CLARENDON PARK

the PARK was the place where everyone came to hangout. If you lived in the hood, you belonged there. In the 40s and 50s it was the frats DELTA and TAU GAMMA, in the late 50s it was the REVELS, after that it was us, the locals. the park had something for all, softball, hardball, football, basketball, a woodshop,and model train club and gameroom, and in winter ice skating. On hot summer nights there were softball games under the lights for the older men, who represented many taverns and companies. There were many rivalries between certain teams,lots of money was wagered on those games, besides bragging rights. Even spectators bet on the outcome. Some teams had sluggers that could pound that ball out of the park so often, they had to inject water into the balls to keep them inside the park, sometimes it actually worked. For us kids we just played ball, from early morning till you couldnt see the ball anymore. we werent organized, throught out the day some kids would come, and some would go, but the game went on. we played line ball up against the wall at the old pumping station at the south end of the park, and fast pitch near the north and south entrances to the fieldhouse. Late at night we all gathered on the steps in front and shot the breeze, we all had a great time. More stories to come later !!!