1892 wyoming seminary at mansfield

n~

Centervnid Night of Football

18924992 Mansfield University and

Wyoming Seminary

The men on line

the square off

and face each other.

Bareheaded, with

no more padding

The

than a leather vest,

goal

is

to

date

is

September

their only

28,

1892.

make

sure the quarter-

back advances the

The

ball

State

schools are Mansfield

Normal and Wyoming

Seminary.

The

ball

on the

is

line

hiked,

the

men

begin slugging

each other in a bare -knuckled bloody battle to move forward.

The

lights

General

are

Electric.

Together they made history In the gathering dusk,

the

crowd in the grandstands as

yell

they strain to see through

the fog that swirls quietly in the dim light of a new invention - electric lights.

and paved the way American tradition football.

for -

an

night

The

'

revolutionary idea of a night

football

game

started with a group

of students

who had

Mansfield's

first

j

played on

football

team

-!^

early as Sept.

the Mansfield

7

foot ball enthusiasts are endeavoring to

'

in

arrange a game to be played by

r-

new

1891. Eager to showcase their

As

Advertiser reported "Normal School

from

electric light with the eleven

sport,

they proposed to play a night

game

at

Wyoming Seminary, near

Scranton."

the Great Mansfield Fair.

Professor S. E. Sprole, Mansfield's

The

was the region's major social event and featured such unique events as death-defying parachute drops from

witness the

three balloons at over 2,000 feet.

lights in Mansfield,

fair

But the

manager, predicted

a

hand

talk of this

light

was about something never

to

electric

first

since

people had heard

year's fair

than usual

larger

crowd would be on

more

of the electric

than of

football.

before seen in

Tioga County, a glimpse into the 20th century -the electric light!

Invented

13

just

years earlier by Thomas Edison, this

new

i.

Lights

wonder was brought to

"The

Mansfield

by John L.

Cummings and

the

General Electric Company.

"John give

L.

all

Lighting

Cummings

will

be pleased to

persons interested in Electric all

the information possible on

Isolated Plants

The General

and Central Stations.

Electric

Company

has

control of the very best patents,

including the Edison and Aebraifor

Huston Gail

at

Thompson

the light plant on the

fairgrounds."

Mansfield Advertiser, Sept. 28,

electric light

dynamo which

be used to illuminate the

is

Thompson-Huston machine of thirty light capacity. It weighs 4300 pounds, and the generator, containing miles of insulated copper wire, makes nearly a thousand revolutions lights

a

minute.

The

to be used are twenty lamps of

2000 candle power and

five

64- candle

lights. The power to dynamo is to be furnished

by Messrs. Day &. Waters from their 20 horse engine. The plant is in charge of

incandescent operate the

Cummings

of this boro."

Hansjield hdveniser Sept. 28,

2

to

a

H. E. Varney, of Philadelphia, and 1892.

is

grounds

fair

1892.

J.

L.

I

The Teams I The Equipment The

night football game was only game Mansfield had ever The Red and Black posted a

first

the fifth played.

3-1

record in

1891.

inaugural season in

its

The match

against

Wyoming

The

first night game used no protective equipment. The only noticeable protection in team photos is padding sewn in the pants around the knees.

boys ot the

practically

Seminary was the 1892 season opener.

Scheduling

Wyoming Seminary was

a bit

"Sem"

of a stretch for Professor Sprole.

already boasted an eight-year football tradition

and had finished 1891

in

the nation with a 5-1

extra long to protect their heads.

At

the end of the season they would have

shorn at the annual football

their locks

as

perhaps the best prep school football

team

Helmets would not come into play for another 20 years. Players grew their hair

banquet.

mark.

Wyoming Seminary wore white

uniforms,

Nonetheless, Sprole was quite likely

reasoning they would reflect light more

confident of a good showing. His team

effectively.

Morton

featured players such as

who went on

Jones,

to star at Lafayette,

and

James A. and James G. Dunsmore, who both later played tor Penn State.

uniforms.

