Victory Field Completed – 1935
Missoula Students Helped in Construction of Victory Field
By George Mulvihill.
The formal dedication of Missoula high school’s new athletic field was conducted with an address by John L. Campbell, prominent Missoula attorney and sports fan, in an assembly October 5, 1934. The following day the field was christened “Victory Field” at the Missoula-Whitefish football game.
Missoula business men, their slogan, “We must have adequate facilities for our athletes,” began a drive about 10 years ago to purchase ground for an athletic field. Previous to that time, high school athletes used lots on South Sixth street, west, as practice grounds. Later, the Paxson school grounds and the Western Montana fairgrounds were utilized.
Finally, in 1925 the school board purchased two city blocks near Mount Sentinel for $4,000 from the South Missoula Land company. L. C. Ennis drew up plans for the new field, but nothing further was done at that time, due to lack of funds.
High School students, under the direction of the “M” club, cleared the rocks from the site and within a short time all was ready for grading and leveling. However, not until the fall of 1926 did actual construction get under way. The school board spent $2,000 and Principal Ketcham said that the work of the students was worth at least $1,000. The track season of 1927 found the grounds ready for use as a practice field.
Alumni games, track and football practice sessions were the only activities on the field from 1927 to 1933.
During the spring of 1934, a CWA grant of $15,000 was given to the school and construction work was started.
The track has been entirely rebuilt and a concrete curbing set around it. Steel goal posts have been put up. A field-house for the use of two teams is built at the south end. To complete the field, bleachers, seating 1,000 persons, and a high wooden fence have been constructed.
As a result of the expenditure of approximately $21,000, Missoula high school now has one of the finest athletic stadiums in the state.
The above article appeared in a special 20-page section of The Missoulian on May 31, 1935 – the Missoulian-Sentinel Graduation Section – 1935.
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