Page 90 - People & Places In Time

xeter’s football field lies at the far east end of a large city block (really three blocks undivided), there in lays as well, the baseball field and municipal pool. This block, south of the high school is surrounded by chain link fence with a hedge and can be reached from three sides thru always unlocked gates. Though, there is one access from just outside the east-side door into the boys’ gym. It’s thru a con-
crete tunnel running under Rocky Hill Drive; this is the road leading east out of town that divides the high school from the playing fields. As young boys we would tear down the tunnel ramp under the street and up the other side on our bicycles. If you give a young boy enough freedom, he’ll find ways to amuse himself. In this case someone decided this wasn’t right, you just can’t allow boys to have too much fun; so, that someone placed a chain across one end of the tunnel. My friend John Keyes was first to discover this ob- stacle by sacrificing his two front teeth to the cause. His retainer then became the butt
of good-natured ribbing for the remainder of our school years. There was one time when John was with the high school band traveling to Catalina Island. While on the ferry ride John became sea sick and thru-up; his two front teeth were sent overboard as well.
Considering four years of practices for football and track, the games and track meets and including those childhood thrill rides, I must have traversed this tunnel in comradery with all the boys who ever played sports or just lived in Exeter before or after me hundreds of times.
For much of our childhood, the high school years and into adulthood this block of grass and dirt, grandstands, chalk stripes, concrete, water, asphalt and light poles be- comes in some way or another a part of everyone who has lived in Exeter. Whether as participant or spectator, coach or parent; sooner or later lives intersect here. It may be the 4th of July fireworks show, a football or baseball game or swimming at the pool on hot summer days and nights. As a young boy I would cut across the baseball field walking from my grand parents’ house on B street to our home on Lenox. Until I had my own car, I walked to high school every morning across the same outfield, then back home at night.
Along the west side of this block at the intersection of Rocky Hill Drive and High- way 65, on the south east corner, two large and old palm trees stand guard. These trees define the start to a path that leads to the baseball diamond. Concrete bermed bleachers with wood plank seating extend down both lines. A press box-announcing stand situated behind home plate, at the intersection of the pair of bleachers, was accessed by ladder only; this was Chuck Knox’s domain as score keeper, part time announcer and journalist. For Chuck this high school experience would eventually become his career.
This entrance defined by the two palms sits one block off Main Street, nearly in the shadow of the Exeter water tower and as such, the gateway to “a field of dreams” for this small town. Satoshi "Fibber” Hirayama played here in the 1940’s upon returning with his family from internment camp. He then went on to star at Fresno State in baseball and football before playing professionally in Japan. Ray Strable, a classmate and friend of mine,
The Palm trees are gone. The baseball field
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is gone. Replaced by tenniscourtrtsandaparking lot. Completed through theill-informedeffortrts
of someone without the familiarity to understand the importrtanceofthisfieldin theheartrtofExeter.