Old Oval

Last updated
Old Oval
SU-The-Oval-pre-1907-cropped.jpg
The Old Oval and other Syracuse University buildings (Steele Hall, Crouse College, Women's Gymnasium, Hall of Languages) in the background, c. 1898-1907.
Old Oval
Location113 Crouse Dr
Syracuse, NY 13244
Coordinates 43°2′15.4″N76°8′02.4″W / 43.037611°N 76.134000°W / 43.037611; -76.134000
Owner Syracuse University
OperatorSyracuse University
Construction
OpenedJune 8, 1895 (June 8, 1895)
Closed1907
Demolished1929 (filled with earth)
Tenants
Syracuse Orangemen

Old Oval, also called The Oval or University Oval, was a multi-purpose stadium in Syracuse, New York. The field, located open field south of the Hall of Languages, opened in 1895 and was the first on-campus home to the Syracuse Orangemen [lower-alpha 1] football team prior to the opening of Archbold Stadium in 1907.

Contents

History

The Old Oval at Syracuse University has a rich history dating back to the 1880s, when it was first developed as a baseball diamond and cinder track. The oval-shaped field was roughly laid out in 1887. [1] [2] The field originally was a crop field. [3]

At the time, most team sports were played in the various "Star Parks" around the city of Syracuse, but the university, under presidents Charles N. Sims and later James Roscoe Day, wanted to make the Oval the center of athletics on campus. [4] [5] To achieve this goal, work was started in the fall of 1887 on the sloped baseball ground and track and field commenced in the spring of 1890 with regrading of the field. [5] Finally, on June 8, 1895, the Oval officially opened as the new athletic field. [1] It was financed by John D. Archbold, who refused to let the field be known by his name. [6] In 1895, the grandstand was constructed and the field was formally opened on June 8, 1895, with George H. Bond serving as the master of ceremonies. [6] Archbold later donated $600,000 to build the Archbold Stadium. [7]

This was the Orangemen's first real home field. [8] : 106  In the first game played at the stadium on 1895, the 1895 Syracuse Orangemen football team beat Syracuse Athletic Association by a score of 24–0. [9]

Other sports programs also used the field, [10] notably, three-time Olympic gold medallist and Syracuse student Myer Prinstein amazed the crowds at track and field meets. [11]

Later use

Syracuse University ROTC students Assembling on the old oval in 1917. Colleges and Universities - Syracuse University - Students of Syracuse University Assembling on the old oval, Syracuse, New York - NARA - 26428196 (cropped).jpg
Syracuse University ROTC students Assembling on the old oval in 1917.
Shaw Quad in Spring 2005, with Hendricks Chapel at the western end. Syracuse U Quad Spring 2005.jpg
Shaw Quad in Spring 2005, with Hendricks Chapel at the western end.

However, in 1907, most Syracuse Orange athletic events were moved to the newly built Archbold Stadium, which was considered a more suitable location for such events. [7] No longer an athletic field, the Old Oval was put to variety of uses over the years.

In 1906, architecture professors Frederick William Revels and Earl Hallenbeck, created a plan to convert the Old Oval into a Great Quadrangle. Their work resulted in the construction of Bowne, Carnegie library, Sims, and Machinery halls and Archbold Gymnasium, which were all completed by 1909. [4] It has served as a 200 ft. by 150 ft. rose garden, a skating rink, and was even used for military drills during World War I. It was also the terminus of a toboggan slide from Mount Olympus. By 1914, the Oval had come to be known as the "Old Oval", and in 1929 it was filled in with earth from various excavations to create the central lawn area known simply as the quad. [1] [2]

The quad was the site of the 1970 student strike following the Kent State massacre and the site of Sheets of Expression, in which students spontaneously taped bed sheets to the sidewalks and wrote their observations following the 9/11 attacks. [3]

On November 6, 2010, the Old Oval was dedicated as the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, honoring the former Syracuse University chancellor. [3] [12] Today, the Shaw quad, as it is more commonly called, is a popular spot on campus for students to relax, study, and socialize. It is now an open green space bounded by Hendricks Chapel, Link Hall, Carnegie Library, Hinds Hall and Huntington Beard Crouse Hall.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syracuse University</span> Private university in Syracuse, New York

