In 1923, a twelve acre plot of ground lying north of Parker’s factory and running from Second to Fourth Street, was sold to the school district by the Hooper family. On June 2, 1928, Morris Abeles, at the instigation of his brother, Julius, gave $5,000, with the understanding that it would be matched by the Rotary Club, toward the erection of a stadium and field house. The Rotarians took immediate steps by soliciting the business men of the city and sponsoring a “Festival of Fun.” Enough money was raised by these methods to buy the field and equip it also. The plans included a gridiron, a quarter-mile track, a baseball diamond, a tennis court, and a small lake for boating and swimming. There were also to be dressing rooms and showers for the players and a grandstand on the west side. The stadium, seating 1,500 persons was erected as a memorial to the late Joseph N. Abeles. It was dedicated on September 12, 1928, preceding the first football game of the season. Flood lights for night games were added later.
With the building of the new Leavenworth District Activities Center on the LHS campus, Abeles Field will no longer be used by the district. The Alumni Association is planning a special event after the last football game at Abeles Field on Friday, October 23, 2009. The special event will be after not before or during the game. The event is still in the planning stages, but as envisioned at this point would include the history of Abeles Field, recognizing winning teams, JROTC students who used Abeles for “Field Day,” cheerleaders, band members, etc. If you have any information to share about those who should be recognized, please send it to the address below. In addition, the committee plans to have specially made T-shirts, concessions, and the singing of Loyalty and the Alma Mater. Please save the date to say “Farewell to Abeles Field” which has been a part of LHS history since 1924.
From dust to dust...
Like the rest of us...
says The Old Man
Update July 23, 2009
Members of the Leavenworth Board of Education held a special meeting Thursday to discuss an offer that has been made for the purchase of Abeles Field.
Board members authorized district administrators to negotiate for the sale of the land as well as other properties school officials are trying to sell.
Leavenworth school officials are trying to sell Abeles because the football field no longer will be needed once a new athletic complex is completed behind Leavenworth High School.
“We have an offer from an unknown buyer through the (Reilly & Sons) agency,” board president John Chapman said Thursday.
The Leavenworth Times
Update August 24, 2009
Some in the community may question whether the Leavenworth Board of Education has the authority to sell Abeles Field.
The Times has heard from local residents who believe restrictions placed on the school district at the time the property was acquired may prevent it from being sold today.
But school officials said they have researched how the land came into the district’s possession and found no commitments that would prevent it from being sold.
“It’s ours to sell,” said Superintendent Kelly Harris.
The Leavenworth Times
Update October 21, 2009
The Leavenworth High School Alumni Association will sponsor a Farewell to Abeles Field event Friday at the athletic field, Fourth and Poplar streets. The event will follow a Leavenworth High School varsity football game at Abeles Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
The game will mark the last time a Leavenworth High School football game is played at Abeles Field. Future games will be played at the Leavenworth District Activities Center which is under construction at Leavenworth High School.
The Farewell to Abeles Field event will include a reading of a short history of the athletic stadium and recognition of winning teams and various leaders of the past. A video featuring photographs of the field from 1926 to 2009 will be screened.
The high school alma mater will be played, and balloons will be released.
“I think it will be a nice trip down memory lane,” said Carol Ayres, director of the Leavenworth Public Schools Education Foundation.
High school band members, cheerleaders and the JROTC Drum and Bugle Corps will be participating in the event.
Ayres said the Farewell to Abeles Field program will be canceled in the event of rain.
The Leavenworth Times
The Old Man thinks maybe it would have been better to cancel the ball game (see results below).
Update October 23, 2009
Leavenworth said farewell to Abeles Field on Friday evening, struggling in the second half of the goodbye game as they were dealt a 63-0 loss by the visitors from Olathe Northwest. After trailing just 21-0 at the break, the wheels fell off the bus for the blue and white late in Friday’s contest as the Ravens totaled nearly four times as many offensive yards as Leavenworth. The Pioneers also celebrated senior night before the loss.
The Leavenworth Times
Update October 27, 2009
The Farewell to Abeles Field was a very successful evening. Returning alumni reminisced sharing the great memories that still hover about the field. Alumni who endured the cooler temperatures were rewarded by an opportunity to purchase Farewell to Abeles T-shirts and view the great video. They were also able to receive the "History Booklet" handed out to all attendees. "Farewell to Abeles Field" T-shirts were all sold. However a new order will be made if we get 15 or more orders. If you are interested in ordering a t-shirt please send a check to Carol Dark Ayres, 200 N. 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kansas 66048. The cost of the T-shirt is $10; add $5 if you want it mailed.
LHS Alumni Association
Update March 31, 2010
Abeles Field was sold to K&L Leasing for $180,000.
Update 2012
The property is being offered for sale by K&L Leasing for $785,000.
Update May 2016
The Delaware Tribe of Indians is requesting the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place the property in trust for the use of the tribe.
See details at http://delawaretribe.org/wp-content/uploads/res-2016-31.pdf
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