Just Wondering about the Drill Field

[VTCC'65]

Do they still call it the "Drill Field"?
Does VTCC still use the DF to practice marching?
I was wondering if the VT Leadership ever considered constructing a building (academic or dorm) inside what is now the perimeter road ? I haven't read of any such discussion in any campus history books but there are lots about the uni that I haven't read.

[typed by ben]

Do they still call it the "Drill Field"?
Does VTCC still use the DF to practice marching?
I was wondering if the VT Leadership ever considered constructing a building (academic or dorm) inside what is now the perimeter road ? I haven't read of any such discussion in any campus history books but there are lots about the uni that I haven't read.

AFAIK the drillfield is considered untouchable. too iconic, and unstable for that matter as a spring runs underneath it. yes it still goes by that name.

[gern]

doesn't it sink like 1-2" a year?

[PhotoHokieNC]

doesn't it sink like 1-2" a year?

4'-8' lower than when I first saw it? Hmmm.

[typed by ben]

doesn't it sink like 1-2" a year?

ive heard that before but i dont believe its true.

[ElbertoHokie]

ive heard that before but i dont believe its true.

It is true.

[hokiebob01]

doesn't it sink like 1-2" a year?

According to this article that is an urban legend.
"About the time the stadium was completed in 1926, the corps of cadets unanimously voted to name it Miles Stadium in honor of Sally Miles. Organized athletics severed ties to Miles Field as sporting events moved to the new facility. The great oval then became known simply as the Drillfield, reflecting the major use it would now serve, and the name stuck.

One distinguishing characteristic of the Drillfield is the waterway--Stroubles Creek--running beneath its surface on the south side. The creek was enclosed in a conduit in 1934, and the first asphalt walks--two of them--were poured in 1971. Sinking, however, is not one of the Drillfield's characteristics. The urban legend that it subsides an inch per year is simply that, a legend with no basis in fact."

http://www.vtmagazine.vt.edu/winter08/feature1.html

This is a pretty good history of the plot of land. It hasn't always been the "Drillfield".

[VTCC'65]

Thanks Bob. I think you are saying that the Drill Field was also THE football field until Miles Stadium was built. My Dad was a freshman cadet in 1919 and he told me about their (at the time) hero was Sally Miles and a few others including Hunter Carpenter.

I would think that with real estate being such a premium, some do-good execitove might have wanted to squeeze a building into the drill field with the argument, the drill field is so big, one little building would not matter. If such an argument DID happen, glad that the building was put elsewhere.

According to this article that is an urban legend.
"About the time the stadium was completed in 1926, the corps of cadets unanimously voted to name it Miles Stadium in honor of Sally Miles. Organized athletics severed ties to Miles Field as sporting events moved to the new facility. The great oval then became known simply as the Drillfield, reflecting the major use it would now serve, and the name stuck.

One distinguishing characteristic of the Drillfield is the waterway--Stroubles Creek--running beneath its surface on the south side. The creek was enclosed in a conduit in 1934, and the first asphalt walks--two of them--were poured in 1971. Sinking, however, is not one of the Drillfield's characteristics. The urban legend that it subsides an inch per year is simply that, a legend with no basis in fact."

http://www.vtmagazine.vt.edu/winter08/feature1.html

This is a pretty good history of the plot of land. It hasn't always been the "Drillfield".

[typed by ben]

I would think that with real estate being such a premium, some do-good execitove might have wanted to squeeze a building into the drill field with the argument, the drill field is so big, one little building would not matter. If such an argument DID happen, glad that the building was put elsewhere.

the school of architecture and design certainly understands the gravity of the drillfield. i for one would hate to be in charge of a design project of any type, much less a building. as part of a lesson, our professors told us what a hassle it was to put the paved cow paths in during the '70s. makes one appreciate a seemingly simple task.

[hokiebob01]

the school of architecture and design certainly understands the gravity of the drillfield. i for one would hate to be in charge of a design project of any type, much less a building. as part of a lesson, our professors told us what a hassle it was to put the paved cow paths in during the '70s. makes one appreciate a seemingly simple task.

I was a student when those first paths were paved. It took a lot of discussion.
One interesting point. There was a lot of debate about where to put the paths until commonsense prevailed. They just followed the trails we students had made in the mud.