Gray-Veterans Memorial Field . . . a Structure That Inspires Community
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Vol. 16, Issue 2 www.tyrone.k12.pa.us Winter 2016-17 Gray-Veterans Memorial Field . A Structure That Inspires Community Unity By Richard Merryman, Feature Writer TRONGHOLD, STRUCTURE, STRATEGY, and STRENGTH—these four cornerstones permitted Tyrone Area S School District to maintain a memorial stadium that the town would grow to appreciate and to cherish through all these circling years. What more fitting frame for Gray-Veterans Memorial Field than two stone pillars, which support two brass plaques, which honor two Tyrone humanitarians, who dedicated their lives to young people—Mrs. Adda Gray and Mr. Arthur Vanneman? In 1931, Mrs. Gray dedicated a donation of $10,000 from her estate to Tyrone young people. By 1934, using Mrs. Gray’s generous bequest, Mr. Vanneman had engineered the evolution of Tyrone’s new football field, that would forever bear her name. A Stronghold of High School Football Develops for Tyrone At age 101, retired Tyrone Florist Bill Engelman can to gain a stronghold in Tyrone. Each day after school, we still remember when he played varsity football in 1933, changed into our football gear, and walked from old Lin- and how high school football developed a STRONG- coln High School to the Athletic Park—about thirteen HOLD in Tyrone in the Roaring Twenties. Bill Engelman blocks away. Then, at the close of daily practice, we re- played varsity football at the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Ath- versed our trek back to the Lincoln High School locker letic Park, which existed from 1910 to 1948, and now room—mostly in the dark. Each football season, on serves as home to Tyrone’s Chicago Rivet. Reminiscing Thanksgiving afternoon, little Tyrone High competed with from his apartment at Epworth Manor, Mr. Engelman shed big bad Altoona High and forced the Mountain Lions to light on those dark days of the Great Depression when he sweat hard for their victories!” recollected, “By the Autumn of 1933, during my senior Concluded Mr. Engelman, “The other person who en- year, we were lucky to play football at the Athletic Park couraged football to develop a stronghold in Tyrone was field, even as construction on Gray Memorial Field had Samuel Burnham. In the Autumn of 1933, Sam Burnham begun.” christened Tyrone High’s athletic teams the ‘Golden Ea- Continued Engelman, “Since 1921, when football com- gles’ and won free season football tickets to Tyrone games menced at Tyrone High, coaches and players like Albert that year.” Eighty-three years have come and gone since Bowen, Leon Keyser, Buck Skeen, Eddie Schlosser, Merle then, but the mascot name Sam Burnham coined during Stonebraker, and Coach Walter Mensch enabled football the Depression remains the same. (Continued on Page 3) Page 2 / Winter 2016-17 t is hard to believe the holiday season is behind us and we have officially I reached the halfway point of the year. At this time, we reflect on the good work done thus far while maintaining focus on the work to be accomplished in the remaining months. As we approach the spring season, we are focused on providing the support needed for students to meet high expectations in every aspect of their educational experience. In this issue of TyNotes, we take a look at the past, present, and future of the Tyrone Area School District. Our feature article on Gray-Veterans Memorial Field offers readers insight into the history of how the field came to fruition and its Cathy L. Harlow Superintendent of Schools positive impact on the school and community. The Tyrone Area School District is committed to preserving this facility for many generations to come in a manner that is financially affordable for the taxpayers of Tyrone. I hope you find the information contained in this issue of TyNotes interesting and informative. If you have comments regarding information contained in this publication or suggestions for future articles, please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 814-684-0710, extension 4123 or [email protected]. TYRONE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT What’s Inside Board of Education James B. Crawford, President Brian L. Bressler, Vice President Mollie K. Bakhsheshe, Rose A. Black, David J. Fusco, Gray Memorial Field ................................... Cover Story William P. Hartsock, Luther J. Laird, Superintendent’s Message .......................................... 2 Randy L. Miles Sr., James E. Raabe Tyrone Area School Board .......................................... 6 Administration TASD Conducts Emergency Drill ................................ 7 Cathy L. Harlow, Superintendent of Schools Tyrone Students Attend GACTC ................................. 7 Leslie A. Estep, Director of Curriculum & Instruction PreK-12 John E. Clark, Business Administrator School Property Tax Elimination ................................. 8 Kourtney L. Klock, School Psychologist Website Improvement Project ..................................... 9 Thomas R. Muir, Physical Plant Supervisor Kindergarten Registration ............................................ 9 Thomas A. Yoder, High School Principal Outstanding Employee Award ................................... 