Later days Hinchliffe Stadium

at first hinchliffe, called city stadium , municipally owned. in 1963, schools assumed full ownership, undertook array of repairs , upgrades included repositioning baseball diamond , adding fill area above , along river (the cliff area, called valley of rocks ) in order enlarge football field , lengthen track. in following decades, stadium did yeoman service both school sports , major public events, including—from 1970s on—concerts, antique car shows, , fireworks displays great falls festivals have become favorite feature of paterson s labor day celebrations. duke ellington held 1 of last major concerts here in 1971.

in 1983, field received upgrade under mayor frank x. graves, jr.. these repairs made temporary stands permanent, added handicap access , storage facilities, , resulted in installation of astroturf field surface. in 1988 hinchliffe stadium became home of new jersey eagles of american soccer league, , eagles called stadium home 2 seasons before moving venue third , final season.

the general decline of school system in paterson on next decade meant diversion of maintenance resources away stadium. although facility continued used through 1990s, hincliffe stadium fell further , further disrepair due underfunding , closed @ end of 1996-97 school year , threatened demolition. forced eastside high school , kennedy high school play entire 1997 football seasons on road , both schools returned playing in paterson 1998 season @ bauerle field, located near eastside high school.

the threat of demolition sparked new movement find ways , means of restoring , revitalizing historic venue. group of local citizens formed non-profit friends of hinchliffe stadium, announcing in september 2002, on 70th anniversary of stadium s dedication. month later, schools superintendent edwin duroy announced proposal revitalize facility stadium complex. national register of historic places designation state office of historic preservation deemed hinchliffe locally significant, regardless of fact segregation , negro leagues of national prominence. cost stadium needed funding save america s treasures, grant funding program no longer exists.