Sports
End of an era
By Stan Ross
A core group of York's Athletic Boosters gathered last week to hear the fate of the York football tower, which has been condemned due to problems with the sills. The tower, also pictured, has hosted announcers for football and many other sports for many years.
Courtesy photos
No, not the Berlin wall, the Great Wall of China or the walls of Jericho but the tower of York football.
This was the message delivered by York Athletic Director Ted Welch last Wednesday, Nov. 22, to 10 of York's oldest athletic boosters. Last summer, during a routine maintenance check after a violent lightening storm, it was determined that this grand old tower would have to be condemned. Welch explained that although the main support poles were still solid, the sills were sagging and the floors were dropping. By adding extensive bracing, we were allowed to use the ground floor and the second level this fall, but the top floor had to be shut down completely.
Abbott Brothers will level the existing building and the York Fire Department will conduct a controlled burn of the remains. The original "Pepsi schedules of SYSSA League games," dating back to the late 1970s with results of York football games against Marshwood, Noble, Massabesic, Kennebunk, Old Orchard and Traip, will all be history.
Welch reported that York football was played on the Organug Road site until 1977, moved to what is now the junior varsity field in 1978, and finally to the present site in
1979. The original bleachers, constructed in the late 1960s, were moved to the present site and have been held together with many coats of paint.
"I installed the original telephone poles and Milton Todd used his own tractor to see that the field was in top shape," said Chet Chase. "Materials were donated by Abbott Brothers and Eldredge Lumber. The high school shop boys did most of the building."
Now the field is used by both girls' and boys' soccer teams, field hockey and track. In 1986, the tower was dedicated to Ralph Gile, the "original voice of the Wildcats."
Gile had his own unique style that included his greeting "Let's hear it for the Wildc-c-c-a-a-a-t-t-t-s!" and occasional comments to the officials.
The late Dr. Robert Mackey delivered his play-by-play announcing of the soccer games and Time Warner Cable has used the tower many times to originate its high school telecasts.
Alice Humphrey noted that when she was president of the York Boosters water was piped in and stairs were added on the outside leading up to the second level. In 1989, the York Rotary, under the leadership of then-President Steve Freeman, coordinated the installation of lights so that Friday night football became a ritual for York families.
Dave Vokey noted that with increased attendance and an expanded menu that includes the basic "hot dog, hamburger and coffee" and now serves chili, chop suey and chowder, as $3,800 has been earned on a good night.
The York Junior Wildcat program uses the field on Sunday mornings, so there should be no worry about lack of activity.
Plans to replace the tower are being considered, and local students are getting involved by suggesting designs. The hope is to replace the structure after a full review and approval process before the required school and town committees.
