Miller School of Albemarle - Blue Ridge Blast Yearbook (Charlottesville, VA)

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History of Athletics at the lVliller School HE following account of athletics at the Miller School was written for the most part by Heath Lewis, of Philadelphia, formerly a student and I instructor in this school. The Editor-in-Chief has taken the liberty to put this account in a little different form in order that due credit may be given to Mr. Lewis for the part he has had in the history of athletics at Miller School. No such history could be complete and fair without giving to Dick H Lewis a prominent place. This change has been made without Mr. Leiws's knowledge. The history of athletics at the Miller School can be divided into five periods, the first from the opening of the School in 1878 to 1882, when the first match game of baseball was played, the second from 1882 to 1894, when the Athletic Associa- tion was foundedg the third from 1894 to 1897, when the Association became only a nameg the fourth from 1897 to 1899, when the Association was reorganizedg and finally from 1899 to the present time. Inasmuch as no accurate records have been kept except within the last two years, the account of the early days of athletics may not be so exact and full as one could wish, but the writer feels sure of the general accuracy. Since during the first period C1878-18823 there were no athletic teams, it is hardly necessary, in an article of this character, to speak of these years, so we pass at once to the second. In 1882 the first baseball team was organized. The money for the purchase of mits, balls and bats was given by Captain Vawter, Professors Baylor, Shepherd, and Wfhitescarver. Professor Baylor was the moving spirit in helping the boys to learn the game, and he has the honor of umpiring the first game of ball ever played at Miller School. This game was played with the Fishburne Military Academy, of VVaynesboro, on the 1oth of May, 1882. The game was played on new grounds laid off on the hill above the Scruggs house. According to Dr. julian Paoli. of Charlottesville, the line-up was as follows: catcher, Tom Millerg pitcher, Chas. R. VVheelerg 1st base, Wiii. M. Nicholas, 2d base, jno. H. Means: 3d base, Chas. B. Yager gf short-stop, Julian C. Paoli 1 leftifield, Rutledge Garth g center field, Wim. L. Norvellg right field, Ira C. Pippin. The score of that game may be seen to this day cut in a rock in Mechum's River where it runs through the old Harris farm - M. S. 55: W. I2.H i Un the 2d of May. 1885, Miller played Pantops Academy on the Miller School grounds, and was beaten by 3 gggfe of 32 to 14. Wfith this game commenced a So

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...Al ., ,,,, ru.-. . -, --- - General Athletlc Assoclatlon OFFICERS JAMRS B1 LIOTT VAWT111 Pfesfldeflt HER RY BOYD ZXRDRNAS V109 Pfesldent IOHIX iMCGILL BIOXTZ S9Cfet-QTY THOMAS 'IBMPLE IQEIXT 'Sergeant at Arms K. ' , ' 1 .... .... ' ............... ,.............. ' 1 T Y . 1 '41 , ................,...........,,...,.. I ' . A T f N ..,. ..... V ...... ,.,.. ................... I , X K T ,,................,...... .,.,... x ' ' i .fl E . 2 7 J- - . VI W I.. ? '11 . ,. , 5 . . . . 1, k . My L ,I 4.5 H5- nfs 1 V MEMBERS H B AINDREVKS N LEWIS R C ALLFR 7 R LEWIS R C BEALE IR R H LATHAM .lk A. R. BLAKEY J. G. MALONE ' W. B. ,BLAKEY - R. C. MANN jg. 3 B. D. CHILDRESS J. M. NIONTZ E. B. CRITZER L. C. PAINTER LU' C. C. DOOM J. C. QUARLES 'I ROBEIQT DOUGLAS E. B. RISDON I A. D. Esfrrss E. E. RISDON 'fi H. S. GAY L. M. STARGALL W E. W. GOODWIN ' W. L. THOMASSON C. K. GRINSTEAD 1. E. VAXVTER F. F. HILOEBRAND F, A, WELLS J. A HOLLADAY H, N, WHITE 1 H. W. JACKSON, JR. D. P. WOODSON, JR. 'a .. Q ' 1 1 v 4 l BI. L. JONES IQENT EXYERETT WOODSON L- - -- '

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rivalry that extended through twenty years, until the closing of Pantops Academy at the beginning of the present session. On the 1 Ith of May of the same year, Miller played' the University of Virginia on Virginia's grounds. Miller was beaten, but the exact sco-re can not be recalled. During this period there was some of the best athletic material at the School it has ever known, as all who remember Bob Willianis, the Bashaw brothers, Jake Yager, Gid Timberlake, and others, will fully agree. But with no efhcient man- agement, poor equipment, and poorer schedules, little was accomplished in the way of athletic renown, though much in the way of creating a love of sport among the younger boys at that time-. Likewise in that period there was held an annual field day, which included, besides the events with which we are familiar on such occasions, a potato race, a three-legged race, a sack race, an elephant race., and many other events which one would not find in an interscholastic track meet of the present day. But that was a great day, and those fortunate enough to win a ribbon were allowed to escort their girls to a supper given them by the School that night-a privilege that those of to-day can hardly appreciate. This field day ceased to be a day of importance in 1895, although fitfully revived at times. The only reco-rds made which are worthy of note were the baseball throw of W. H. F. Rasche of 332 feet, 4 inches, in ISQ4, and the pole vault of Ho-mer Clarke of IO feet 9 inches, about the same time. In 1892 a football team was organized, but played no match games. In the fall o-f 1893 Mr. Conrad Hibbeler, of Chicago, came to the School as instructor in Forge and Foundry, and to him a great deal of what has been accomplished in athletics at the Miller School is due. Mr. Hibbeler was a finished gymnast, a good football player, and a good organizer. The football team of this year first ven- tured to do battle on the gridiron for the honor of the School. Two games were played, one with jones's School of Charlottesville-score O to O-and o-ne with Dinwiddie's School of Greenwood, score 18 to o in favor of M. S. ln 1894 the first Athletic Association was o-rganized at Miller School, with C. E. Vawter, Jr., as president, and 0. B. Harris as secretary, for the first half session. This was the first step in making the Miller School teams an important factor in the interscholastic athletics of the State. During this year- Mr. Hibbeler also organized a gymnasium class, which met in the room on the top floor of the shops. This class gave an exhibition during the commencement week o-f 1895, which so pleased the Board of Visitors that they consented to the building ofithe gymnasium. Two members of this little class, VVeams Durrett and Heath Lewis, afterwards won the Anderson Trophy at the annual tournament at the University of Virginia, and another, Roy Smith, won renown as a trackman and wrestler at- Brown University. The football team of 1894 was made memorable by defeating Pantops by a Q0 1 4 Q l