Syracuse University is a private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Located in the city's University Hill neighborhood, east and southeast of Downtown Syracuse, the large campus features an eclectic mix of architecture, ranging from nineteenth-century Romanesque Revival to contemporary buildings. Syracuse University is organized into 13 schools and colleges and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JMA Wireless Dome</span> Domed stadium on the campus of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York

The JMA Wireless Dome, originally the Carrier Dome (1980–2022) and colloquially called "The Dome," or more recently "The JMA Dome," is a domed stadium in Syracuse, New York, United States. Located on the campus of Syracuse University in the University Hill neighborhood, it is home to the Syracuse Orange football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. In 2006–07, the women's basketball team began playing home games in the Carrier Dome. In May 2022, Syracuse University announced in April 2022 that Carrier Global Corp. would no longer hold naming rights to the venue. When Syracuse University and JMA Wireless announced the new naming rights in May 2022, it marked the first time the venue's name would change since the opening in 1980.

The Syracuse Orange are the athletic teams that represent Syracuse University. The school is a member of NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Until 2013, Syracuse was a member of the Big East Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archbold Stadium</span> Former football stadium at Syracuse University

Archbold Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Syracuse, New York. It opened in 1907 and was home to the Syracuse Orangemen football team prior to the opening of the Carrier Dome in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John A. Lally Athletics Complex</span> Syracuse University sports facility

The John A. Lally Athletics Complex, formerly known as Manley Field House, is a multi-purpose academic and athletics village at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Located at the university's South Campus, it is home to 20 Syracuse Orange athletics teams and serves as a hub for over 600 student-athletes. Following announcement of a $150 million expansion plan, it was renamed the John A. Lally Athletics Complex in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archbold Gymnasium</span> Building on Syracuse University campus in New York, U.S.

Archbold Gymnasium is a gymnasium located on the campus of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syracuse Orange football</span> College football team representing Syracuse University, New York

The Syracuse Orange football team represents Syracuse University in the sport of American football. The Orange compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Syracuse is the only Division I FBS school in New York to compete in one of the Power Five conferences.

Frank Maloney was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Syracuse University from 1974 to 1980, succeeding College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ben Schwartzwalder. Prior to coaching at Syracuse, Maloney was an assistant coach at the University of Michigan under Bump Elliott (1968) and Bo Schembechler (1969–1973). After departing Syracuse he joined the management team for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otto the Orange</span> Mascot for Syracuse University athletic teams

Otto the Orange is the mascot for the Syracuse Orange, the athletic teams of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, USA. Otto is an anthropomorphism of the color orange, wearing a large blue hat and blue pants. Otto can often be seen at Syracuse sporting events in the JMA Wireless Dome and other venues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syracuse University Alma Mater</span> Alma Mater for Syracuse University

The Syracuse University Alma Mater is the school song for Syracuse University. It was written by Junius W. Stevens in 1893, and is based on the then-popular Irish melody Annie Lisle. It was first sung under the title "Song of Syracuse" by the University Glee and Banjo Club on March 15, 1893 at the Wieting Opera House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Missouri</span> Public university in Columbia, Missouri, US

The University of Missouri is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. MU was founded in 1839 as the first public university west of the Mississippi River. It has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1908 and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syracuse University Marching Band</span> College marching band

The Syracuse University Marching Band (SUMB), also known as the Pride of the Orange, is the collegiate marching band of Syracuse University. The band consists of approximately 200 members. The SUMB performs at all home Syracuse Orange football games throughout the season in the Carrier Dome, and also takes part in parades and other performances throughout the year. It is one of the largest student organizations at Syracuse University, and one of the oldest collegiate bands in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syracuse Orangemen baseball</span>

The Syracuse Orangemen baseball team was the varsity intercollegiate college baseball team of Syracuse University. The team played its home games at Star Park, the Old Oval, Hendricks Field, Lew Carr Field, and the Archbold Stadium in Syracuse, New York. The Orangemen were affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Syracuse started a club baseball program in the early 2000s, once again bringing the club sport back to campus. The team competes in the North Atlantic West conference of the National Club Baseball Association. Syracuse is one of four universities from the NCAA Division I "Power 5" conferences as of 2022 to not sponsor an NCAA baseball team, along with Wisconsin, Iowa State and Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colgate–Syracuse football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Colgate–Syracuse football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Colgate Raiders and Syracuse Orange. The two schools are located 38 miles apart from each other in Central New York. The two teams have met 68 times, and despite Colgate not recording a victory since 1950, Syracuse leads the all-time series 32–31–5. The game has been infrequently played since the NCAA's divisional split in 1978, which placed Colgate in Division I-AA and Syracuse in Division I-A.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John E. Corbally</span> American academic administrator (1924–2004)

