View source for Goldsmith–Schiffman Field

{{Short description|Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama}}
{{Infobox stadium
| name                = Goldsmith–Schiffman Field
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| image               = Goldsmithschiffmanusgs.png
| caption             = USGS aerial view
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| coordinates         = {{coord|34.74|-86.58|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground        = 
| built               = 
| opened              = {{Start date|1934|10|04}}
| renovated           = 
| expanded            = 
| closed              = 
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| owner               = [[Huntsville, Alabama|City of Huntsville, Alabama]]
| operator            = [[Huntsville City Schools]]
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| general_contractor  = [[Civil Works Administration]] 
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}}

'''Goldsmith–Schiffman Field''' is a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Huntsville, Alabama]]. From 1934 through 2012, it was used mainly for middle school and high school [[American football|football]].<ref name="hnt091015"/><ref name="hsv121210"/> It was also home to the [[Huntsville Rockets]] from 1962 through 1967 and the now-defunct [[Alabama Renegades]] of the [[National Women's Football Association]].

==History==
[[File:Goldsmith-Schiffman Field construction.jpg|thumb|left|Stadium under construction in 1934.]]
On January 25, 1934, Oscar Goldsmith, Lawrence B. Goldsmith, Annie Schiffman Goldsmith, Robert L. Schiffman, and Elsie Strauss Schiffman gave the property to the city for an "athletic field or playground "for the enjoyment of the white students of the public schools."<ref name="hsv121210"/> The [[Civil Works Administration]] provided $6,500 in materials and labor to construct the field, the first in Huntsville to accommodate night athletic games. The field was dedicated during the first night game on October 4, 1934, when 1,000 fans saw Coach Milton Frank's [[Huntsville High School (Alabama)|Huntsville High]] team defeat [[Gadsden High School (Alabama)|Gadsden High]].<ref name="hismk"/><ref name="lees"/>

The [[Racism in the United States#World War II to the Civil Rights Movement|racist language]] in the deed was ruled unenforceable and ignored as desegregation came to [[Huntsville City Schools]].<ref name="hsv121210"/>

The city moved activities to [[Louis Crews Stadium]] at [[Alabama A&M University]] in 2012, and because of disuse, heirs reclaimed title to the land. On September 5, 2014, after consulting with heirs "as far away as Scotland," Margaret Ann Goldsmith deeded the property to the city again, this time without restriction.<ref name="hsvt140915"/>

In October 2024, the city hired a Georgia-based engineering and design firm to develop overhaul plans for the facility. The renovation will add pickleball courts, new flag football fields, a concession building with restrooms and a playground. <ref>https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/overhaul-set-for-near-century-old-stadium-goldsmith-schiffman-field/525-4e2a2ac8-7567-418b-ae42-16f9539be208</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="hismk">{{cite web |url=http://www.historicmarkers.com/al/65790-Goldsmith-Schiffman-Field/ |title=Historic Markers: Goldman–Schiffman Field (366) |publisher=HistoricMarkers.com |accessdate=October 7, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="lees">{{cite web |first=Tommy |last=Towery |work=Lee's Traveller |title=Goldsmith–Schiffman Field: A Rison-Dallas Treasure |url=http://www.rison-dallas.com/gs_field.html |date=October 4, 2005 |accessdate=October 7, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="hnt091015">{{cite news|publisher=[[WHNT-TV]] |title=HS Football: Milton Frank Doubleheader Results |url=http://www.whnt.com/sports/whnt-milton-frank-doubleheader-,0,2533266.story |date=October 15, 2009 |accessdate=October 21, 2009 |quote=With heavy rains wreaking havoc on the {{sic|the}} Goldsmith–Schiffman playing field, a rare high school football doubleheader took place at Huntsville's Milton Frank Stadium Thursday. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716090344/http://www.whnt.com/sports/whnt-milton-frank-doubleheader-%2C0%2C2533266.story |archivedate=July 16, 2011 }}</ref>
<ref name="hsv121210">{{cite news |first=Challen |last=Stephens |newspaper=[[The Huntsville Times]] |location=[[Huntsville, AL]] |title=Huntsville schools quit playing football at Goldsmith-Schiffman, learn field deeded for whites only |url=http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/12/goldsmith-schiffman_field_deed.html |date=December 10, 2012 |accessdate=January 17, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="hsvt140915">{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Doyle |newspaper=[[The Huntsville Times]] |publisher=[[AL.com]] |title=Family's donation will maintain Goldsmith-Schiffman Field's 'treasured' place as Huntsville sports venue |url=http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2014/09/familys_donation_will_maintain.html |date=September 5, 2014 |accessdate=September 9, 2014}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130119101339/http://www.huntsvilleal.gov/gis/HistoricMarkers/site/marker_007/page.htm Goldsmith–Schiffman Field] at [[Huntsville, Alabama|City of Huntsville, Alabama]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goldsmith-Schiffman Field}}
[[Category:Sports venues in Huntsville, Alabama]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in Alabama]]
[[Category:Huntsville-Decatur, AL Combined Statistical Area]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States]]
[[Category:High school football venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1934]]
[[Category:American football venues in Alabama]]
[[Category:New Deal in Alabama]]
[[Category:Civil Works Administration]]


{{Alabama-stadium-stub}}