The demolition of the walls of the Memorial Field House, 1979
Description:
This is a photograph of the remaining front pillars, walls, and windows of Springfield College's Memorial Field House in 1979. The glass of the windows are gone, and the frames of the windows are broken, but there is still ivy on the remaining walls; the other parts of the field house are almost demolished. In January 1979, Harvey and Tracy Associates of Worcester, Massachusetts was hired to conduct an in-depth structural analysis and the report was delivered on April 27, 1979, concluded that the lamination of the wood arches had disintegrated and/or had no glue to hold the laminated boards together. The Springfield building commissioner Charles G. Cook Jr. then proceeded to revoke all certificates of inspection, thereby closing the building and demanding that it be demolished on May 11, 1979. The Memorial Field House was originally used as a basic training facility by the US Navy at Sampson, New York. In 1946, Springfield College qualified for a drill hall and the government disassembled and transported the building to Springfield College. The field house was opened on February 21, 1948. On that day the first basketball game was held in the new arena, with Springfield College playing Providence College. William R. Chase, a member of the first group of men to play basketball in 1891, tossed the ceremonial first ball. The building was divided into three sections: the Gymnasium area, the Arena area, and the Class and Game Room area. The Gymnasium area was 140 x 80 feet and could accommodate 5 volleyball, or 9 badminton, or 3 basket ball courts. The arena area comprised 230 feet of open earth surface for field events and had the ability to accommodate 4000 spectators at public events. The class and game room area had space for offices and temporary class-rooms. The building was demolished in 1979, a new Physical Education Complex replaced the Memorial Field House, and was formally dedicated on October 30, 1981.
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