Deer Park Bicentennial Throwback Thursday | From Cornfield to Turf Field
From Cornfield to Turf Field
Friday nights under the lights enjoying a high school football game is a time-honored tradition in America. Football arrived on the scene in Deer Park later than many other local communities because the district didn’t have its first high school until the mid-1930s.
In the fall of 1939, under the coaching of Carl Crawford, Deer Park High School fielded its inaugural football team. This was the first experience with football for most of the 16 members of the team. The team was purposely picked with no seniors on the roster so younger players would have the opportunity to gain the experience necessary to be competitive the following season. With so few players, the team played six-man football and completed its season with one win and four loses.
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1939 Deer Park High School Inaugural Football Team
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With a season of experience and hard work under their belts, the Wildcat team was more prepared to compete at the start of the 1940 season. Under the leadership of Coach Watters, the team got off to a great start and finished the season with a four and two record. They finished third in the Eastern County League.
1940 Wildcats in formation
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The team kept the momentum going the following season, playing exciting football. They ended with a record of five wins and two loses and clenched the 1941 Eastern League Championship. No doubt Wildcat pride was on full display for the program that went from fielding its first team to winning the league championship in just its third season.
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1941 Deer Park High School Eastern League Champions
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The 1943 season brought a major change to the football program as it was the first year they played as an 11-man team. It was not an easy transition. The Antlers yearbook reported the following: “Hard smashing fullbacks, fleet halves, slick quarterbacks, stonewall lines, and plenty tough linemen, were obstacles our Scarlet and Gray warriors pounded against in their first year of 11-man football competition. Being pounded and battered into shreds in our first three games failed to dampen the unquenchable flame that had seized the Wildcats. Consequently, four of the next five games were earned and glorious victories.” The scrappy team ended their first year of 11-man football with a 4 and 5 record.
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First 11-man team, Deer Park HS, 1943
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Player safety has evolved a great deal since the 1940s. An example is today’s helmets compared to the old leather helmets of the 1940s. Even the football fields that teams play on today are safer. For the early Wildcats, their field may have been a bit extra rough. The team didn’t need to look far for a place to play. They were surrounded by fields – only they weren’t football fields. They were cornfields. A football field was carved from a corner of farmland near the intersection of Plainfield and Amity Roads (where Dillonvale Shopping Center now stands). The football field was often surrounded by corn thus earning it the nickname of the “Corn Bowl.” For many years there were no bleachers for the players or fans to sit, and there was no lighting so home games were played in the afternoon.
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Notice the corn field in the background, 1947
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Cornfield and fans visible on far side of the field, 1947
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Football jersey and letter belonging to George Wilson, Class of 1946
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The Wildcats continued to play home games at the “Corn Bowl” until the late 1940s when the farmland was sold to Dillon Builders for development. Near this same time, the school district purchased a portion of the farmland with plans to construct a new high school on Plainfield Road in the early 1950s. For a year of two, games may have been played at Amity until a field was prepared at the new high school campus. This new field was placed behind the high school in the same space it is today. Even in 1952, it was still bordered by a cornfield on at least one side. That didn’t last long as the new Dillonvale development was quickly turning the surrounding farmland into housing and retail as the community was rapidly growing as a result of the Baby Boom.
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Views from the new Deer Park High School football field (Notice the new high school and press box and new housing on Longford Drive)
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Through the next half century, improvements were made such as a track surrounding the field, increased bleacher seating, press box, sound system and lighting. The simple football field bordered by a cornfield evolved into a typical high school stadium of the 20th century. In the early years of the 2000s, some major updates occurred. In 2001, the Troy Temar Memorial Press Box was built with private donations in memory of the former DP football player. In 2016, the grass field was replaced with an all-weather turf field and dedicated as the Harry Yeaggy Family Stadium which was completely funded through private and corporate donors and a Cincinnati Bengals/NFL foundation grant.
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As the Wildcats take the field during this bicentennial year, they stand on the shoulders of the players and coach of that inaugural six-man team of 1939 who competed in the “Corn Bowl,” a rudimentary field carved from farmland. Wildcat football has come a long way - from cornfield to turf field.
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“The past has taught its lesson, the present has its duty and the future its hope.”
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Note: Amity Road is now Galbraith Road.
Sources:
- Various Antlers yearbooks from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s
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A sincere effort has been made to convey the history as accurately as possible from artifacts, documents and personal narratives in the district’s archives.
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Learn More
Community members, alumni, and supporters are encouraged to stay connected as the celebration approaches by signing up for Bicentennial updates on the district website.
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Don't Trash It, Donate It Instead!
Deer Park Schools is also asking alumni and community members to help preserve the district’s history. If you have Deer Park memorabilia — such as yearbooks, photographs, letterman jackets, uniforms, or other school items — please consider donating them back to the district so they can be featured during bicentennial celebrations.
Alumni & Community Story Submission
As Deer Park Schools prepares to celebrate its 200th Anniversary in 2026, we are collecting memories, photos, and memorabilia from alumni and community members to help tell the story of Deer Park Schools.
If you have a favorite memory, historic photo, or item connected to Deer Park Schools, we would love to hear from you.
Your submission may be featured in Bicentennial displays, district publications, social media features, or community events throughout the celebration.