REDDING’S RECREATION PARK: AND THE AIRSHIP AMERICA DISASTER

Before Recreation Park was constructed in Redding local baseball games were played on the playing field at the Terry Lumber Company yards (formerly the Shasta Lumber Company yards) in Redding. Then on, March 7, 1898, the Daily Free Press newspaper reported the following: "Redding is to have a recreation park and athletic grounds in the near future." Recreation Park was built on the northern end of the city just off present-day Court Street as an outdoor venue to cater to both baseball and soccer games, later additional sports were played here as well. According to my research that I have compiled, Recreation Park was opened to the public eight months later when the Daily Free Press newspaper, of Redding, published this article on November 12, 1898:

"Football Tomorrow

Shasta County and Keswick Will Go Up Against Each Other.

The first football game of the season will be played at Recreation Park tomorrow. It is to be played under association rules between the Keswick and Shasta County teams. While the latter team has a smaller percentage of experienced players, they will no doubt make it interesting for their opponents. Game will be called at 2:30 o' clock by Alfred Seed, who will act as referee. An admission fee of 25 cents is to be charged. The line-up is as follows: Keswick goalkeeper, Rountree, fullbacks Turner and Hooper, halfbacks Campbell and Renwick and G. Bridge, forwards, Macdermid, Maloney and Mudd, forwards, Donahue, Peacock, Wyndham, Creswell, and Garrecht." [SIC] (NOTE: the above article mentions “football” which is “soccer” and is more commonly known as "football" in Great Britain and other countries.)

On November 13, 1898, the Keswick soccer team took the victory against the Redding soccer team called Shasta County. There might be a chance of an earlier grand opening date, that year, but information about it was lacking in the local media outlets which I was browsing through on microfilm. However, the Redding soccer team lost their home game at Recreation Park that day which was witnessed by a sell out crowd of spectators. Later, additional sport teams were established by local athletes in northern California and the teams competed against each other in various sports, here. Town ball was quite popular amongst athletes in baseball, soccer and other sports to represent their home team and community while they played against other towns.

In 1907, the City of Redding's athletes were widely active in local baseball and the city boasted of three different baseball teams which were: Eaton’s Confectionary Team established by Eaton’s Drug Store, the Redding Baseball Club, and the newly established Redding Royal Tigers Baseball Club. Each team made their home on the diamond at Recreation Park, and during the upcoming season in 1908, the club owners of the Redding Royal Tigers Baseball Club shortened their ball club's name to become the Redding Tigers Baseball Club, also known as the Redding Tigers. Only the Redding Tigers still play baseball today utilizing their original 1907 charter as an American Legion baseball ball club, of Redding. They were a celebrated baseball club with an elite roster of players which local spectators enjoyed watching. 

Above: a local baseball game is being played at Recreation Park. Check out the advertisement on the building for the Northern California Winery Company, and Wieland's Beer, in the distance on the roof of the building. Date unknown. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society.

Above: Gil DeForest of the Redding Tigers Baseball Club running towards home plate at Recreation Park in Redding. Advertising for Northern California Winery Company and Wieland's Beer on the roof of the building. Date unknown. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society.

Recreation Park was much more to our society than just a local sports venue due to its size and capability of hosting future non-sporting events. Two years later, the City of Redding celebrated our nation's Independence Day, in grand style beginning July 3rd, through July 5th, 1909, with a three day celebration which local historians credit as Redding’s first air show. The biggest feature of this event was a zeppelin called Airship America. This zeppelin was piloted by Captain James Moore, of Los Angeles, this event featured baseball games each day for the public to enjoy, live music by local musicians, dancing performances, food and much more. On July 3, 1909, a baseball game took place which was played between the Redding Tigers and the Montague Baseball Club, of Montague. The Redding Tigers won by a score of 8 to 4 that day.

After the baseball game took place a schedule of fun-filled games and a variety of other festivities occurred in the park. There were many vendors who sold their merchandise as well, and later, Airship America was scheduled to ascend into the air and take flight. It marked the first scheduled lift off for this air craft during the three day celebration. At 4 P.M., Airship America ascended into the air about fifty feet from the ground when it exploded due to a malfunctioned propeller which punctured a hole into the zeppelin’s balloon causing a gas leak which engulfed the airship into ravaging flames after a loud boom echoed throughout the City of Redding in all directions.

