Duckboards

The Chinook-like wind that swooped in yesterday briefly made the Green "mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful," as e e cummings might say. But we are lucky: the Green now drains pretty quickly. It was not always so. For most of Dartmouth's history mud season turned the Green into a sloppy mess. To deal with the problem, every March from the 1880s until the 1950s, the College would lay down "duckboards" along the pathways on the Green. The narrow boardwalks kept students relatively dry and mud free on their way to class, but, if a particularly squirrelly student stomped hard, he could shoot water through the slats and soak anyone nearby. For a time there was even a dance, "The Duckboard Drag," held each March to celebrate the coming of Spring.

In the 1950s, the College installed a drainage system and the duckboards were retired, or should I say cremated, for they fueled at least one Dartmouth Night bonfire.

To see more images, ask for the Photofile: Campus--Duckboards.

Nice Hats, Gentlemen - Play Ball!!!

1866 Baseball Team

Dartmouth first formed a baseball club in 1865, and the following spring fielded a team, the first one in any sport to represent the College in athletic competition. Beating two New Hampshire squads, Dartmouth was named the state champion. Luckily, Amherst College was in Massachusetts; that game we lost 40 – 10.

But, this is not going to be a chronicle of Dartmouth's baseball prowess!

Some years ago, while attending a Dartmouth football game with my family, my sister looked up from her knitting long enough to comment "I like Princeton's outfits better." Admittedly, Dartmouth's football uniforms probably have never been very fashion-forward, but the same cannot be said of Dartmouth's baseball attire, which, during the 19th century, was varied, creative and bold. Since it is the start of spring training, in those places where they actually have spring, and we're all packing away our winter clothes, let's take a look back at some of Dartmouth baseball's sartorial splendor.

Baseball Team ca 1880

Baseball Team 1884

Baseball Team 1888

Baseball Team 1890

Unfortunately, by the turn of the 20th century, the familiar gray flannel with DARTMOUTH arched across the chest became the standard - not very different (except perhaps in fiber content) from today’s baseball uniform…although the striped cap really makes the outfit!

Baseball team ca 1890s

Ask for the photo files on "Baseball" to see more.