 Sherman Democrat August 13, 1939 EARLY STADIUM AT KIDD-KEY Prospective Construction There Recalls Facilities of Twenties When a new stadium is built in Kidd-Key park, it won't be on new ground. Concrete frame of the old stadium still stands -the seats having been torn away several years ago. The park is now used by softball teams of 2 leagues. The part property was obtained piece by piece over the perios of a decade. The major part was purchased in 1917 when the city bought a tract from J.F. Christer in August, another section from Abe and Addie Holderness in November, and another in September from Melvina Winn, Fanny and Tom Perry, Ellen and Charles Greer, Rosa and Louis Stewart, Mattie Townsell, Alice Spann and John WInn. In July 1923 the city purchased anothe rlot from Ethel Cogswell and Maydee Barron. The last block of the park proper was purchased in November 1927. The stadium was built in 1919 by the city part department under the direction of O.J.S. Ellingson, the city manager and city engineer. The structure was built with day labor to care for 400 spectators. Two dug-outs, for the use of the participating teams, were constructed in front of the grandstand. Seats of wood were fastened to the concrete pillars with bolts. After the old stadium at Austin College was torn down, the high school began to play its games at Kidd-Key park, playing there from 1919 through 1922. It was on this field in 1922 that Denison beat Sherman 19 to 5. in 1933 the Bearcats moved to Cashion field to wage her gridiron battles. When their older quite Kidd-Key, the Bearkittens took over and used Kidd-Key part for their workouts and games until 1934. In the fall of 1929 the school board leased the Fair park stadium from the Old Settlers association. The Sherman Tennis association in 1920 built a concrete court at Kidd-Key park at a cost of $600. A few years later the city became interested, acquited the association's court and built another court and several years ago erected flood lights for night play. Now that the old stadium no longer stands the Sherman softball league has erected bleachers for its spectators and five nights a week there are one or two softball games being played under the lights on a regulation diamond. During the day the diamond is used by teams playing in the city's supervised park program league.  Kidd Key College History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |