Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, Mass.

Title

Football, 1937

Description

"In late September 1919, 26 prospective players showed up for football practice, the first time since 1905 that Wakefield High School fielded a team. In the course of a week, an epidemic broke out, canceling three games and practices. When the season resumed, 15 players returned to play 7 games. They won 3 and lost 4 games. The 1937 football team, coached by William D. Healey and captained by John Guttadauro had a 'most successful' season with its 7-2 record. It was noted in the yearbook that attendance during the season was 'remarkable, and those who did attend deserve to share in the team's success.' The team played against Amesbury, Swampscott, Woburn, Watertown, Melrose, Reading and Cambridge Latin. In 1956, Wakefield became part of the new Middlessex Football League with Stoneham, Reading, Concord, Winchester, Lexington, Melrose and Belmont. This meant that the teams had new rules and regulations, including prohibiting spring training for teams and allowing coaches, headmasters and athletic directors to decide whether a game would be played because of inclement weather. Since the new league had previously played against other Class B teams, this meant a change in Thanksgiving Day game rivalry from long-time foe Gloucester to Melrose, which occurred in the late 1950s. Wakefield went on to become league champions in 1956, 1957 and 1958. The WHS football team has been successful over the years. In 1962, the team, with an 8-0-1 record, shared the Middlesex League championship and was invited to the White House to meet President John F. Kennedy. The team, undefeated in 1970, won the Middlesex League and team members received a trip to Bermuda thanks to funds raised door-to-door. In 1999, the WHS football team won the Division 2 Superbowl." -- Text from calendar.

Among the members of the 1937 WHS football team (front row, left to right) John Woodhull, Frank Spang, James Brady, Edward Habermann, Augustine Teece, Frank Martino, Edward Loughlin, Joseph Foley, W. Fox. (Back row, left to right) Patrick Walsh, John Guttaduaro, Joseph DeFelice, and George Kimball. Note the Atwell Building of Wakefield High School in the background. The building was destroyed by fire on December 12-13, 1971.

Image from the Wakefield Municipal Gas and Light Department annual calendar, 2002

Photo courtesy of Bourdon Studios.

Contributor

Institution: Lucius Beebe Memorial Library

Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department (Wakefield, Mass.)

D'Onofrio, Jayne M.

Coverage

Massachusetts--Middlesex (county)--Wakefield

Date

1937

Format

image/jpeg

Publisher

[Wakefield, Mass.] : Wakefield Municipal Gas & Light Department

Subject

Schools

Football teams

Wakefield High School (Wakefield, Mass.)

Type

still image

Photographs

Original Format

2 pictures : b&w