Angier Gym

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EarlJam
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Angier Gym

Post by EarlJam » January 23rd, 2010, 4:36 pm

So I just started reading a book called, "Tobacco Road," which tells the story of how the ACC, namely, the Big Four (Duke, N.C. State, Wake Forest, and UNC) came together to form the powerhouse of basketball it is today.

I just started it, but so far I like how it is written and hope it is a good read all the way through.

Anyway, very early on the book tells about what is believed to be the first true college basketball game played below the Mason-Dixon line: Wake Forest vs. Trinity (now Duke, of course) on March 2, 1905. Apparently this game was played on Duke's east campus at "Angier Gym" and apparently the gym still stands to this day.

I, EarlJam, did NOT know this.

Now I want to see this gym that means so, SO much to ACC history...well, all of basketball history for that matter. Is knowledge of this gym and its history common? Is it still a gym? Open to the public? Next time I am in North Carolina, I definitely want to pay a trip to the campus to check it out.

-EarlJam
Your mama wears combat boots to bed.
Devil in the Blue Dress
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Re: Angier Gym

Post by Devil in the Blue Dress » January 23rd, 2010, 5:51 pm

EarlJam wrote:So I just started reading a book called, "Tobacco Road," which tells the story of how the ACC, namely, the Big Four (Duke, N.C. State, Wake Forest, and UNC) came together to form the powerhouse of basketball it is today.

I just started it, but so far I like how it is written and hope it is a good read all the way through.

Anyway, very early on the book tells about what is believed to be the first true college basketball game played below the Mason-Dixon line: Wake Forest vs. Trinity (now Duke, of course) on March 2, 1905. Apparently this game was played on Duke's east campus at "Angier Gym" and apparently the gym still stands to this day.

I, EarlJam, did NOT know this.

Now I want to see this gym that means so, SO much to ACC history...well, all of basketball history for that matter. Is knowledge of this gym and its history common? Is it still a gym? Open to the public? Next time I am in North Carolina, I definitely want to pay a trip to the campus to check it out.

-EarlJam
It's now known as the Ark. While I was at Duke it was used for PE classes for women.... various types of dance classes. The building's origins as well as the varied uses over time are certainly impressive. Close your eyes and imagine Les Brown and the Band of Renown performing there ...... somehow that reminds me of the Lumina that once stood at Wrightsville Beach.

If the building is unlocked, you can probably go in and take a look.

The next gym built on East Campus was called Alumni Memorial Gym. At some point, the name changed to the Brodie Gym or Brodie Recreation Center, named for former University President Keith Brodie.
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