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 Suitable
for a wide variety of athletic events, Johnstown's
venerable Knox Athletic Field, an interscholastic
stadium featuring lights and a field turf surface, is
located at the Knox Junior High complex on South Perry
Street.
The field was developed following the Board of
Education’s August 20, 1928 acceptance of the generous
offer by local businesswoman Mrs. Rose M. Knox, owner of
the Knox Gelatin Company, to bear the expense to
construct and equip an athletic field in the City of
Johnstown, “to be thereafter known as Knox Athletic
Field and to be forever maintained and supervised by the
Board of Education.” According to official Board of
Education minutes, a Dedication Ceremony for the Knox
Athletic Field was held on October 1, 1930, and the
services of the first caretaker for the field commenced
in full on November 10, 1930.
The site of many NYS Sectionals contests, Knox Field is
home to Johnstown’s Sir Bills Football, Lady Bills Field
Hockey, Sir Bills & Lady Bills Lacrosse, Sir Bills and Lady Bills
Track & Field, Marching Bills Field Band, and Johnstown Winterguard. It also serves as the home field for the
semi-pro Colonials football team, is used by the
community's Little League Football teams, is the site of
the annual Johnstown
elementary track & field day, and the
Purple & Gold Get Out & Play Day. Students graduating
from Johnstown High School have enjoyed the tradition of
holding commencement ceremonies on Knox Field since
1959, weather permitting.
Remaining in continuous use by Johnstown schools since
its inception more than 80 years ago, Knox Field was
most recently updated as part of a capital project
approved by district residents in 2005. In addition to
the field and surrounding track pictured here, the Knox
complex boasts a bridle walking path, a playground area
and tennis courts that are open for use by the
community. It also hosts the
School Museum, which occupies the original field
house facing Glebe Street.
Aerial photos on this page Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs.
Paul Connelie
click on pictures to view in larger format
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Knox Athletic Field
