“Field Day” (started in 1876) was one of the earliest sports events at Rutgers to get its own newspaper advertisement. It was in the October 27, 1886 Daily Times of New Brunswick. It listed events and other items although rain postponed “Field Day” until the following week. The ad appeared right next to another inviting people to take the steamship “New Brunswick” for $3 the next day and go see the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty on October 28, 1886.
Rutgers’ Field Day Athletic Contest was postponed from October 28 to November 6, 1886 and that day’s scheduled football game was incorporated into Field Day. Rutgers won 58-0 in a game shortened to 33 minutes long so the Vineland Athletic Club could catch the train home. Many of the players then continued with the days events as listed in order from that Monday’s New Brunswick Daily Times: running; long jump; putting shot; one mile walk; quarter mile run; hammer throw; one legged race; hop, skip and jump; kicking football (won by Harvey Losee, Class of 1889 – 147 feet); one mile run; Rutgers vs. Vineland AC football (2:00 p.m.); standing high jump; running high jump; half mile run; potato race; and the tug of war. A $150 profit was made and donated to the Hospital Fund.
Happy 130th Birthday to the Statue of Liberty!
Rutgers’ Field Day Athletic Contest was postponed from October 28 to November 6, 1886 and that day’s scheduled football game was incorporated into Field Day. Rutgers won 58-0 in a game shortened to 33 minutes long so the Vineland Athletic Club could catch the train home. Many of the players then continued with the days events as listed in order from that Monday’s New Brunswick Daily Times: running; long jump; putting shot; one mile walk; quarter mile run; hammer throw; one legged race; hop, skip and jump; kicking football (won by Harvey Losee, Class of 1889 – 147 feet); one mile run; Rutgers vs. Vineland AC football (2:00 p.m.); standing high jump; running high jump; half mile run; potato race; and the tug of war. A $150 profit was made and donated to the Hospital Fund.
Happy 130th Birthday to the Statue of Liberty!