10 Kristen N. Pinter, Middle School Principal Highmark Foundation Grant ...................................... 10 Lisa A. Hartsock, Elementary School Principal Amanda M. Kurtz, Assistant Elementary School Principal Who’s New................................................................. 11 Glen A Drager, Network Administrator Color Blast Fun Run and Walk .................................. 11 Deans of Students Spring Musical ........................................................... 12 Michael F. McKee-ES, Lindsay N. Miksich-MS, Lucas D. Rhoades-HS Tyrone Area School District It is the policy of the Tyrone Area School District not to discriminate on Home of the Golden Eagles the basis of sex, handicap, race and national origin in its educational and vocational programs, activities, or http://www.facebook.com/TyroneASD Soaring Forward employment as required by Title IX, to Explore, Section 504, and Title VI. Please direct questions about this policy to Challenge, Ms. Cathy Harlow, Superintendent of and Succeed! Schools, at 814.684.0710, Extension https://twitter.com/TyroneASD 4123. Page 3 (Continued from Page 1) A Structure for Tyrone Football Rises in Gray Memorial Field In Tyrone, out of the ashes of the Great Depression rose of her life. Married to the late Tyrone Stock Investor a glorious STRUCTURE—Gray Memorial Field. During Harvey Gray, who died on May 3, 1916, Mrs. Gray lived the early years of America’s Great Depression in the out 28 years of married life with Harvey at 1059 Lincoln 1930s, Tyrone History Teacher and Episcopal Preacher Avenue. The Grays lost their only child, a daughter, at Ralph Wolfgang portrayed a bleak financial picture of the birth. During her 71 years, Mrs. Gray distinguished herself public schools. According to Wolfgang, “In order for des- as a woman concerned about helping those in the dawn of perate Tyrone banks to fund monthly school operating life, in the twilight of life, as well as those who lived in costs, they requested two concessions from the Tyrone the dark shadows of existence. schools. First, all school employees had to work for two In life, Mrs. Adda McFerren Gray financially uplifted straight months without pay. Second, all school employ- missionaries across the world, assisted the American Red ees had to accept a ten percent decrease in monthly Cross, paid the architect’s fees for designing Tyrone’s wages.” Not surprisingly, school morale had sunk since monumental First Presbyterian Church in 1927, furnished school boards, as well as school employees, had lost thou- the Presbyterian Church Parlor, and donated the present sands of dollars in savings invested in banks that had Baldwin Grand Piano, still in use in the Presbyterian failed in the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Sanctuary. Into this dark depression entered Tyrone philanthropist, In death, Mrs. Gray became the principal benefactor for Adda McFerren Gray, who lived from 1859 to 1931. the Tyrone Hospital and for the athletic structure named in When Adda Gray passed away on January 3, 1931, she her honor—Gray Memorial Field. left behind almost $200,000 (equivalent to approximately During the Spring and Summer of 1934, Board Presi- $3,000,000 today), designated foremost to build a hospital dent Arthur Vanneman oversaw the Gray stadium in Tyrone, as well as $10,000 (equivalent to approxi- endeavor, Engineer A. G. Andrew designed the field, mately $150,000 today), designated to enhance the Tyrone while Tyrone Contractor Van Hildebrand supervised the schools. The Tyrone Daily Herald of March 11, 1931, construction done by laborers from Altoona’s County reported that School Board President Arthur Vanneman Works Administration. The November 13, 1934, issue of and School Board Member Mrs. Margaret Schuman the Altoona Tribune stated that “Gray Memorial Field Hooker encouraged the Tyrone Board and the Tyrone extended 420 feet long and 260 feet wide. On the west Borough to utilize Mrs. Gray’s $10,000 bequest to build a side, home grandstands were 300 feet long and nine rows football stadium in her memory, as well as to apply to high. On the east side were bleacher seats, designated as Harrisburg for a short term loan to help pay for teacher the visitor’s side, with the stadium entrance in the middle salaries during the Great Depression. of the visitor’s side, from Hamilton Avenue. Seating Certainly, the Tyrone School Board proposal about capacity totaled about 4,000, with a plan for additional Adda Gray’s bequest appeared in keeping with the spirit audience seating, as funds became available.” Across the (Continued on Page 4) After playing high school football games at the PRR Athletic Park football field from 1921 to 1934, Tyrone’s Orangemen found themselves overjoyed to inaugu- rate Gray Field at a community Veterans Day Parade and foot- ball game on the afternoon of Monday, November 12, 1934. Tyrone competed against the Golden Tigers of Hollidaysburg and lost 7 to 6. Thanks to the cre- ativity of 1934 Tyrone Graduate Samuel Burnham, who chris- tened Tyrone’s memorable mascot in the Autumn of 1933, Tyrone’s grid men transformed into Tyrone’s Golden Eagles when Gray Field opened on that Armistice Day so long ago.