Hub City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Hub City Times

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
FeaturedHistorySports
Home›Featured›Marshfield Athletics: The building of Beell

Marshfield Athletics: The building of Beell

By Hub City Times
January 11, 2019
1776
0
Share:
Marshfield Athletics History
A brand new high school and stadium with state-of-the-art flood lights. Marshfield High School photo

By Kris Leonhardt

As the Marshfield School District prepares to make improvements to their athletic facilities, the Marshfield Hub City Times takes a look at the district’s sports programs and facilities over the years.

Following the 1940 completion of the Senior High building on Fourth Street to replace McKinley High, the city had secured a Works Progress Administration (WPA) grant.

Marshfield Athletics History

The 1941 dedication of Beell Stadium. Marshfield High School photo

As part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, WPA grants were designed to provide community jobs to the unemployed during the Great Depression. Community grant funds were used to build new parks, bridges, and buildings. Here, in Marshfield, $127,637 was provided for the landscaping and construction of the Senior High grounds.

Funds were used for a variety of athletic facilities amenities, including tennis courts and hockey rinks, as well as foliage and decorative landscaping on the grounds.

An intricate storm sewer system was installed, as well as an underground watering system. The water system provided the flooding for two hockey fields and a sprinkler system for a stadium-size football field.

Constructed to be one of the finest high school stadiums in the state, the new football field would be the pride of the community for many years.

Salvaged brick from the McKinley High building was retained to construct a masonry spectator seating structure that would accommodate several thousand people. Adding to its contemporary feel was the addition of eight flood lights to illuminate night games.

The football stadium was completed in time for the start of the 1941 season. Halftime of the first home game featured State Senator Melvin R. Laird as the keynote speaker and Mayor George Leonhard.

The stadium was named for local hero Fred A. Beell, the only Marshfield police officer to die in the line of duty. Beell was killed Aug. 5, 1933, while responding to a burglary call at the Marshfield Brewery.

Next week: Cheerleading and early ladies sports

A special thanks to the MHS Athletic Department for providing the material for this series. For more information on the school district’s current athletic facility project, visit www.marshfieldschools.org. To donate, contact the Marshfield Area Community Foundation at 715-384-9029.

TagsathleticsBeell Stadiumkris leonhardtMarshfield High Schoolmarshfield history
Previous Article

Auburndale starts out strong, Assumption finishes stronger

Next Article

Letter from WIAA & NFHS: Dear mom ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • History

    Marshfield, July 1973: Call of the wild, part III

    July 31, 2016
    By Hub City Times
  • Shown are the girls currently enrolled in metal tech courses at Marshfield High School. Kneeling in front: Megan Schultz. Front row from left: Erika Jacobs, Breanna Peskie, Alysha Bauer, Cassie Nieman, Allie Eckes. Back row from left: Kylee Stofferahn, Shantel Manthe, Mariah Luedtke, Hannah Ussery, instructor Ben Will.
    EducationLocalVideo

    We can do it!

    January 12, 2016
    By Hub City Times
  • corporal herman bartels grave headstone hillside cemetery
    History

    Marshfield, July 1898: Marshfield mourns a soldier

    July 26, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • History

    Marshfield, May 1915: A bumpy road

    May 3, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • EducationGovernmentLocal

    Marshfield students stage walkout

    March 14, 2018
    By Hub City Times
  • Arts & EntertainmentEducationLocal

    MHS receives statewide recognition for drama production

    May 16, 2018
    By Hub City Times

About Us


Hub City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • March 6, 2021

    Faber named Simplicity president/CEO

  • March 5, 2021

    Crystal Apple winners announced

  • March 4, 2021

    From the city of Marshfield: Police Chief Rick Gramza resigns

  • March 3, 2021

    City may cut ties with police chief

  • March 2, 2021

    Security Health Plan marks 50 years

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels, All Rights Reserved. Designed by MMC Team Awesome
×