A stadium is a factory of inspiration. Lay some sod, turf or cinder, mark its boundaries with appropriate exactness, and let loose the human will—the need—to test our physical boundaries.
At their best, these secular cathedrals also inspire those who sit in the stands that ring these fields of endeavors. They become our town halls, in which the mere act of being there makes us a part of the community—and from which the community draws identity.
On the afternoon of Sept. 18, 1932, Paterson, N.J., Mayor John V. Hinchliffe officially dedicated a grand Art Deco piece of architectural inspiration for his diverse and industrious city. “On ground sacred to this city,” as the Paterson Morning Call reported, Hinchliffe had the honor of opening a stadium in his family’s name. With its white-washed concrete walls, red terracotta roof tiles and five gabled towers, Hinchliffe Stadium made for an elegant horseshoe of dreams.
