Coloma High School - Gold Leaf Yearbook (Coloma, MI)

Page 86 text:

dDdq.u'Su L, 'UBB' E UU Illini - 'P , ff' 9 iii H- as -at-1 4 na if U6 ' 'U'-'tram ana' hlston of oun u u v is B D D U D is Coloma's first real home base for its football team was at the south of the high schooll3l. Ten- nis courts now cover the area. Grape vines, supported by cement posts, had to be removed before the field could be used. To accomplish this, a borrowed tractor and Mac's old Maxwell were used. The football team of 1934 was Little Eight Co- champions. The reserve basketball team won the Little Eight title in 1935. Prior to the completion of the field football games were held on any nearby field or lot that was available. The local opera house was used asa basketball court before the present high school and gymnasium were built. During the winter of 1934-35 an appropriation ofSZ600 was secured in order to build a new grid- iron. Men proceeded to move dirt. They filled the unsightly and hazardous hole left by wrecking the old school on Leedy Street. The funds were insufficient. Hence, for a while the field was left more desheveled than before. Another application for S2l, 000 was made and procured in 1935. This was during the depression and the money was loaned by the Works Progress Administration. In August work re sumed. This was after weeks of planning by Superintendent W. L. Alwood and Coach S. L. McDaniels. Senator Leon D. Case became interested and cooperated in the move- ment. The field was built on ground that sloped toward the highway. In order to develop a level plane the northern half of the slope was cut down and leveled. The remaining portion was below the desired level. Some of the ground directly in back of the school had to be used to fill in the defect. Trucks trans- ported the soil. Men shoveled the dirtfrom them and hand leveled the entire field. The completed project was known as McDanie1s :pg-raddd athletic Helo studentat the University of Michigan. The plans were approved by the athletic director there. After the school bonds were voted in 1928 the board of education studied the futuristic needs of the school. Among other things considered was adequate space for recreational facilities. Thus eleven acres were purchased for 58, 000. The amount invested represented Coloma's share in the later appeal for government expenditure through the W. P. A. The land lay along the north side of highway U.S. 12. It was on the corner of the highway and West Street. The school edifice was erected facing easton West Street. The football field runs along the western end of the grounds. The baseball diamond was located east of the gridiron and along the south side of the grounrh facing the highway. It was leveled and seeded in the 1935 project. On the recently built field the football players were Little Eight Champions in 1939 191. Later teams were champions in 1940, 1942 1101, and 1947. Ins ide , the reserve basketball teams we re Little Eight Champions in 1938, 1940, 1946 and 194'7Q11l. Floodlights were needed for the football and baseball areas in order to hold night games. ln 19 4 8 the Coloma High School Athletic Associa- tion was formed. They sold bonds at S10 each in order to obtain the necessary S8,000. The basketball teams were Little Eight champ- ions in 1950 Ql3l, and were co-champions in 19- 48 and 1951. The reserves of 1950 and 1951 were conference champions. The varsity teams were tournament champions of 1948 and 1949. The Comets were the M.H.S.A.A, District C champions in 1948 and 1952 1141. They were Regional C champions in 1950. Both teams won the 1950 Little 8 Hol- iday Tourney. After the installation of the lights, the Comets won the Little Eight Championship in 1954 1151. The latest addition to the grounds is the con- cession stand which was builtin 1952. It is a 12' x 24' cement block building, sponsored by the Coloma Athletic Association. The cost was about 5400. The stand is equipped with running water, electricity, and heat. Expenses were cut by donations of labor and material. The boys cf the agriculture class dug the foundation. . 'f '-'----- Field inhonor ofCoach S.L. McDaniels. Coach M KTQMDTTQ-fg'P'-1' 'D' F' pp Q D Q McDanie1s worked out the plans while he was pH7 K F U D U I an a Q E lj , P a4DnaJQDDDan Nr 9 ,li-1 'f'I 13.15.-A if-55 c -ef'-lex

Page 88 text:

84 Football 4- ' f ' Wa. 1 Vxrgil g Tay or iw, X , . X .1-A-5' at . F4 ., 'Ill I I 1 i t Q sl: X' D J mes C A A- 1 .0 5 Football Schedule 1954 1-A ' ' CHS OPP. v o f .N ' 7 South Havent? 19 Q J h ' 42 Decatur 6 S E 1 13 sr. Johns 12 2.0 Berrien Springs 19 26 Hartford 6 ' Q Z0 Bangorbif 6 M h 13 st. Joe Ponies 12 Ram.: A 33 Cassopolis 0 A S 1 Z0 WATERVLIET 18 'Fnon-conference games