Harmon Field
727 Jefferson Street
Miamisburg, OH 45342
On September 22, 1922,
the Work Projects Association (a division of the Federal Government’s Welfare
Department) started the Harmon Field Project. Public notice in newspapers had
been given that the Harmon Foundation, directed by William E. Harmon (formerly
of the State of Ohio), out of New York City, New York, would donate money to 10
Ohio towns for the purchase of land for play and recreation grounds. the W. P. A. secretary, Mrs. E.B. Doan, was
directed to write for a questionnaire and secure the necessary information
regarding the requirements for the gift. The questionnaire was completed to the
Harmon Foundation's satisfaction on December 20, 1922. Mr.Shotwell, a
representative of the Harmon Foundation visited and approved the Miamisburg
site. Harmon
Field was purchased from Charles Zehring for $2,500.00. The Harmon Foundation
donated the $2,000.00 and the Welfare(W.P.A) provided the additional $500.00.
The annual drive paid the $200.00 for the sewer assessment. On September
27, 1923 a bronze tablet 18”x10” was received with the suggested that a large
boulder be secured for a base. On October 4, 1923 John Stower of the
Welfare Association secured upon Farmersville Pike a fine large glacial boulder
where was hauled to Harmon Field on a big truck. The boulder weighted 1 ½ tons.
Stower was assisted by John Henry Doan, John Kauffman, Earl McClain, Murry
Schaeffer, Herb Gebhart, and Russell Shade all of whom were high school boys at
the time. Charles Swartz and son attached the bronze tablet to the stone,
which is still in position today.
On
September 27, 1935, the Vikings hosted the Fairmont Dragons on the Harmon Field
Dedication Game. Miamisburg won the game 35-6. At the time, the football field
faced North and South. In 1934, W. P. A. work crews changed the field so it ran
East to West, as it does today. They built wooden grandstands for the home and
visitor’s side. Because of the construction, games were moved back to Lilac
park. The WPA crews built wooden stands for the spectators on both sidelines as
well as installing light poles and lights so that all home games could be
played at night. The games were played with the homeside wooden
grandstands on the South side of the field. Harmon Field remained this way
until the early 1950s. At this time, the Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company
erected our home stands on the North side of the field. This same stadium is
still in use today.
