Carolina Nursing through the decades: a historic timeline
An illustrated online timeline of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, issued by the school in 2025. One page with portraits.
Storyline
The University’s new athletic field, 1933–1936
The University’s new athletic field on the Raleigh road, graded by Civil Works crews in the winter of 1933-34, finished with relief labor in 1935 after a halt in Emergency Relief work, and dedicated as Fetzer Field in May 1936.
In briefMen from Orange County's relief rolls did nearly all the work on the University's new athletic field, and the project stopped when relief money ran out. By January 1934 Civil Works crews had cleared and largely graded a 15-acre tract along the Raleigh highway. Work resumed in January 1935 with a special Emergency Relief fund, but on February 13 an order from Raleigh stopped every Emergency Relief work project in the county. By late March the track curbing was in place, and by mid-July 1935 the field was all but done, with concrete stands for about 6,800. On May 9, 1936 the University dedicated it as Fetzer Field, for its athletic director of fifteen years.
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The full story
By January 1934 Civil Works crews under J. A. Page had cleared and largely graded a 15-acre tract along the Raleigh highway between the Tin Can and the Country Club road, planned as six intramural fields above a varsity practice field. By January 18, 1935 work had resumed on the field, the largest Chapel Hill project the Civil Works Administration had left unfinished, with a special Emergency Relief fund, under supervisor Bill Harris of Raleigh and foreman R. L. Hutchins. On February 13 an order from Raleigh stopped every Emergency Relief Administration work project in Orange County because relief money had run out; the athletic field was one of only three then under way, with the Chapel Hill and Hillsboro streets. By late March the track curbing and the piers of the stand were in place, and by mid-July 1935 the field was all but done, with six intramural football fields above and, below, a quarter-mile track around a practice field, concrete stands for about 6,800 and a small field house. Nearly all the labor came from Orange County's relief rolls. On May 9, 1936, "Fetzer Day," the University dedicated its new track stadium as Fetzer Field, for its athletic director of fifteen years, with a track meet against the Naval Academy.
In the chronology
Events in this storyline, in date order. See these 5 dated events in the chronology →
- Civil Works crews clear and grade a new University athletic field on the Raleigh road Working under J. A. Page, C.W.A. crews cleared and largely graded a 15-acre tract along the Raleigh highway between the Tin Can and the Country Club road, planned as six intramural fields on an upper level and a varsity practice field below, with concrete bleachers for 7,000 and running tracks between them.Search the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, January 12, 1934, p. 1
- Relief funds restart work on the University's new intramural athletic field Work resumed on the University's intramural athletic field, the largest Chapel Hill project left unfinished by the Civil Works Administration, with a special Emergency Relief fund for equipment, materials and skilled labor under supervisor Bill Harris of Raleigh and foreman R. L. Hutchins. Plans called for a quarter-mile cinder track with a 220-yard straightaway and a concrete stand for more than 5,000; by late March the track curbing and the stand's piers were in place.Search the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, January 18, 1935, p. 1
- Relief administration halts all its work projects in Orange County An order from Raleigh stopped every Emergency Relief Administration work project in Orange County because relief money had run out while Congress debated a new appropriation. Only three projects were then under way: the University's athletic field, the Chapel Hill streets and the Hillsboro streets. People: George H. LawrenceSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, February 15, 1935, p. 1
- Relief labor nearly finishes the University's new athletic field and track on the Raleigh road The intramural field begun under the Civil Works Administration in November 1933 was all but done by mid-July 1935, with six intramural football fields on an upper level and, below, a 30-foot quarter-mile track around a practice field, concrete stands for about 6,800 and a small field house. Nearly all the labor came from Orange County's relief rolls.Search the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, July 19, 1935, p. 2
- The University dedicates its new stadium as Fetzer Field On "Fetzer Day" the University dedicated its new track stadium, named Fetzer Field for its athletic director of fifteen years, with a track meet against the Naval Academy. The Monogram Club ran the celebration and invited every letterman since athletics began at the University.Search the index · Chapel Hill Weekly: "Fetzer Day" (May 8, 1936), p. 1 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, May 15, 1936, p. 4
Places in this history
Buildings, schools, churches and other sites named in the dated events on this page, the most often named first. The map shows them all.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Site locations from the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office survey, Open Orange, Orange County GIS, OpenStreetMap and a few other published sources named on each site’s page; town and community pins show approximate locations.
- Fetzer Field University buildings and grounds · Chapel Hill · 1 event here
Background on UNC & Campus Life
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- NC LIVE: prepared search for The University’s new athletic field, 1933–1936 Library card Search NC LIVE for this subject and Orange County. You can change the search terms. Sign in through your North Carolina library to access the materials.
Local help
- Rebecca B. Wall Local History Collection, Orange County Public Library The county library’s local-history room at the Main Library in Hillsborough: books, journals, maps, and microfilm of county records from 1752
- Local History Help Hours and request formOCPL Local History Liaison Meet with the Local History Liaison at the Main Library, usually Mondays from noon to 3 p.m., or send a question using the online request form
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