Mansfield sported It

$40

cost

new

to outfit

black

the

whole squad.

Some

ot

the players wore snug fitting

canvas jackets over their jerseys since

The

star of Mansfield's

George Walbridge, who Lafayette and was

1892 squad was later

named

Camp All-American

in

captained

ot black

a Walter

1897.

the

fair

first

in

the

100 yard dash

the next day.

Many opponents

horsehair.

tackled players wearing these jackets,

The

and many

speedy halfback would win $5 by finishing

tackling below the waist was not

permitted. Others wore pants, or jackets

lost

their fingernails.

at

Numbers would not be part of uniforms until

Washington

and Jefferson wore

them

for

the

first

time in the 1908.

The ball itself was much larger and rounder than today's football.

3

Football

arm hurt

a player to "get your

or

something."

In 1892

Arguments followed almost every In the

decision the referee made.

1890s, play was savage.

brutality

was one of the attractions of

team took

part,

so that half the time

the officials scarcely

was

football in those days. Society

The whole

In fact,

rebelling against the confining Victorian

customs and increasing numbers o f people were turning to this "killer

privileged to argue as

much

as

he

pleased with any and every player of

The

the opposition.

sport."

knew who was

captain. In addition, every player was

player skilled in

forensics was a priceless asset.

Standard rules would not be established 1894.

until

The

game was

night

first

played by a combination of rugby and football rules. Slugging

and

kicking were commonplace tactics.

The

playing field itself was any

length agreed upon by the participants, but

There was no neutral zone between the two scrimmage lines, only an imaginary scrimmage line drawn through the center of the ball. Nearly all linemen lined up squarely against those who played the same positions on the

opposing team. They stood upright and

was almost always

over 100 yards long. In 1892, the

field

out with each other tooth and and feet. A player didn't stand much of a chance of making the line unless he was a good wrestler and fair

fought nail,

at

Smythe Park was

There were no 5-yard running across the

The

110 yards.

least

at

strip

field,

boxer.

lines

no linesmen.

referee kept track of distance by

dropping a handkerchief where he guessed the

ball

was

last

Instead of a kickoff to start the game, the center merely touched the ball to

put into play. his toe,

Players often engaged the referee in a an

discussion of the rules while teammates

would

slyly

try

to

move

it

fist

the

then tossed

it

back to a

teammate who ran with it while the rest of the team gave him what interference

it

could.

handkerchief. Teams were allowed three

downs

to gain five yards.

The The game was divided into 45-minute halves. Once a game started, a player could not leave unless he actually was hurt, or at least pleaded injury.

whenever the captain wanted

So

to put a

fresh player into action he whispered to

4

wedge was the play of the worked like this: nine players withdrew about 20 yards from mid-field.

At a signal they broke into lines and year.

flying It

started simultaneously at full speed

toward the

ball.

By the time they arrived at the ball, they had worked up a stupendous mass

momentum. The

interference they gave

for the runner was something wonderful

to behold,

and

butternuts, pebbles and "animal residue".

terrible

won the toss and opened with They gained 100 yards

Mansfield a

close "V".

to stop.

A

before being stopped.

few short gains

were made through the center but they

Wyoming who

Players ot one side were permitted to

soon

grab hold ot their runners anywhere

started in with a rush.

the ball to

lost

they could and pull, push or yank him

make Some runners had

along in any direction that would the ball advance.

Right halfback T.C.

Jones circled

leather straps attached to their hips or

shoulders to help their teammate get a

left

end

25 yards. Left

for

halftack Jaynes also

good hold.*

found a hole on the side for

left

10 yards.

But the Mansfield

Game

The

The 1892 game, scheduled

tor

defense stiffened and held Seminary on

7:30

downs.

p.m., actually started at 6:45 p. m.,

perhaps to take advantage of the few remaining

moments

of twilight.

Wyoming Seminary

reports

%

some of the were posted on a pole

say at least lights

in the

middle ot the

;>

<fi^

field,

adding a hazard to the

,...-t

â&#x20AC;˘"^r';::is,:

i.

