The Lima Stadium Restoration Project

The Dedication of the Lima Stadium took place before the annual Thanksgiving Day Football Game between Central and South High Schools on November 26, 1936.  Lima South defeated Lima Central in a hard fought game 12-6. 

The following is an excerpt from the first game program written by R.E. Offenhauer, the Lima City Schools Superintendent:  About five years ago the Lima Board of Education realized that the wooden bleachers on both the South High School and Central High School athletic fields were rapidly rotting down.  For sometime, the up-keep of two athletic fields had proved burdensome.  Faced with these two facts, the Board began a search for a new site for an athletic field.  Since such a field must serve both high schools as a place to play their football games and to hold their track events, its location would have to be convenient to both schools and should be as near the center of the city as possible.  After a prolonged search, the present site was selected.  No other site could be found that would meet the requirements without an outlay of money that was prohibitive.  It is the hope of all who have been connected with this work that it will prove to be a blessing to our entire city.  We appreciate that the work is unfinished but already a very unsightly place has been changed to a place that is nearly, if not entirely, beautiful.