Page:A History of the University of Chicago by Thomas Wakefield Goodspeed.djvu/490

430 A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO the program announced would require one million dollars. The proposal of President Judson was an act of faith. He believed that the evident necessities of the situation would bring the great sum needed. Few shared his confidence. But the event justified his faith. It was at this time that the city authorities condemned the old wooden bleachers on the Athletic Field and made the erection of a new grandstand immediately imperative. On June 26, 1912, the plans for the new grandstand and for the wall to inclose the field were submitted to the Board and approved. It was expected that both grandstand and wall would be completed early in the succeed- ing autumn, but long delays occurred, and more than fifteen months passed before they were fully ready for dedication. The grandstand was occupied in part on November 23, 1912. On that day occurred the closing football game of the season, and the Chicago team celebrated the opening of the new stand by winning from Minnesota, by a score of 7 to o. But the stand was still far from being finished, and the wall around the field still farther from completion. The dedication did not take place till October 4, 1913. This event was one of great interest to the entire Uni- versity, particularly to the students. The interest was increased by the fact that the dedication preceded the opening football game of the 1913 season. While the public was filling the stands a great procession of students, in which every class from 1896 to 1917 was represented, marched from Bartlett to reserved sections in the new stand. The Trustees and many guests occupied boxes in front of the grandstand. Brief addresses were made by Presi- dent Judson, who turned over the new equipment to the Depart- ment of Physical Culture and Athletics, by Mr. Stagg who received it for the Department, and by William Scott Bond, 1897, who spoke for the alumni. Perhaps the real dedication was made by the football team which won from Indiana 21 to 7, and, continuing its good work through the season, won the 1913 championship. The Grandstand was in reality an immense building with an imposing and dignified front on Ellis Avenue. It conformed in general type to the other buildings. It was of reinforced concrete construction with a rough surface, the color being that of the