Clark Field – Saint Cloud MN

City:
St. Cloud, MN

Site Type:
Athletic Courts and Fields, Parks and Recreation

New Deal Agencies:
Work Relief Programs, Works Progress Administration (WPA), National Youth Administration (NYA)

Started:
1938

Completed:
1942

Contractor:
Tyrie and Chapman

Quality of Information:
Good

Description

Clark field is an athletic field built in St. Cloud by the Work Projects Administration (WPA) and the National Youth Administration (NYA), set up for Technical High School by the principal at the time, Elizabeth Clark. When the field was dedicated in 1942, a program for the event deemed that they dedicated the field to Tech High. Dedicated to the school by the Grace McConnell property, although it was originally a pig farm. Built by students under the NYA and the WPA, it was finished in 1942 and named in honor of Elizabeth Clark.

The NYA was originally set up by Ms. Clark for students who needed a job and money. Students produced everything, anything from cleaning the school, to building classrooms. Saint Cloud became known as “A great Camp of the Unarmed Forces of the Untied States of America.” WPA and NYA workers had built more classrooms to expand the school. As for Clark Field, although no longer in use and closed in 2012 due to mold concerns, many sporting events were held there including football and baseball games. Other projects at Tech include a library, a second gymnasium, and a cafeteria. Employing over 40 men and young boys and using more than a thousand blocks of concrete.

Source notes

“Annex Opening Postponed for Another Week.” Saint Cloud Daily Times, October 5, 1938. https://www.newspapers.com/image/224145037/?terms=wpa+tech+high+school+clark+field

Berg, Jenny. “Great Camp of the Unarmed Forces’ in WWII: Tech High Students Worked in Defense Factories, Collected Scrap Metal to Aid War Effort.” St.Cloud Times, May 28, 2017 https://search.proquest.com/docview/1902822775?accountid=14048

Gove, Gertrude B. In a Century of Progress: A History of St. Cloud, Minnesota Public Schools 1858-1958, 63–65. st.cloud , MN, 1958. Publisher not identified.

Morgan, William Towner. Earth, Wood, Stone : Central Minnesota Lives & Landmarks St. Cloud, Minn: Sentinel Printing, 2008.

Morgan, William Towner. Earth, Wood, Stone : Central Minnesota Lives & Landmarks. Volume II St. Cloud, Minn: s.n.], 2013.

“School Improvements during Year Cost District $12,150.” Saint Cloud Daily Times, January 1, 1936, sec. 2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/221982936/?terms=wpa+tech+high+school.

“Triumphant Dedication Held at New Tech Field .” Saint Cloud Times, October 3, 1942. https://www.newspapers.com/image/222182557/?terms=wpa+tech+high+school+clark+field.

Site originally submitted by Fardowsa Gedi on May 18, 2022.

Location Info


7th Street S
St. Cloud, MN 56301

Location notes: South side of 7th Street S between 10th Ave. S and 12th Ave. S

Coordinates: 45.552541, -94.163048

Contribute to this Site

We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal site.

Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site

Join the Conversation

Please note:

  • We are not involved in the management of New Deal sites and have no information about visits, hours or rentals.
  • This page shows all the information we have for this site; if you have new information or photos to share, click the button above.

Your email address will not be published, shared, or sold.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Contribute to this Site

We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal project site.

Submit More Information or Photographs for this New Deal Site

Join the Conversation

Please note:

  • We are not involved in the management of New Deal sites and have no information about visits, hours or rentals.
  • This page shows all the information we have for this site; if you have new information or photos to share, click the button above.

Your email address will not be published, shared, or sold.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.