John Edward Corbally Jr. was an American academic administrator and university president. Corbally led Syracuse University from 1969 to 1971 before becoming president of the University of Illinois system from 1971 to 1979. He held roles in numerous non-profit organizations, including a decade as the first president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The 1890 Syracuse Orangemen football team was an American football team that represented Syracuse University during the 1890 college football season. In their first season under head coach Robert Winston, the Orangemen compiled a 7–4 record.

The 1895 Syracuse Orangemen football team represented Syracuse University during the 1895 college football season. The head coach was George O. Redington, coaching his first season with the Orangemen.

The 1978 Syracuse Orangemen football team represented Syracuse University during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by fifth-year head coach Frank Maloney and played their home games at Archbold Stadium in Syracuse, New York. This was the last year that football was played at Archbold Stadium before it was demolished and replaced by the Carrier Dome. The Orangemen finished the season with a record of 3–8.

The 1938 Syracuse Orangemen football team represented Syracuse University in the 1938 college football season. The Orangemen were led by second-year head coach Ossie Solem and played their home games at Archbold Stadium in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse beat Colgate on November 5 at Archbold Stadium, the first in the Colgate–Syracuse football rivalry since 1924.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hendricks Chapel</span> University Chapel in Syracuse, New York, U.S.

Hendricks Chapel is an interfaith religious and cultural chapel located on the campus of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. It located on the Shaw Quadrangle, and serves as the spiritual center of Syracuse University by hosting over ten chaplaincies. The Chapel was funded by a bequest from Francis Hendricks, a former Syracuse mayor, long-time trustee of the university, and the chapel's namesake, in honor of his wife, Eliza Jane Hendricks. The Octagonal, domed brick chapel is built in Georgian Colonial style and is characterized by classical portico supported by columns.

References

  1. ↑ The school did not adopt its current nickname of "Orange" until 2004.
  1. 1 2 3 "Buildings: Old Oval". Special Collections Research Center. Syracuse University Libraries. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 Syverud, Kent (19 April 2018). Rededication of Shaw Quadrangle (Speech). Chancellor's Collection. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Mariani, John (6 November 2010). "Syracuse University to name its centerpiece Quad after former Chancellor Kenneth 'Buzz' Shaw". Syracuse Post-Standard . Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 Hill, Bob (1 April 1995). "Physical Attraction". Syracuse University Magazine . 11 (3): 26–31. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  5. 1 2 Galpin, William Freeman (March 1952). Syracuse University: Volume I: The Pioneer Days. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press. pp. 84, 157, 169. ISBN   978-0-8156-2010-5. OCLC   3123028. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022.
  6. 1 2 "John D. Archbold Gives University a Stadium". Newsletters from University Archives. Syracuse University. 4 (1): 2. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. 1 2 Searing, Robert (29 September 2021). "In 1907, Syracuse University opens Archbold Stadium, called then the 'greatest athletic arena in America'". The Post-Standard . Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "2022 Syracuse Football Media Guide" (PDF). cuse.com . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  9. ↑ "1895-96 Football Schedule". Syracuse University Athletics . Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Galpin, William Freeman; Barck Jr, Oscar Theodore (August 1984). Wilson, Richard R. (ed.). Syracuse University: Volume III: The Critical Years. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press. p. 358. ISBN   978-0-8156-8108-3. OCLC   1023038841. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Cox, Jay (1 January 2000). "The Original Orange Olympic Champ". Syracuse University Magazine . 16 (4): 44–45. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  12. ↑ Quinn, Kevin C. (6 November 2010). "Syracuse University dedicates Quad in honor of former chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw". Syracuse University News (Press release). Retrieved 21 December 2022.
Events and tenants
Preceded by Home of
Syracuse Orange football
1895 – 1906		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.