Shadyside 'Casketmakers' Football Field in the 1940's...

[shadysidesue]

I was looking at a picture posted under Memories of Shadyside, Ohio photos on their facebook site. I was dying to post a response but I'm not a Facebook person. There is a picture of the fans from Shadyside and the 'press' box looks like it's sitting on the top row above the fans who are packed in on top of each other. They were questioning where the field was at that time (1949). The field was on the property south end of Shadyside where the stamping plant is now located. The SHS band would march south on Highland Avenue from the high school to the field. The football field had a high wooden fence all around it and a ticket booth at the entrance. It sat literally on the banks of the Ohio River. smile Then, Kaiser Frazer (automotive company) built the plant and Shadyside built the field now known as Fleming Field (early 1950's). They were the 'Casketmakers'...'Shadeans'...'TIGERS' (think that's all the names). Many feel they should have kept 'Casketmakers' but I guess it started making people feel it wasn't the best name; i.e., carrying a casket on the field with their supplies (water, etc.) in it. hahaha Is that really true? I do know they had 'beanie' hats of orange/black with 'Casketmakers' on them because my older brother had one. The early band director of the marching band was Joe Trosak. If I remember correctly, he graduated from THE Ohio State and was a tremendous director. My sister told me he really wanted the band to be like Ohio State and no majorettes but finally gave in and allowed (I think) three (3) majorettes with a drum major(sp) leading like Ohio State. In 1949 the SHS band drums had '49'ers painted on their sides. Trying to post all this information and it got lengthy. I remember Carolyn Steele was one of the majorettes and Tony Spitzel (Sha side going to win) always ran alongside the band as they marched to the stadium. Kind of wish the stadium was still at that site...sitting right on the banks of the Ohio. smile

[SuRfSiDeR]

Does Shadyside's band still have majorettes? Haven't seen them in years due to work.

[powtowner]

Sue i think the "orangemen" was a nickname also..... and i believe that we still have majorettes

[shadysidesue]

powtowner...You're right...they were called the 'orangemen' at one time. YES...we still have the great majorettes. Most bands have changed to flag corps...so glad Shadyside still has the sharp looking marching majorettes with their batons (not flags). smile

[Sykotyk]

Casketmakers is such a much better name than the all-too-common Tigers name.

[light_horse_harry]

I think Casketmakers might be the BEST nickname ever! Great!

[shadysidesue]

Shadyside's 'men' baseball team has taken the name 'Casketmakers' and local fans love hearing it again. If you go to Shadyside 'Baseball' you'll see the 'Casketmaker' on their hats, etc. I think they also use 'preserve the mortuary' on their site. hahaha My brother (deceased) graduated in 1948 and he always said, "Shadyside should have kept the name 'Casketmakers' because it's so unique. Shadyside had Belmont Casket Works for years and many people were employed there...it's now Knight Mfg.

[bwana]

A friend of mine worked there many years ago. His job was to repair and repaint small dents and scratches in the metal caskets. When asked what was his occupation, he use to brag about being "body man" in a casket factory.

[shadysidesue]

bwana...that is FUNNY! Did you ever hear that Marilyn Monroe was buried in a Belmont Casket made in Shadyside? This is turning morbid...

[powtowner]

if you notice i call them the casketmakers in most of my posts... it would be a great nickname again... maybe make a national magazine because of the originality... my uncle worked there... when he did they made caskets for air transports of bodies back home... say a person dies in cali and is being buried in powtown.... the casketmaker's of shadyside made it....

[bwana]

I heard that recently, Sue. In fact, it may have been in one of your post.

[shadysidesue]

bwana...I think I did post it on a site in past. Another nice thing about the casket factory was the grass area they owned right across the little street. It was always kept nice and they had a fish pond with goldfish in it and stone seats that kids from Shadyside carved their names on over the years. It used to be a great place to go to have picnics in the summertime and not have to leave Shadyside. Used to have some pictures of one of those picnics...I'll try to find it and post it on memories of Shadyside. I've always wondered what happened to those seats that had all those names carved on them over the years. I'll bet someone has them that worked for the casket factory? Later on, the grassy area was sold off for homes to be built on that area. Memories! smile

[username]

Petition to change Shadyside's nickname to the Casketmakers