I’m a big basketball fan living smack-dab in the heart of Hoosier Hysteria. My obsession goes well beyond game nights and box scores- I’m fascinated by the places where the game was played! Lately, I’ve been digging into the history of high school gyms, using old Sanborn Maps to see how they were built, expanded, and used over time. Here’s some of what I’ve uncovered.
Sanborn Maps are highly detailed, large-scale fire-insurance maps created by the Sanborn Map Company beginning in the late 19th century. They were originally made for insurance companies to assess fire risk in cities and towns, block by block, and building by building. They’re used to show things like building footprints and shapes, construction materials, and the number of stories. They’re invaluable to people like me! Here are ten old Sanborn images of gyms I’ve uncovered.
Civic Hall- Richmond, Indiana
Richmond’s Civic Hall was erected in 1938. It served as the home of the Richmond Red Devils until 1984, when the school’s new Tiernan Center opened. Today, the old building is home to the Civic Hall Performing Arts Center. The gym made this appearance in a 1950 Sanborn Map of Richmond1.
The Muncie Fieldhouse- Muncie, Indiana
The Muncie Fieldhouse opened in 1928 and served as the storied home of the Muncie Central Bearcats. It’s a phenomenal gym! A tornado damaged the structure in 2017, but the building was restored. Today, it remains the home of the Bearcats. The gym appeared in a 1954 Sanborn Map of Muncie2.
The Wigwam- Anderson, Indiana
The original Anderson Wigwam was built in 1924-25. Home to the Anderson Indians and the Anderson Packers of the NBA, the facility burned down in 1958. The present-day Wigwam was built three years later but closed in 2011. The first Wigwam made this appearance in a 1950 Sanborn Map of Anderson3.
Memorial Coliseum- Marion, Indiana
Marion’s Memorial Coliseum was built in 1928. It served as the home of the Marion Giants until 1970, when the Bill Green Arena opened on the Marion High School campus. Today, the building is home to the Grant County YMCA. It made this appearance in a 1952 Sanborn Map of Marion4.
North Side Gymnasium- Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne’s North Side High School was built in 1927. Not only did its gymnasium serve the North Side Redskins, but it was also home to the NBA’s Fort Wayne Pistons until 1952! The gym was used until 2004, when it was converted into a school library. It, and the rest of the school, appeared in a 1951 Sanborn Map of Fort Wayne5.
Jefferson High School Gym- Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette’s Jefferson High School was built in 1912. A new home court for the Bronchos was completed just south of the building in 1927. A new Jefferson High School was completed in 1970. The old gymnasium, which made its appearance in a 1951 Sanborn Map, was demolished to make room for a parking lot in 19826.
Elston Gym- Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City’s Elston High School was completed in 1924. A gymnasium/auditorium was built southwest of the structure twelve years later. The building closed as a high school in 1995, then as a middle school in 2014. Today, the old gymnasium is home to the LaPorte County Family YMCA Michigan City Elston Branch. It made this appearance in a 1951 Sanborn Map of Michigan City7.
F.J. Reitz Gym- Evansville, Indiana
The original portion of Evansville’s Francis Joseph Reitz High School was built in 1918. The building’s first gymnasium was completed in 1926. Curiously, a much larger gym was built at the front of the original building in 1957. Today, the building still serves as the home court of the Reitz Panthers. It made this appearance in a 1962 Sanborn map of Evansville8.
The Reuben D. Behlmer Memorial Gymnasium- Indianapolis, Indiana
Arsenal Technical High School, just northeast of downtown Indianapolis, opened in 1912. First known as the Boys’ Gym and then West Gym, the Reuben D. Behlmer Memorial Gymnasium was completed in 1928. Today, it’s still home to the Tech Titans. The building made this appearance in a 1956 Sanborn Map of Indianapolis9.
Hadaway’s Shack- South Bend, Indiana
South Bend’s John Adams High School opened in 1940 and featured a gym at its southeastern corner. Named after a long-time boy’s basketball coach, the gymnasium was renovated in a massive project from 2001-2004. Today, it remains the home court of the Adams Eagles. THe gym made this appearance in a 1949 Sanborn Map of South Bend10.Â
I’ve got ten more Sanborn Map images of some of Indiana’s most famous high school gyms. I hope to run part two of this quick series in a week or so!
Sources Cited
1. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana (1950). Sanborn Map Company, 1909. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
2. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana (1954). Sanborn Map Company, 1954. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
3. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Anderson, Madison County, Indiana (1950). Sanborn Map Company, 1950. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
4. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Marion, Grant County, Indiana (1952). Sanborn Map Company, 1952. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
5. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana (1951). Sanborn Map Company, 1951. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
6. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana (1951). Sanborn Map Company, 1951. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
7. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Michigan City, LaPorte County, Indiana (1948). Sanborn Map Company, 1951. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
8. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana (1962). Sanborn Map Company, 1962. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
9 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana (1956). Sanborn Map Company, 1956. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
10 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana (1949). Sanborn Map Company, 1949. Web. Retrieved from the Library of Congress.
I have never heard of Sanborn maps. Thank you for educating me today! This is interesting stuff. I foresee several ‘going down the rabbit hole’ episodes on my part in the near future!
You’re welcome! The library of congress is my preferred source for them.
Not being much of a basketball person, the fascinating part here for me was the key up at the top! And I had a “Duh” moment of not having realized that the term “factory” is a shortened form of the older, original word “manufactory.”
But it makes perfect sense. Wow.
Hmm. I guess I hadn’t read it closely enough to make that connection. Makes sense, though.
Linguistics is just one of my minute-detail obsessions. I do have an autism diagnosis, for whatever that’s worth! 😅
I have geeked out on old Sanborn maps for a couple of local historical dives. For example, the property of my current employer was first developed as a brewery around 1904, and I also pinned down the location of the old Marmon Automobile Company. They are endlessly fascinating.
As for high schools, has there ever been a bigger one in Indiana than Arsenal Technical? I once worked with a guy who graduated from it in 1960. I am amazed that IPS keeps it going, given the shrunken state of its student base.
I love Sanborns. Very cool about the brewery and Marmon site!
Arsenal Tech is weird, for sure. I share your amazement.