45 Years Ago
Almost everyone knows this image. It was taken by photographer Robert S. Van Fleet, father of James Van Fleet, class of 1966 who was playing that day. It made headlines around the world and is still reprinted (see the latest Orvis catalogue, for example).Who can answer the following questions about the game?
What schools played?
Who won?
The losing team had a winning streak snapped at how many wins?
What was the score?
What was the date?
Please note that reproducing this image, including publishing it electronically elsewhere without permission of the Northfield Mount Hermon School Archives is prohibited. Higher quality scans, suitable for printing at almost any size are available upon request.
Answers to the questions will be provided later this week.
What was the building
Where was it on campus
What was it used for
Was anyone hurt
I can answer four of five:
1. Mount Hermon / Deerfield
2. Deerfield (this picture appears on their website occasionally)
4. 20-14?
5. Well, you do say it was 45 years ago…
Ron, the building was Silliman Science Laboratory. It was located on a spot between the present Arts Center and the Gymnasium, but perhaps 200 feet further west (towards campus); very near the edge of the present practice field. The image makes the fire look closer to the stands than it actually was. The name of the building makes its use clear. A new science building was well under construction at the time of the fire. No one was hurt.
Eli, you got them all correct, except the last one which you didn’t answer. The game was played on Saturday November 20, 1965. The answer was on the facebook page all day Saturday, which was the anniversary of the fire. It was great to watch NMH win a soccer game on the 45th anniversary. NMH beat Andover on its way to the New England championship.