Restore Our Stadium

World War Memorial Stadium was completed in 1938 as a Works Projects Administration project. The stadium was three years in the building, according to the 1939 En-Aitch-Ess yearbook. At a cost of $150,000, it was to seat 5,000 fans.
The enrollment at NHS at the time: 920 students and 36 faculty members. The principal? None other than Rupert A. Nock, beginning his first year as the school's leader and later to go on and become Superintendent of Schools, and of course, the namesake for Newburyport's middle school.
Works Progress Administration (abbreviated WPA), was created in May 1935 by Presidential order (Congress funded it annually but did not set it up).
The WPA provided jobs and income to the unemployed during the Great Depression in the United States. It built many public buildings and roads, and as well operated a large arts project. Until it was closed down by Congress in 1943, it was the largest employer in the country — indeed, the largest employer in most states.
The WPA built 650,000 miles of roads, 78,000 bridges, 125,000 buildings, and 700 miles of airport runways.
The stadium also serves as one of the few area memorials to the local veterans of World War II.
The first game was played on September 16, 1939, with more than 4,500 fans on hand. Unfortunately for the Clippers, they lost their first game ever in the new stadium -- to rival Salem, by a score of 14-0. Luckily the first night game, against St. James of Haverhill, was more successful: the Clippers triumphed under the lights by a score of 26-7.
The largest crowd to attend a function at the stadium is believed to be the famous Newburyport-Swampscott football game in 1966, when more than 10,000 fans from all over the North Shore watched the Clippers stun a previously undefeated Swampscott team to capture the State Class B title. On the Swampscott team: future NFL player and current NFL Head Coach Dick Jauron.
The only work on this structure since its original construction was the installation of aluminum seating in the 1970s, the upgrade of the Press Box in 2002, and regular painting and patching.
For years, the stadium was the site of well-attended Yankee Homecoming concerts featuring draws such as The Mamas and the Papas.
It is estimated that more than 10,000 high school athletes have played in the stadium since it was built.
Teams currently using the stadium for play include the NHS football team, boys and girls soccer teams, field hockey team, as well as Newburyport Youth Football. Teams that have also expressed an interest include NHS and Youth Lacrosse teams.
World War Memorial Stadium is located in the certified Newburyport Historic District.




FACTS ABOUT WORLD WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM World War Memorial Stadium was completed in 1938 as a Works Projects Administration project. The stadium was three years in the building, according to the 1939 En-Aitch-Ess yearbook. At a cost of $150,000, it was to seat 5,000 fans. The enrollment at NHS at the time: 920 students and 36 faculty members. The principal? None other than Rupert A. Nock, beginning his first year as the school's leader and later to go on and become Superintendent of Schools, and of course, the namesake for Newburyport's middle school. Works Progress Administration (abbreviated WPA), was created in May 1935 by Presidential order (Congress funded it annually but did not set it up). The WPA provided jobs and income to the unemployed during the Great Depression in the United States. It built many public buildings and roads, and as well operated a large arts project. Until it was closed down by Congress in 1943, it was the largest employer in the country — indeed, the largest employer in most states. The WPA built 650,000 miles of roads, 78,000 bridges, 125,000 buildings, and 700 miles of airport runways. The stadium also serves as one of the few area memorials to the local veterans of World War II. The first game was played on September 16, 1939, with more than 4,500 fans on hand. Unfortunately for the Clippers, they lost their first game ever in the new stadium -- to rival Salem, by a score of 14-0. Luckily the first night game, against St. James of Haverhill, was more successful: the Clippers triumphed under the lights by a score of 26-7. The largest crowd to attend a function at the stadium is believed to be the famous Newburyport-Swampscott football game in 1966, when more than 10,000 fans from all over the North Shore watched the Clippers stun a previously undefeated Swampscott team to capture the State Class B title. On the Swampscott team: future NFL player and current NFL Head Coach Dick Jauron. The only work on this structure since its original construction was the installation of aluminum seating in the 1970s, the upgrade of the Press Box in 2002, and regular painting and patching. For years, the stadium was the site of well-attended Yankee Homecoming concerts featuring draws such as The Mamas and the Papas. It is estimated that more than 10,000 high school athletes have played in the stadium since it was built. Teams currently using the stadium for play include the NHS football team, boys and girls soccer teams, field hockey team, as well as Newburyport Youth Football. Teams that have also expressed an interest include NHS and Youth Lacrosse teams. World War Memorial Stadium is located in the certified Newburyport Historic District.