_

_

<-

already perilous sport. Other

accounts say lights were also

draped along the front of the grandstand.

The

lighting was minimal

and the teams

were often unaware of which squad had the ball. Anyone in a uniform was liable

to be

tackled.

The playing many other

neither team was able to

After

this,

move

the ball consistently until, late in

the half

Wyoming Seminary

on downs

ball

at

the 20 yard line.

After three plays, Mansfield was unable

surface, also the site of

events at the

fair,

was

to full

penetrated

into Mansfield territory before losing the

make

a

first

of holes,

5

down.

* (Portions ivriiicn

\rj

oj tlic

[/;ÂŤ

account wejc

great

]olm Hcisman for "T/if EtKychpcdki 0/ Sports"

by Frank G. Maxke)

At

this point

who

accused the Normals of using ineligible

the referee, Dwight Smith,

played on Mansfield's 1891 team,

deemed

it

and the

players,

"inconvenient to continue"

officiating

was

controversial.

because the limited lighting and foggy conditions well,

made

The

the dangerous game,

world's

ended

too dangerous.

night football

first

bitterly in

0-0

a

game

tie.

Before leaving Mansfield, Race submitted

The game was

called at the

a challenge for a rematch.

end of the

Ocrokf

5,

One hundred

years later, Mansfield answered the

and was followed by fireworks both on and off the field. Sam's team manager, J.H. Race, was the umpire and Mansfield's Smith the referee. Wyoming first

half

challenge.

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game played

ball

The

(Augu.st 2,

AcceptCi

oth schools wanted to celebrate their place in history by playing

challenged the red-blooded sons of

each other again on the centennial

Mansfield to a rematch following night foot ball

first

played by our teams Sept. 28, at

Smythe Park

in

1992, area newspapers)

1992 Game

century ago, your coactt"

the world's

the United

The

To the Wyoming Seminary Foot Ball Team:

A

in

States of America!

anniversary.

game

not allow

1892

formed

Mansfield, PA.

will

Since

NCAA

MU's team

a club team.

begin the

game

Div.

at

7

p.m.

years to the hour after the

We, the members of the Freshman and Sophomore Foot Ball Club of Mansfield University,

The

evening's highlight will be a

halftime re-creation of the

1892 game.

Striving for historical accuracy.

Chi Rho the

squad, stout-hearted stalwarts to last

meet your varsity Monday, Sept. 28, 1992,

man,

7:00 p.m.,

Smythe Park exactly first

titanic

\OQi years

after

at

will

that

commemorates the 1892 game.

our

Thanks

tussle.

primarily to

historically accurate

agree to clear the field of the horse

chestnuts that your team uncharitably

claimed impeded their efforts in 1892.

Your team and

its

loyal fans are also

invited to enjoy the hospitality

and

will

down

to the

which

1892 team used to light the world's night football game.

first

and

placed

at

last

night foot

7

It

was the

time a light pole was

mid-field.

celebrate the first

right

the

Wyoming Seminary and

100th anniversary of the

-

and Alpha Chi see will be

first

1890s Weekend" Sept. 25-28.

Mansfield University

GE will

pole in the middle of the field

attractions of Mansfield's "Fabulous

Together,

the ball are

from the General Electric commercial

Rho, the show you

We

Alpha

use the rules and plays of

The uniforms and

the day. at

will

100

-

1892 game.

hereby accept that challenge!

Our

did

II

Sem, MU The two teams

to play

1

The Great In the

was

new

social e?;enc

and

year,

the county fair

1890s,

the

the place

products,

where

inventions

-m

—

•

^

/V /^^^K*

of the

LA/ 1/

JL

and

attendance of 40,000 per year

ideas were tested.

The Mansfield Officially

it

Fair

was no

exception.

was the Tioga County

The

Fair.

was administered by the Smythe Park Association, which was formed on Nov. It

1879 with capital stock of $2,500.

fair

first

was held on Oct.

1-3,

It

enlarged

its

facilities

many

addition to the regular passenger

and mail

trains.

