Remembering Perhaps the First Major Sports Tragedy

With several more modern tragedies, few outside the Purdue community remember this one;

http://www.hammerandrails.com/2012/10/31/3581744/remembering-the-prudue-wreck-of-1903

 

Did not know about that wreck or that Purdue was named after anybody, never really thought about how you guys got your name but now I know.

 

I realize that "Boilermakers" was mentioned in the article but were they known as the Boilermakers before this tragedy? Pretty ironic that the tragedy involved a train. :cry:

 

Tom, the nickname "Boilermakers" has been in play since 1891.

http://www.boilermakers.org/resources/what_is_a_boilermaker/purdue_boilermakers

 

Very interesting and informative history lesson. Thanks, Stu.

Washington Park is near where I lived in Indy years ago during HS and college. It was the first home of the Indianapolis Zoo. I never knew it once was the home of a college-level football field. Today, it's surrounded by neighborhoods riddled with crime, as sadly is the case with many century-old landmarks in major cities.

 

Thank you for that, stu.

 

:shock:
Wow! I didn't know any of this! Thanks Stu.