Pat Wheeler-Gibson and Valerie Wheeler-Davis were back where it started on Friday morning outside of Cottingham Stadium.
Wheeler-Gibson wore her old track shoes and recalled running in meets against the boys at Cottingham in Easton’s West Ward during her youth. That was the prelude to her call for Easton to start a girls track team, which ultimately happened in 1974, a year after her graduation from high school.
Wheeler-Davis, an art teacher in Easton Area School District, held a brick from the stadium.
"This brick is the foundation that got me into college, because athletics were my key -- that was my ticket in. This means the world to me," Wheeler-Davis said.
The two sisters traveled to North 12th Street to observe the demolition of the historic venue, which will be built anew at the same site.
While appreciating the history of it all, Wheeler-Davis thinks an upgrade was overdue.
"We should have the best, because we are the best," she said of the Red Rovers.
The Easton Area School Board in May approved the $15.9 million renovation. Cottingham dates to the 1920s and had fallen into disrepair with age.
The demolition began in July, as contractors completed abatement work inside the field house and under the bleachers, said Ken Case, director of facilities and operations for the Easton Area School District. Demolition of the bleachers and selective demo inside the field house started this week.
Work is on schedule to have the reborn stadium ready for the Red Rovers' 2021-22 football season, Case said Friday.
Skepton Construction is general contractor on the project designed by Alloy5 Architecture in conjunction with D'Huy Engineering Inc. Designers shaved more than $3 million off the cost after the school board last year rejected bids that had come in too high.
The project includes a new archway entrance, precast concrete bleachers and a synthetic turf field designed to make the stadium available for activities beyond football games.
New restrooms are included along with the renovated field house, and two concession stands will remain.
Plans show lyrics from the Easton Area High School alma mater incorporated in lettering around the stadium.
Following is the architecture and engineering design concept for the new Cottingham Stadium. The school district has set up cameras to give residents a live look as the project continues at eastonsd.org.
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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
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