Many

people

spent an entire day coming in by horse

and wagon.

was held on the "Island," a

fair

I

owfled by- Dr. Henry G.

five acre plot

Smythe and used as the community. The

a picnic area by island

was formed

by a cove. During the summer everyone, including the boys from the

orphan school, worked the brush and

to clear

make

lawns.

The new park was opened to

the public for the July 4th celebration,

1879. Improvements

continued to be of the

Many

made through the efforts Smythe Park association.

of the improvements

came when

the Association turned a disasterous

The They creek underground, made a

flood of 1889 into an advantage. river

changed and

placed a

new entrance bank

in

tilled

the cove.

gate and terraced the

front of the cattle barns.

\ .

.

At

^

.

fe'^

8

as

on Thursday; on other days they ran one special train.

The excursions came from Morris Run, Blossburg, Arnot, the Cowanesque Valley, Corning and Elmira. These were freight

equipment came from New York State and 5,000 people attended on Oct. 2.

Fair.

the station and began as

four excursion trains

in

1879. Sixteen carloads of stock and

The

many

railroad played a major role in the

Mansfield at

The

for

years.

Agricultural, Mechanical and Industrial

28,

Attendance by 1900 reached 20,000 on the big day, Thursday, with an average

*f»

In addition to the usual rides, shows

The

and exhibits of farm produce, there were baseball games and special

Aug. 31-Sept.

attractions.

.

.

final

fair

was held 3,

1956.

Manstield Area School System.

.

buildings had to be

The Manstield its

became known

Fair

tor

free attractions.

Many

the winter season played the vaudeville

and

special tour performances.

Many came and Atlantic top acrobats, acts,

directly City.

The

from

New

York City

These included the

and protection

the hot air balloons, early aeroplane flights

and the

game under

first

electric

tor

the borough.

the

Army system

The

school board continues to respect the

wishes ot Dr. Henry G. Smythe, using the "Island" for

and

as

(T/uj

Ciiacd

inlormaiion

is

from

cvccrptL'd

ever night tootba

"The Great

lights.

MansjicU Fair" in-

Chester

wholesome recreation

a public park.

Five Troup, tight wire

the special free attractions were

Its

as

ot Engineers' flood control

Russian bear acts and others.

Among

removed

park was also a part of the U.S.

Corps

of these were acts that during

circuit

Smythe

Park became the property ot the

P.

Baik".)

Mansfield In 1892 The 1890s were changes

in

a

time of fabulous

America. While a few

outlaws were

still

shooting up the West,

automobiles were appearing on the east coast.

It

was

a

time of spectacular

drama of the cities, small towns in America continued their march toward progress. Mansfield was no exception.

The following is by County Historian Chester Bailey):

Founded

in

1857, Mansfield Borough

experienced a period of growth during the

1880s.

The

increase in train

traffic,

progress and widespread proverty.

a successful annual Agricultural Fair,

year."

However, 1892 was termed a "prosperity Grover Cleveland was President.

Normal School

Wliile they didn't experience the high

Mansfield's j^rowth.

and the growth of the Mansfield State all

contributed to

The Borough Council opened year with an ordinance that illegal

1892 it

In

to cross any bridge in the

borough $5

the

made

faster

than a walk.

Building

fine.

new and

It

carried a

glove factory. repairing old

plank sidewalks were on the agenda. .

A

new

1892 the newly formed Board of

Trade raised money to help bring for .

They

also built

the Paisley Shawl factory.

a

A

in

a

plant

steam

.

laundry was located on Elmira Street.

bid for cleaning and lighting

was awarded at 85 cents To solve the problem of fuel oil which the borough

street lights

per night. available

The Opera House was the center community entertainment.

of

furnished, a platform to hold a barrel of oil

was placed

The borough

the borough building.

in

council considered an

ordinance to allow bicycles and tricycles

on

to be ridden

the side walk by

posting a $200 bond.

the railroad the

Main

company

St.

crossing

for

borough employees

for

man and $3

horse.

.

.

