder paths.”
“A big attraction for those who like to go and root for their favorite team is the stadium-like seating arrangement. Permanent cement bleachers will be constructed with a greater seating capacity than that afforded in previous years.”
“Dressing rooms and ticket booths are to be situated beneath the bleachers.”
“This marvelous field and stadium should inspire the Millers to greater accomplishments.”
For those of us who grew up in that area we know of this “magnificent” football field, we ran around the track or rode our bikes, flew kites, and in later days played or watched baseball when the football field was converted to two Little League baseball diamonds.
Today the Millers play on a football field that was first dedicated as Dale V. Swanson and later became Hare Chevrolet Field and now Beaver Material.
Mr. Swanson was the football coach in 1941 before being called for military duty. He later served as the Superintendent for Noblesville Schools. It was stated that they had a very successful football season. “The season was made possible by the cooperation of the boys with Coach Swanson’s plan of attack. The boys seemed to have the willingness to win.” The only two teams from that 1940 season that we still play in 2019 is Cathedral (we tied) and Westfield (we won 13-0).
Life goes in full circle, even on football fields. Today many have spoken of a new football field, much like the one described in 1941. Even though I like the current field the Millers play on there with the lighted cross at the north end of the field on the First United Methodist Church, I do agree there are some upgrades that need made.
In 1940, the football field brought the community together for many activities; hopefully that will occur for many years to come.
Today, things are so different – folks have so many other things to choose to do, and that is okay. But for this gal, in the fall, Friday nights are for high school football in 1974 or 2019.
Please share your Noblesville school memories with The Reporter by emailing news@readthereporter.com. We would love to remember the good times of the 150 years of Noblesville Schools.