Crocker Field is an outdoor sports and recreation facility for the children of the Fitchburg Public School System in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The complex consists of a number of athletic facilities on a 5.5-acre (2.2 ha) plot of land near the Nashua River. There are indoor and outdoor playing areas, an outdoor stadium, a field house, and a ticket booth and concession stand. The site is enclosed on three sides by a wrought iron fence resting on a concrete base, with periodic square concrete pillars. Most of the complex was built in 1918, with landscaping designed by the Olmsted Brothers.[2] The facility was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 as the Crocker Field Historic District.[1]
Crocker Field was created as a gift to the city in 1916 by Alvah Crocker II, the president of Crocker, Burbank & Co., then a major paper manufacturer in Fitchburg. Crocker's stated purpose for the gift was to encourage the engagement of the city's youth in outdoor recreational athletic activities. At the time, the city's public schools did not have organized athletics programs, but these were soon started in order to capitalize on the gift. Crocker hired the noted Olmsted Brothers firm to design an athletic campus that would provide facilities for baseball, football, and tennis, as well as a running track and a field house. Its features were designed by Olmsted employee Percival Gallagher to be as durable as possible, using stone, brick, and concrete, so that maintenance costs would be low. Crocker also provided a $38,000 endowment to fund its maintenance. In 1921, Crocker funded additional features of the park, including a hockey field and a sprinting track.[2]
Since its construction, the field as served as the principal playing ground for high school athletic teams, hosting popular events such as rivalry football games with neighboring Leominster. It is also the normal location for high school graduation ceremonies, and often hosts regional athletic events.[2]
^ abc"NRHP nomination for Crocker Field Historic District". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
February 26, 2023
crocker, field, outdoor, sports, recreation, facility, children, fitchburg, public, school, system, fitchburg, massachusetts, complex, consists, number, athletic, facilities, acre, plot, land, near, nashua, river, there, indoor, outdoor, playing, areas, outdoo. Crocker Field is an outdoor sports and recreation facility for the children of the Fitchburg Public School System in Fitchburg Massachusetts The complex consists of a number of athletic facilities on a 5 5 acre 2 2 ha plot of land near the Nashua River There are indoor and outdoor playing areas an outdoor stadium a field house and a ticket booth and concession stand The site is enclosed on three sides by a wrought iron fence resting on a concrete base with periodic square concrete pillars Most of the complex was built in 1918 with landscaping designed by the Olmsted Brothers 2 The facility was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 as the Crocker Field Historic District 1 Crocker Field Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtShow map of MassachusettsShow map of the United StatesLocationFitchburg MassachusettsCoordinates42 35 44 N 71 48 34 W 42 59556 N 71 80944 W 42 59556 71 80944 Coordinates 42 35 44 N 71 48 34 W 42 59556 N 71 80944 W 42 59556 71 80944Area5 5 acres 2 2 ha Built1918ArchitectOlmsted Brothers Gallagher PercivalArchitectural styleClassical RevivalNRHP reference No 01000651 1 Added to NRHPJune 14 2001History EditCrocker Field was created as a gift to the city in 1916 by Alvah Crocker II the president of Crocker Burbank amp Co then a major paper manufacturer in Fitchburg Crocker s stated purpose for the gift was to encourage the engagement of the city s youth in outdoor recreational athletic activities At the time the city s public schools did not have organized athletics programs but these were soon started in order to capitalize on the gift Crocker hired the noted Olmsted Brothers firm to design an athletic campus that would provide facilities for baseball football and tennis as well as a running track and a field house Its features were designed by Olmsted employee Percival Gallagher to be as durable as possible using stone brick and concrete so that maintenance costs would be low Crocker also provided a 38 000 endowment to fund its maintenance In 1921 Crocker funded additional features of the park including a hockey field and a sprinting track 2 Since its construction the field as served as the principal playing ground for high school athletic teams hosting popular events such as rivalry football games with neighboring Leominster It is also the normal location for high school graduation ceremonies and often hosts regional athletic events 2 See also EditNational Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County MassachusettsReferences Edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service April 15 2008 a b c NRHP nomination for Crocker Field Historic District Commonwealth of Massachusetts Retrieved 2014 03 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Crocker Field amp oldid 1130531685, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
