The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1938-01-07

A week or SO ago the writer was visit
ing in the Chicago offices of j. Lyman
Bingham, assistant to the president
of the Amateur Athletic union. The
walls of the office suite were decorated
with photographs, pen and ink draw
award impedimenta.
My attention was riveted on a pen
and ink drawing of a stadium-an i'm
posing architectural work. I asked Bing-
ham if it was an old world stadium
that had housed Olympic games.
It's the Denver university stadium"
said Bingham. It's a thing of beauty
and one of utility, too. It's my baby,
or l like to feel it is"
Denver Copied Butte
Il was athletic director of Denver U
when the stadium was built" explained
Bingham. Il was given carte blanche
to advise the architects a. to plans and
construction. I visited stadiums all over
the country and sent for pictures and
blueprints of old world coliseums and
amphitheaterS.
The stadium has a Butte idea. And
Denver people like that idea as much
as any part or feature of the stadium.
I put that idea in and was determined
from the start that it should be in, no
matter how much n person or group
Bingham stopped his recital. He had
baited my interest and waited for me
to ask a question.
Butte has a ball park suitable for any
kind of an athletic event. 1t is called
a park, not a stadium.
"All right" I said. What was the
in the Denver university stadium
Your bull pen," replied Bingham.
Butte Bull Pens" Copied
The bull pen at Butte's Clark park
is a space reserved for boys and girls.
There is nc parking charge for young
sters at any athletic event If they go
the bull pen route. It's an old Butte
custom. Years ago when the ball park
at Columbia Gardens was the scene OF
athletic contests there was a bull pen:
When Clark park was designed and
built a pen space was included in the
plans.
In Denver we have what is known
as the Knot Hole gang" resumed Bing-
ham. Il organized the gang when our
stadium was built. Boys and girls be-,
longing to the Knot Hole gang could
see ali our games free in the spae re-
served for them. If we had no paid at
tendance to speak of at a contest we
were assured of a cheering section.
Those kids became Denver U boosters.
Many of them elected to go to Denver
when they became of college age. In
ClOentdlly Clle Dt1lVcI IAllOV LIN SoA.,S
was the first to be organized in this
country. Many schools and some major
league clubs. particularly. the C1ncln-
natl Reds, have adopted the Knot Hole
gang idea.
Idea Gained in Butte
Zone time, many years ago. when !
was a member of the Denver U football
team, we played in Butte. The bull pen
at Columbia Gardens appealed to me;
I made up my mind that If I ever a
anything to do with a park or stadium,
whether it was a high school, college
or professional stadium, I would incor-
upon graduation I was offered a
position with the Denver coaching
Staff. In time I became head oach and
athletic director. We needed a stadium
When it got around to the point where
it was definitely s csrtsin that that P : WeE
Commissioned to visit any and all spots
for ideas. My itinerary did not INCLUDE
Butte. That wasn't necessary 1or me he
HE bull pen idea was on mental lille
for r,aov years"