They requested to slow trains at

and at

set the

wage

$1.50 per day

per day for

man and

.

W^IT^^'g

<fl7F4:it.>*inltKi.-,

ÂĽÂŤ

i^ftTlii

H

itn

M

Hall:

Nmr Since

liavesoiiiaiijiMs

ifaicv

li

b

As

the centennial of this

historic event

nearer, the

the Mansfield

Commerce with

18m

creating a whole

the

1890s.

PR

drew met with

staff

Area Chamber of the idea of

weekend devoted

to

The Fabulous 1890s Weekend

Committee was formed almost on the spot. As word spread of the plans to turn back the town 100 years, so did the enthusiasm.

le story

behind the

Fabulous 1890s

fascinating as the

game

first

annual

first

Weekend

In addition to the

as

is

university,

night tootball

District,

itself

Chamber and

the Southern Tioga School

Mansfield High, Mansfield

Borough, ministerium and numerous

County

historian Chester Bailey, while a

student at Mansfield University in the

community and

university organizations

volunteered their help.

mid- 1930s, discovered accounts of the historic

1892 game. Bailey,

who

also

worked as a reporter for the Advertiser, documented the event and had it placed in the Football Hall of Fame.

He

kept the event alive for nearly 40 years.

County Bicentennial Committee, Bailey had the game formally recognized. Mansfield University and Mansfield Borough jointly erected a plaque in Smythe Park commemorating the 1892 game.

In

1976, as chairman of the

From the inception of the accurate, family- oriented

1988, the

MU

PR

staff

discussed

the idea of staging a re-creation of the

1892 game. With the support

of

Rod Kelchner, the staff and Alpha Chi Rho, members produced the President

re-enactment, learning this

all

rough 19th century

the plays of

sport.

u

the

weekend

celebrating the last and most colorful

decade of the 19th century. All events culminate with the centennial game.

Plans

call

for

the Fabulous

1890s

Weekend

to be held every year to

celebrate

life

America's In

idea,

goal has been to create a historically

in the

First

1890s and

Night Football Game.

The Jupenlaz Harness shop One

including children's pistol holsters that

were distributed

in

Florida and

equipment for Florida State University's circus. These included leather mouth pieces for hanging by the teeth, foot harnesses and shoulder straps, and belts

with cups to support the pole for the performer.

of Mansfield's thriving businesses of

1892 continues today; the leather business operated by the Jupenlaz family.

Repair work was always a big item,

William Hollands started the business

advertising was ever necessary, for

1848.

He moved

in

word-of-mouth spread Jupenlaz's

into the present

location, 8

North Main

and sold

a year later to a Mr. Jaynes.

it

Street,

1885

in

No

fine

reputation.

Fred Jupenlaz bought the business in 1901. Ernest Jupenlaz started working for his uncle while

he was

school. After graduating in

entered the business

full

in

high

1922 he

time.

Jupenlaz Harness Shop gained a reputation tor excellence throughout the

Twin

Tiers.

Harnesses

for carriage

and

pleasure horses to the heaviest draft

horses used in construction and in the

woods

heavy timber business

tor

received the same expert care.

As

the task for the horse changed, the

Jupenlaz shop also changed. Shortly after the

automobile came into the area,

touring car owners discovered that Jupenlaz's could replace straps and even repair the necessary side curtains.

Other

leather products were introduced

Jupenlaz Harness Shop always had a display in the

Mansfield

main building

at

the

Fair.

including luggage, ladies' pocket books

and men's

Ernest Jupenlaz

1885

the original

one According

still

operates his shop in

billfolds.

to Ernest,

the custom jobs

increased more than anything else.

of

workers

site.

Stop

in

and see

the last remaining leather in

his

shop which has come to

be a living museum.

