Interior of the Memorial Field House as the Sampson Naval Training Facility;
Description:
This is a photograph showing the interior of the of the Memorial Field House when it was used as a Naval Training Facility during World War II. Notice the naval men scattered through the cavernous structure. The photograph was used in a May 12, 1963 Springfield Sunday Republican rotogravure section.
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Publisher:
Springfield College
Notes:
The field house was originally used at the Sampson Naval Training Facility, a basic training facility, in Sampson, New York. In 1946, Springfield College qualified for it and the government disassembled and transported the building to Springfield College. The field house was opened on February 21, 1948. On that day the first basketball game was held in the new arena, with Springfield College playing Providence College. William R. Chase, a member of the first group of men to play basketball in 1891, tossed the ceremonial first ball. The building was demolished in 1979 due to the fact that the wood arch could not meet minimum building code requirements. A new Physical Education Complex replaced the Memorial Field House, and was formally dedicated on October 30, 1981.
