Newark Schools Stadium
Encyclopedia
Newark Schools Stadium was a reinforced concrete horseshoe-shaped stadium located on Bloomfield Avenue in Newark, New Jersey
. The stadium was used primary for football
and was built in 1925. It was the home of the Newark Tornadoes of the National Football League
during the 1930 season
. The stadium was used for high school football until 2006. Baseball's
Newark Stars of the Eastern Colored League
, which was a part of the Negro Leagues, also used the stadium in 1926.
team became the primary tenants for the stadium. The American Association was the first attempt at establishing a farm system for the NFL. In 1937, the Tornadoes left Orange, New Jersey
again for Newark. The team was once again called the Newark Tornadoes. In 1939, the team was purchased by George Halas
, the owner of the Chicago Bears
, and called the Newark Bears. Most of Newark's public school football teams played at the stadium as well until 2006. The Stadium also served, since 1955 until its closing for reconstruction, as the home of the North Newark Little League (formerly the Saint Francis Xavier Little League).
. High school teams also used the field for baseball until 2006. The Stadium was also the original home of what has become one of the largest youth baseball programs in the City of Newark - the North Newark Little League. Formerly the St. Francis Xavier Little League, the youth of the program utilized the baseball fields from 1955. It was the last organization to have continued use of the facility (even after it was condemned in 2006)right up to the point of its closing for reconstruction.
, once ran track
there and lost to a Newark local named Eulace Peacock
. Meanwhile another Olympian, Milt Campbell
began his track career at Newark Schools Stadium. The National Women's Olympic Trials also were held in the stadium in 1928.
, Schools Stadium served as the staging area for the New Jersey National Guard
, who were summoned to
Newark to reinforce the overwhelmed Newark Police Department
.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. The stadium was used primary for football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and was built in 1925. It was the home of the Newark Tornadoes of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
during the 1930 season
1930 NFL season
The 1930 NFL season was the 11th regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, Brooklyn businessmen William B. Dwyer and John C. Depler bought the Dayton Triangles, moved it, and renamed it the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Orange Tornadoes relocated to Newark and the Buffalo Bisons...
. The stadium was used for high school football until 2006. Baseball's
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
Newark Stars of the Eastern Colored League
Eastern Colored League
The Mutual Association of Eastern Colored Clubs, more commonly known as the Eastern Colored League , was one of the several Negro leagues, which operated during the time organized baseball was segregated.- History :...
, which was a part of the Negro Leagues, also used the stadium in 1926.
Soccer
For the 1967-68 ASL (American Soccer League) season, the Newark Ukrainian Sitch club moved its home games to this field. Prior to that season, 'Sitch' played at Ironbound field. The move to an approx. 25,000 capacity ground was welcomed as an improvement. The crowds never filled the stadium however and the Ukrainian Weekly refers to crowds only in the hundreds rather than thousands.Football
After the Tornadoes folded, Newark's American AssociationAmerican Association (football)
The American Association was a professional American football league based in New York City. Founded in 1936 as a minor league with teams in New York and New Jersey, the AA extended its reach to Providence, Rhode Island prior to the onset of World War II...
team became the primary tenants for the stadium. The American Association was the first attempt at establishing a farm system for the NFL. In 1937, the Tornadoes left Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
again for Newark. The team was once again called the Newark Tornadoes. In 1939, the team was purchased by George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
, the owner of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and called the Newark Bears. Most of Newark's public school football teams played at the stadium as well until 2006. The Stadium also served, since 1955 until its closing for reconstruction, as the home of the North Newark Little League (formerly the Saint Francis Xavier Little League).
Baseball
Schools Stadium was also used for baseball. In 1926, the Newark Stars of the Negro Leagues played at stadium. When the stadium was configured for baseball, the distance down the foul lines was so short, that balls hit over the fence were ground rule doublesDouble (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. High school teams also used the field for baseball until 2006. The Stadium was also the original home of what has become one of the largest youth baseball programs in the City of Newark - the North Newark Little League. Formerly the St. Francis Xavier Little League, the youth of the program utilized the baseball fields from 1955. It was the last organization to have continued use of the facility (even after it was condemned in 2006)right up to the point of its closing for reconstruction.
Track and field
Olympian Jesse OwensJesse Owens
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
, once ran track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
there and lost to a Newark local named Eulace Peacock
Eulace Peacock
Eulace Peacock was an American track and field athlete in the 1930s. Born in Dothan, Alabama and raised in New Jersey, he became a rival to Jesse Owens in many sprinting competitions...
. Meanwhile another Olympian, Milt Campbell
Milt Campbell
Milton Gray Campbell is an American decathlete of the 1950s. In 1956, he became the first African American to win the gold medal in the decathlon of the Summer Olympic Games....
began his track career at Newark Schools Stadium. The National Women's Olympic Trials also were held in the stadium in 1928.
Riots
During the 1967 Newark riots1967 Newark riots
The 1967 Newark riots were a major civil disturbance that occurred in the city of Newark, New Jersey between July 12 and July 17, 1967. The six days of rioting, looting, and destruction left 26 dead and hundreds injured.-Social unrest:...
, Schools Stadium served as the staging area for the New Jersey National Guard
New Jersey National Guard
The New Jersey Army National Guard consists of over 9000 Guardsmen. The Guard is currently engaged in several worldwide and homeland missions. Units have deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germany and Egypt...
, who were summoned to
Newark to reinforce the overwhelmed Newark Police Department
Newark Police Department
The Newark Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving Newark, New Jersey.The Newark Police Department is the largest municipal law enforcement agency in New Jersey. The department is headed by the police director Samuel DeMaio...
.