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The History of Crocker Field
Taken from the 'Crocker Field Restoration Committee Statement of Need'
in a letter to the Mayor of Fitchburg dated Jan 1 1917.
Alvah Crocker II stated his vision for Crocker Field:
In my opinion, the public schools of the city require an adequate field in which the different out- of- doors sports and contests, which count so much in the
physical and moral development of our (children) can be held. The importance of thorough training in baseball, football, and other athletic sports is well
recognized and will be of great benefit to our public spirit and civic unity.
Crocker Field was designed by famed landscape designers Olmsted Brothers of Brookline Ma and was officially dedicated on June 21, 1918. Crocker Field Stadiums
and original buildings are generally Classical Revival in style and are of concrete and terra cotta construction finished in stucco. Due to its significance
as an Olmsted design, Crocker Field is listed in the National and State Registers of Historical Places. In recent years, the annual Junior/Senior Relay Races
at Crocker Field have been expanded to include relay races for students in elementary, middle, and high school. Traditionally the home field for FHS football
and track, Crocker Field now hosts other sports such as field hockey and soccer. It is the site of the dignified and traditional FHS graduation each June and
of course is the host of the nationally known FHS/LHS Thanksgiving football game.
Over the years, Crocker Field has hosted many special events. In May 1925, a track meet featured world famous athletes including Finland’s Olympic champion
Paavo Nurmi. In July 1925, an exhibition baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and local all-stars was played to honor the memory of Red’s manager, Pat Moran,
a Fitchburg native. In 1964, the Royal Lipizzaner stallions galloped in Crocker Field as part of the city’s bi-centennial celebration. In Sept 2001, citizens of
Fitchburg gathered at Crocker Field to remember the victims of the terrorist attacks.
Years of weathering and overuse have taken their toll on this landmark. Due to volunteer efforts of many individuals over the years, donations for improvements
such as field lights, concession stand, and press box have contributed to raising awareness of this true gem. Recognizing the needs of Crocker Field, the reality
of strained school and municipal budgets, a group of concerned citizens founded the Crocker Field Restoration Committee in 2004. CFRC is a private non-profit
corporation whose mission is to raise funds to complete the various projects. That will insure that Crocker Field is restored to excellent structural conditions,
its esthetic and historic character maintained, so that future generations of children may enjoy this magnificent facility and recognize Crocker Field’s place in
Fitchburg’s heritage. Major restoration is needed to the perimeter fencing, track, clubhouse and grandstands. If this is not completed soon, the increased
deterioration will be so expensive that restoration will be impossible and an historic place will be lost. CFRC, with the help of donations from hundreds of
supporters and the City of Fitchburg, has identified the needs, retained the best architectural and engineering firms to plan the work, and complete some of the
restoration work. In four years CFRC has raised $173,000 in donations and $350,000 in grants. Although they have accomplished much and built a solid foundation
for the restoration work, they have raised only a fraction of what is needed. The time has arrived for significant donations so that the rest of Crocker Field’s
needs can be addressed.
Our class will be making a sizable donation at the time of our reunion.
ADDITIONAL Crocker History Circa 1995 added 041009
If anyone is wondering about Don Woods and his Crocker Field tee shirts, I will fill you in. You might know that Crocker Field was donated to the
schoolchildren of Fitchburg by Alvah Crocker in 1917. He went 1st class by having the facility designed by the Olmsteds, the most respected landscape
architects in America at the time.
Over the years, Mother Nature began to take its toll on the concrete grandstands and on the fence surrounding the
complex. 4 years ago, Fitchburg's Bill Gates and Steve Svolis - knowing that I am a structural engineer- asked me to take a look at the stands. Although
the stands looked fine from the outside, I was surprised to find that the underside was in various stages of deterioration. Concerned about the safety
of the stands during the approaching football season, I performed a study and submitted it to the Fitchburg School Dept. (Doing the study was fascinating).
Through the efforts of Steve Svolis, I learned that the original plans for Crocker Field are kept by the National Park Service in a humidity controlled
warehouse in Springfield. The Omsted Historic site in Brookline made the plans available so that I could get the information needed for the study. This
was a life saver).
Don Woods learned of the study and decided to raise the funds necessary to repair the stands. Don and his committee of FHS alumni
have spent countless hours over the past 4 years raising over $100,000 for the project. The response from the public and FHS alumni has been gratifying..
it is good to know that Fitchburgers will come through for a worthy cause. Thanks to the fundraising effort, we were able to complete Phase 1 of the
repairs in 1994. This corrected the most serious structural problems. Phase 2 will be complete by Christmas, as most of the deteriorated concrete has been
repaired. I hope to get Phase 3 done in 1996. This will be preventive maintenance so that the problems will not recur in the forseeable future.
As a sidelight, I would like to thank my fellow FHS 1970 classmate , Vin Carbone, for his contributions. When I was looking for a company that
specializes in concrete repairs, I contacted his company in Needham, Mass., totally unaware that he worked there. This turned out to be another life
saver, as Vinny, who had run track at Crocker Field for FHS, arranged to have the work done for a low price and donated some of the materials and labor.
By next year the grandstands should be in good shape. A lot of other work needs to be done at Crocker so that it remains the best facility around. The
fences need to be repaired, a new press box is needed, and the rest rooms need some TLC.
Lenny Laakso, FHS Class of 1970
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Copyright 2009-2013
Fitchburg High School Alumni Class of 1954 |
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