Tanks Memorial Stadium at 100 Years
- Staff
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
(Below is the story directly from an original 1926 program from the Tanks stadium dedication game that is pictured above)
The cost of the Stadium was $33,500. The seating capacity is 3,112 seats and 40 boxes, seating 4 and 6 people. Under the seats are large rest rooms for the ladies and men. The large concession stand, also located under the Stadium is in charge of Charles Hite. The south end of the building, on the ground floor, is equipped with dressing rooms for the players, with hot and cold shower baths, all under the stadium.
History of Stadium
Talk about a Stadium was started last season, but no action was taken until December, when a meeting was held at the Elk Club, attended by more than 50 boosters, but an unofficial offer made by private parties to build the Stadium caused all other plans to be dropped at that time. After four months of delay, The Ironton News, started a publicity campaign, publishing coupons. This was on March 23rd, and the first week, $195,000 was voluntarily pledged for the sale of season tickets. The next more was to get approval from the Board of Education to use Beechwood park, and this was done on April 8th, at the meeting of the School Board, when The Ironton News presented the proposition in writing.
The next move was to call a public meeting at the Court House Auditorium, and this was called on April 16th, by Bert Cohen, Post Commander of the American Legion. At that time the Legion had become active in the move, and it might be said here, that Frank J. Goldcamp Post, was the only organization in the city that subscribed stock in the Stadium.
The seven or eight boosters who attended the called meeting at the Court House auditorium laid plans for the organization of the stock company, which final resulted in the building of the Stadium pictured above. Those present at this meeting named Thomas L. Hudson, L.R. Andrews, Leo Brumberg, David Morgan, E.J. Merrill, W.P. Lewis, O.D. Hayes, and C.B. Egerton as a committee to solicit the stock. At the same time, incorporation papers were applied for. The incorporators were H.M. Edwards, Bert Cohen, James Collier, Harry Von Kennel and Charles L. Collett, all members of the American Legion. A committee composed of Brook Capper, George P. Mahl, and O.H. Schweickart were also named to get plans, bids, and look about the location.
On April 26th, the committee started the drive for $30,000 worth of stock guaranteed to pay 7 percent, each year, a certain amount of the principal being refunded from the profits. The pledges reached $15,000, or half the goal the first day. On May 6th, the $30,000 had been over subscribed, and on May 7th, at the Chamber of Commerce rooms, the Beechwood Stadium Co., a non-profit corporation was organized by the election of the following directors: A.R. Johnson, L.R. Andrews, D.C. Davies, Frank Wieteki, Brook Capper, Dr. Cos Burton, O.D. Hayes, W.P. Lewis, George P. Mahl, Charles L. Collett, E.J. Merrill, Leo Brumberg, Dr. T.H. Remy, and C.W. Golden. The directors elected the following officers: Thos. L. Hudson, President, J.F. Scherer, Dr. C.E. Vidt and F.W. Batham, Vice Presidents, H.M. Edwards, Secretary and David Morgan, Treasurer.
On May 13th, A.R. Johnson and L.R. Andrews appeared before the Board of Education and secured a twenty year lease on the Stadium site in Beechwood park, with the understanding that the Stadium Association would have full charge of the affairs until the same was paid for, and all stockholders had received their money back, plus 7 per cent interest.
On May 21st, the directors awarded the contract for the steel to the Wisconsin Bridge Co. Other contracts were let to O.H. Schweickart, and thus the fine big building is complete today.
MAYNE SHARES GRANDFATHER'S TIES TO EARLY TANK YEARS
When talking about the Ironton Tanks and Tanks Memorial Stadium, Rick Mayne has a direct tie, courtesy of his late grandfather Elmer Mayne.
The elder Mayne played several positions for the Tanks including quarterback and center.
Rick Mayne, 71, said his grandfather didn’t start playing football until 1914 with the Midways before entering the military in 1917 and fought in World War I.
After he came home in 1919, he played with the Irish Town Rags who morphed into the Tanks as they merged with the Lombards.
Ironically, Elmer Mayne said his grandfather was against his son playing football which is why he didn’t play until after he graduated in 1913.
The elder Mayne played until 1922 before retiring due to knee problems. But he continued his connection with the Tanks by purchasing season tickets every year and following the team religiously.
“There were newspaper accounts of the starting lineups of games in which he played and he’d be listed at center. There’s no pictures of him in the (Tanks) team uniform or team photo. The lineup in the paper would just say Mayne, C.” said Rick Mayne, noting the “C” stood for center.
The team was named after the Army tanks because they likened themselves to the battlefield tanks that would flatten enemy soldiers and machinery.
The Tanks booster group raised $33,500 in two weeks which is the equivalent to $641,521 in 2026. Season tickets were sold and the group raised $195,000, which would be the amazing amount of $3,734,227 in 2026.
The first game played at the newly constructed Tanks Memorial Stadium — known as Beechwood Stadium at the time — was Oct. 17, 1926, with the Tanks blasting the Cleveland Indians 47-0.
The dedication game and first game played on Thanksgiving was Nov. 25, 1926, against the NFL’s Kansas City Cowboys and the game ended in a scoreless tie.
The tradition of playing on Thanksgiving actually began the Friday after Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, 1920. The Tanks actually began playing on Thanksgiving in 1922.
When the Tanks folded after 1930 and four Tanks players joined Portsmouth, the Spartans elected not to continue playing on Thanksgiving.
However, the team was sold to a Detroit radio station for $500 and became the Lions.
Glenn Presnell, who was a standout for the Tanks and Spartans, not only was asked to pick out the team’s uniform colors after signing his contract, but told the owner about the Thanksgiving tradition in Ironton.
Lions’ owner G.A. Richards wanted to improve ticket sales and liked the idea and scheduled the first NFL Thanksgiving Day game.
The game was televised by NBC and was a hit with the fans and viewers. The tradition continues with the Lions hosting a game every Thanksgiving.
Ironton Tanks
1926 Team Roster
Ted Abel
George Barron
Bill Brooks
Charlton “Shorty” Davies
Tom Dendolet
Kermit Frecka
Leroy Gates
Bill Heald
Deek Lynch
Andy Nemecek (Nemenck)
Pete Peters
Harry Pope
Virgil Pope
Coach and Captain: Lingel “Sonny” Winters
Managers: Jimmy Lambert and Nick McMahon
Trainer: Bull Carter
Kansas City Cowboys
1926 Team Roster
Al Bloodgood, Quarterback/Safety
Steve Owen, Tackle/Defensive Tackle
Glen Spear, Fullback/Linebacker
Jay Berquist, Guard
Clyde Smith, Center
Milt Rehnquist, Guard
Lyle Munn, End
Proc Randels, End
Charlie Hill, Halfback
Rufe DeWitz, Halfback
Obie Bristow
Lester Caywood
Chuck Corgan
Head coach: Roy Andrews
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