Crocker Field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Crocker Field Historic District
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fitchburg, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) |
| Built | 1918 |
| Architect | Olmsted Brothers; Gallagher, Percival |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000651 |
| Added to NRHP | June 14, 2001 |
Crocker Field is a cool outdoor place for sports and fun in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. It's used by kids in the Fitchburg Public School System. This big sports area covers about 5.5 acres of land. It's located right near the Nashua River.
At Crocker Field, you'll find both indoor and outdoor places to play. There's also a big outdoor stadium, a special building called a field house, and a ticket booth with a snack stand. A strong wrought iron fence surrounds most of the complex. This fence sits on a concrete base and has concrete pillars. Most of Crocker Field was built in 1918. Its outdoor areas were designed by the famous Olmsted Brothers company. Because of its history and design, Crocker Field was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. It's officially known as the Crocker Field Historic District.
The Story of Crocker Field
Crocker Field was a special gift to the city in 1916. It came from Alvah Crocker II, who was the head of a big paper company called Crocker, Burbank & Co. He wanted to help young people in Fitchburg get active outdoors. At that time, the city's schools didn't have sports teams. But after this gift, they quickly started organizing athletic programs.
Alvah Crocker II hired the well-known Olmsted Brothers firm to design the sports complex. They planned areas for baseball, football, and tennis. They also included a running track and a field house. Percival Gallagher, who worked for Olmsted, made sure everything was built to last. He used strong materials like stone, brick, and concrete. This helped keep maintenance costs low over the years. Alvah Crocker II also gave $38,000 to help pay for the field's upkeep. In 1921, he added even more features. These included a hockey field and a sprinting track.
A Hub for School Sports
Since it was built, Crocker Field has been the main place for high school sports teams to play. It hosts exciting events like big rivalry football games against nearby Leominster. It's also where high school graduation ceremonies often take place. Plus, the field frequently hosts sports events for teams from all over the region.
