Grandstand Destroyed by Fire

Early on the evening of New Year's day the grandstand at the athletic field was destroyed by fire. Since the blaze occurred during the holidays when the town was unusually deserted, the alarm was not sounded until the building was burning at all points. Though the fire company responded promptly there was no chance of saving anything but the surrounding property. The cause of the fire is still unknown and likely to remain so. Incendiarism has been suggested but no sufficient cause can be assigned and it seems more probable that it was due to the carelessness of some one celebrating the new year in the shelter of one of the rooms beneath the stand. The loss is estimated at $5000, none of which is covered by insurance.

The grandstand was erected in 1883 when the athletic field was made, and has been unchanged since then with the exception of the removal last year of the central barrier used for press representatives. With the growth of the College the stand had become far too small to accommodate the crowds at the time of important games.

Nothing- will be done about rebuild ing until the whole question of using the field as far as Wheelock and Park Streets, and including the new gymnasium, has been considered. Among the possibilities suggested is that of placing the baseball diamond where the football field now is, but that, too, must be considered in relation to the question of utilizing the larger field.