J3

Wyoming Today

Seminary Today

Founded

Wyoming Seminary

University in

1857, Mansfield University

today offers over 70 degree programs in

mountainous

a beautiful

campus' 174 acres view of the

hills

setting.

its

demanding curriculum and

and farmlands and Nestled on 18 acres in the broad

educational and personal growth tor

its

and part-time students. The 190 faculty are committed to the full

College Preparatory

recognized throughout the

superb teaching.

provide an excellent setting for

3,000

is

world for

The

panoramic

offer a

School

-

many

profession of teaching. In addition,

have earned national and international respect in their fields of expertise.

Wyoming

Valley of Northeastern

Pennsylvania,

Sem

is

a complete school

system beginning with a nursery and continuing through a secondary college preparatory program.

Two campuses

accommodate nearly 700 day and boarding students.

Student faculty ratio

All

dorm rooms

about 19:1.

is

are wired for telephone,

TVs, and limited access mainframe. The

computer

lab,

library,

coeducational independent schools.

to the in

Founded in 1844 by Methodist leaders, is one of the country's oldest

Sem

addition to a

contains nearly one

The

million books, recordings and reference items.

church's influence

subtly

is

apparent in the moral and ethical values that characterize

campus

life,

in

the economic and cultural diversity of

Mansfield University

is

a

member

of the

Pennsylvania State System of Higher

Education and has access to the resources of 13 sister institutions.

the student body and in the faculty's

care and concern for

Wyoming

its

students.

Seminary's curriculum includes

a rigorous college

preparatory program

with a larger-than-average required core as well

The curriculum

includes 4-year

baccalaureate programs in the liberal arts

and professional

studies,

2-year

associate programs in respiratory therapy, radiological technology

and master's

degree programs.

as

many

creative interdisciplinary

and team-taught elective courses.

Students compete on a national level: 20 percent of 1992 seniors achieved National Merit Scholarship recognition.

Six of those students were

National Merit Finalists.

l^

named

The Fabulous

1890's

Committee Chester Bailey

Tom Grady Irene Litz

Benjamin Nevin Jim Pratt Steve McCloskey Dennis Miller

Ron Remy Don Wills William Waldman

The Centennial

of

America's First Night Football

Game and

the

Fabulous 1890s Weekend Avould not have been possible without the following sponsors:

Champion Products of Rochester Elmira Coca Cola Bottling Co. General Electric

PHD FM

WETM Tlie Los Angeles Raiders

Mansfield Foundation Inc. Mansfield Borough President and Mrs. Rod C. Kelchner National Football League Properties, Inc. Southern Tioga School District The American Flint Glass Workers

MU

15

The committee

also expresses sincere

thanks to the following businesses and organizations

who

contributed dollars

make

and time

to

Weekend

a reality:

the Fabulous

1890s

The

MU The

Groups and Individuals Mansfield Borough Mansfield Water Authority

Abraham

MU

Mountie Marching Band & Grounds staff Media Association

Buildings Electronic

William Koernig

Tom

Mansfield Community

Elsasser

Steve Zegalia Robert Timko Atkins John Kevin Eggleston Curt Dix Steve Hover Matt Regulski

T

Jr.

John Vitale Kenneth Ferron

Dunkin' Donuts Super Duper Tioga Petroleum First Citizens

Tekeste

Howard

Travis

Karen Bogues

National Bank

Edith Gallagher

Corey Creek Golf Club Buildings Inc. Pressylvania Printer

Northern Tioga School Mansfield Pennysaver

Other Groups And District

Individuals

Wellsboro Gazette Mansfield Kiwanis Mansfield Lions Club Mansfield Rotary Mansfield BPW Mansfield Ministerium Howard Carlson (Music Machine) Mansfield Firemen's and Ambulance Association Penelec Commonwealth Telephone Putnam Co. North Penn Gas Co. Tioga Communications &. Electronics Cole's Pontiac &. Buick Jim Burd's Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ralph's Ford

Wilson Dodge Costy's Chrysler

Mansfield University Scott A. Miller Tucker Worthington Alpha Chi Rho

16

All-Sport Floodlighting, Inc.

Marvin Antinnes, Wyoming Seminary John Shafer, Wyoming Seminary Marvin Schlenker Siobhan Mullen National Guard Army Corps of Engineers