Neilson Field

College Field (1869-1890) gave way to Neilson Field (1891-1938) that eventually gave way to original Rutgers Stadium in 1938. Neilson Field (pronounced nel-son, where the smokestack is across from the River Dorms) was the first ever blasting project in New Brunswick. Its playing surface was literally leveled out that way. A Rutgers player from the November 6, 1869 inaugural intercollegiate football game was called upon to help re-orient Neilson Field. The 1901-02 Scarlet Letter Yearbook noted, “The construction of the track was left by the Trustees in the hands of D.D. Williamson, of New Brunswick, who drew all the plans… Professor Titsworth, with the engineering section of the Class of 1904, surveyed and leveled the track. The remainder of the mathmatical and engineering work was then taken up personally by Professor Titsworh with the assistance of Mr. A.E. Smith, Class of 1903, who deserves a great deal of credit for the mathmatical exactness of the track.” Nearly a half century later, Arthur E. Smith returned as consulting engineer to supervise Neilson Field and its surrounding area’s post-war use and design. The May 22, 1946 Targum reported the “…goal posts are down, the concrete footings have been sunk, Neilson Field is no more.”