Here is a picture to brighten your day!
This shot is of the YMCA gymnasium in downtown Crawfordsville, circa 1906. Note the baskets still gathered at the bottom. The floor had many a potential star, including one of the greatest coaches ever to come out of Indiana – Piggy Lambert of Purdue. It was Piggy who coached John Wooden who was later known as the the “Wizard of Westwood.”
Much has been made of the early adoption of the game by the folks in Crawfordsville. For a closer and more detailed look at the facts, I would recommend a paper by S. Chandley Lighty. Here is a link:
https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/imh/article/view/22910
Lighty presents a clear, well-reasoned argument. I highly recommend reading it.
All best,
Beth Swift
Archivist
Wabash College
Crawfordsville
