Community faced hard times making dream become reality

Some communities take pride in public facilities, such as libraries, civic centers and ballparks that were built with money derived from private estates or government grants.

Hartselle takes pride in J.P. Cain Stadium because it was built for the most part with reserve seat sales, volunteer labor and borrowed money that had to be repaid.

The stadium observes its 50th birthday on Sept. 11.

Money was hard to come by in the fall of 1963 but that didn’t stop Morgan County High School football boosters from launching a drive to build a new stadium and have it ready for competition in the fall of 1964.

At a Booster Club meeting on Oct. 24, 1963, members voted to launch the project with a reserve seat ticket fundraiser.  The objective was to raise $40,000 for metal bleachers by selling 800 reserved seats for five years for $50 per seat.

A seating chart was set up in the lobby of the city municipal building and volunteer attendants were used to assist buyers in choosing seat locations on a first come, first served basis.

At the end of the first week, 262 reserve seats had been sold.

Sales dropped off after the 1963 football season and the booster club reached beyond its membership for help. Morgan County High students were recruited to enlist sales.

When their efforts came up short of expectations, the club offered a prize of $65 of candy to the class that turned in the largest number of sales. As a last resort, 300 reserve seats were offered at $10 each for one year as the 1964 season approached its kickoff.

The Hartselle City Council made an offer to purchase 17 acres of land for $25,000 and agreed to take an option to but seven acres of adjoining land as a site for the stadium and Hartselle Junior High School. Oct 31.The next week the Morgan County School Board approved $25,000 toward the land purchase.

A shortfall of funds forced the Booster Cub to borrow $20,000 from the city to meet a deadline to order steel for the home side bleachers. Decatur Iron and Steel installed the bleachers for $28,815.

Grading and drainage of the stadium site began May 12, 1964, with equipment and manpower provided by the Morgan County Commission and Harry Newman, a local contractor. Two weeks later, volunteers sodded the playing field, using 500 bushels of hybrid Bermuda sprigs from a Georgia sod farm at a cost of $550.

Lighting towers and fixtures were purchased at a cost of $11,503 and installed by Hartselle Electric Board employees. Fencing was done by Stover Fence Co. of Cullman at a cost of $2,552.25. Finally yet importantly, restrooms were installed underneath the home side bleachers with a $2,500 loan from the city.

The hundreds of people who supported the project through reserve seat purchases and volunteer labor were rewarded when the MCHS Tigers took to the playing field in their new stadium to take on the Athens Golden Eagles.

The Tigers responded by scoring on three drives in the first half and going on to defeat the visitors 21-12.

Charlie Yarbrough was a hero in the game. The speedy halfback rushed for 75 yards on 14 carries, scored on a 12-yard pass reception and set up another score with a 37-yard kickoff return.

Pathway to completion

Oct. 22, 1963 – Hartselle Booster Club voted to sell reserve seat passes (800) for $50 each for five years to raise money for home side bleachers.

Oct. 31, 1963 – A reserve seat location chart was displayed at the City Municipal Building, with a volunteer attendant, offering ticket buyers a choice of seating on a first come first served basis. A Stadium Fund was opened at Citizens Bank of Hartselle.

Nov. 7, 1963 – The Booster Club reported 262 reserve seats were sold during the first week. Dr. Robert Sittason was elected chairman of the High School Stadium Fund Committee.

Nov. 28, 1963 – With reserve seat sales lagging at 395, the Booster Club enlisted MCHS football players, band members and other students to help sell reserve seats to family members and neighbors.

Dec. 5, 1963 – As an incentive to students, a prize of 35 pounds of candy was offered to the class selling the most reserve seat passes.

Feb. 15, 1964 – Hartselle City Council voted to purchase 17 acres of land for $25,000 as the site for a new junior high school and football stadium. Two conditions were made as follows: The Morgan County School Board would release $15,000 previously committed to the land purchase and Harry Newman would grant the city an option to buy seven acres of adjoining land.

Feb. 27, 1964 – The Morgan County Board of Education voted $25,000 to purchase the 17-acre school/stadium site.

April 28, 1964 – Hartselle City Council voted to loan the Booster Club $20,000 to be repaid over five years for the purchase of home side bleachers from Decatur Iron and Steel at a cost of $28,815.

May 12, 1964 – Stadium site work began with the assistance of the Morgan County Board of Revenue and Control and Harry Newman Contracting Inc.

May 26, 1964 – After encountering a bed of limestone rock on the north side of the playing field, 100 sticks of dynamite had to be used to open holes for the light towers.

June 30, 1964 – Volunteers sodded the playing field with 500 bushels of hybrid Bermuda sprigs, which were grown on a Lakeland, Ga. farm and purchased at a price of $525.

July 28, 1964 – City Council loans the Booster Club $2,500 to purchase fixtures and materials for restrooms in the stadium.

Sept. 1, 1964 – Booster Club offers 300 reserve seats for $10 per season Sept. 8, 1964 – Hartselle Electric Board installs lighting for the new stadium.