Airship America made a crash landing onto the baseball field which immediately caused a chaotic scene below while the spectators watched in shock and disbelief of the tragedy which transpired in front of them. Men, women and children were trampled on by each other inside the park causing various injuries as chaos erupted. The zeppelin was valued at a loss of $5,000. The aviation accident resulted in the deaths of two people, Captain James Moore, and a local resident by the name of Milton Mygatt, Mygatt was a spectator amongst the crowd on the ground. The rest of the three day celebration was immediately cancelled in Redding.

Above: the zeppelin Airship America preparing to ascend from the ground just before lift off at 4 P.M., at Recreation Park on July 3, 1909. There isn’t any advertisement on the building behind the zeppelin as the above photographs show the same building with advertising. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society.

Above: chaos erupts as Airship America’s propeller malfunction punctures the zeppelin in the air on July 3, 1909, at Recreation Park. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society. 

Above: a chaotic tragedy turned deadly with the result of two deaths, the Airship America disaster on July 3, 1909 at Recreation Park. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society.

After the Airship America disaster in 1909 the park continued to be utilized for many non-sporting events as well. One newspaper from Sacramento heralded the following Redding aviation history in an article printed on January 7, 1912:

“Makes A Successful Flight In Shasta

Frank Bryant in Curtiss Aeroplane, Encircles Business Section of Redding

(Special To The Union)

Redding, Shasta Co., Jan 6.,  Frank Bryant in a Curtiss standard airship made the first flight ever attempted in California north of Chico in this city today. He rose from Recreation Park at the north end of Redding, encircling the courthouse and entire business and residence section of the city at an elevation of from 600 to 800 feet. Roy Francis also tested his aeroplane on the Recreation Park grounds. Both men will make a flight and race tomorrow afternoon. If the weather is fine a large crowd is expected in this city. Frank H. Robertson a former newspaper man will make the ascent with Francis, having the distinction of being the first citizen of Redding to make the flight in an airship. Bryant and Francis have both promised to take part in the aviation meet planned for the Fourth of July by the business men.” [SIC]

Recreation Park was home of local recreational sports, athletics and additional events for twenty-four years until 1922, a year before the brand-new baseball park called Tiger Field was established. In 1923, the Redding Tigers Baseball Club relocated and played their inaugural season at their new home at Tiger Field. Recreation Park was left abandoned until it was purchased and became private property under different owners. Today, Recreation Park is located at the present-day site of the Shasta Family Y.M.C.A., property in Redding.

Above: the Redding Tigers Baseball Club pose for a team photograph in front of the grand stands at Recreation Park. Date unknown. Courtesy of Shasta Historical Society.

Above: the former site of Recreation Park is now the present-day home of the Shasta Family Y.M.C.A., of Redding at 1155 N. Court Street. This photograph was taken by Jeremy Tuggle on September 2, 2022.

RESOURCES:

Baseball News - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1891

A Local Practice Game - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1891

Base Hits - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 14, 1891

Sportsmen - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, June 10, 1893

Amusement For New Year - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, December 30, 1893

Football - The Republican Free Press newspaper of Redding, February 10, 1894

A Recreation Park - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, March 7, 1898

Football Tomorrow - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 12, 1898

Keswick Was The Victor - The Daily Free Press newspaper of Redding, November 14, 1898

Football In Coast Cities - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, December 1, 1899

Normals To Play Redding - The Chico Weekly Enterprise, December 29, 1899

Neither Redding Nor Willows Scored - The San Francisco Call newspaper of San Francisco, January 2, 1900

Normals Vs. Redding - The Chico Weekly Enterprise newspaper of Chico, February 16, 1900

Official Program - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 3, 1909

Many Hurt In Panic When Big Balloon Explodes - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, July 4, 1909

Airship Explodes At Redding - The Chico Record newspaper of Chico, July 4, 1909

Captain James Moore Killed And Airship Destroyed - July 6, 1909

Redding Wins Series - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1909

Moore Used Own Name - The Courier-Free Press newspaper of Redding, July 7, 1909

Makes A Successful Flight In Shasta - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, January 7, 1912

Birdmen Sour Over Redding - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, January 15, 1912

Redding Pleased With Aviators’ Flight - The Sacramento Union newspaper of Sacramento, January 16, 1912