Strawberry Stadium has long been an iconic symbol of Lion pride on Southeastern’s campus. After McGehee Hall, it is the second oldest building on campus and this year it will host its 74th Homecoming game on Nov. 5, 2011.
Strawberry Stadium was built in 1937, during the Depression era, and was paid for with public funds. The construction was commissioned by then Louisiana Governor Richard Webster Leche. Adamant that the building should be completed in time for the opening of the 1937 football season, Leche reportedly even went so far as to pull construction workers from other government projects in the area to help with the work. Additionally, he even personally broke ground on the building on May 12, 1937, two weeks before the State Board of Education approved the funding for the project. Construction was completed in a speedy 16-week period and by Sept. 17, 1937 the stadium was finished.
Early on in the construction, it was planned for the stadium to be named after Leche, but instead it was decided it would be named after the strawberry farmers of Hammond. In later years, the football field itself was named Eldridge Carroll Field, after a major Southeastern supporter.
“Just the name of it I think is interesting,” said Larry Hymel, Alumni Athletic Coordinator for the Alumni Association. “With the history of Hammond and strawberries and everything, just the fact that it’s called Strawberry Stadium, I think it’s a unique name in speak.”
Hymel also spoke of the favorable conditions that the setup of the stadium lends to the fans.
“I think it’s one of the best stadiums to watch football because you’re so close to the action and yet you’re still at a level where you can see pretty good. I just think the uniqueness of the name and the comfort of the stadium and the proximity to the action all makes it a good football