Bertram Field
Bertram Field sits behind Collins Middle School (formerly the High School) on Highland Avenue in Salem.
The city acquired land for the new High School and the athletic park from the huge acreage called "Great Pastures".
The Bertram Family helped pay for the field to be built in 1908-9. According to City Documents of 1908,
"The recent gift of a fund to establish an athletic field is very gratefully acknowledged and is in keeping with the generous spirit of Capt. John Bertram, head of the family
of donors." The field was dedicated on Oct. 4, 1909. Hon. David M Little represented the family at the event, with a football game following.
Work started June 22, 1935 on the concrete bleacher at Bertram Field and it was completed for the football game Salem/Marblehead on Sept. 21, 1935. The field was part of the
WPA work done in the 1930's.
Electric lights were installed in 1997 under the directorship of Park and Recreation's Larry McIntire. He was able to secure a large monetary gift from Jack Welch,
General Electric's CEO and Salem High alumni. They hope the lights will increase attendance to football as well as soccer, and track events.
Construction began in early July of 2013 to renovate Bertram Field. During the pre-construction tests, high level of arsenic was discovered. Contractors installed a layer of
asphalt before the artificial turf went in. It raised the cost of the work and slowed down the project by a few months. The renovation also included expanding the running
track and new scoreboard. The visitor's stands were removed during construction and may not be replaced. The cost of the project added up to approximately $1.9 million.
Another multi-year renovation was completed in 2021. Some of the improvements are new locker rooms, press box and electric vehicles stations. Phase #1 in 2014 included a new turf field and track.
Phase #2 brought a new large field house, new locker rooms, bathrooms, coach and referee rooms, parking and a new handicap-accessible press box. Technology upgrades were part of it as well.
See Also
Vertical File in Salem Collection - Bertram Field
"Campaign is launched to light up Bertram Field" Salem Evening News, Apr. 20, 1997.
Salem City Documents 1908, p.15
"Bertram Field was dedicated on Saturday" Salem Evening News, Oct. 4, 1909, p.?
"The lights go on in Salem" Salem Evening News, Oct. 7, 1997, p. B4
"Bertram Field work to start next month" Salem News, June 26, 2013, p. 1
"Bertram Field completion delayed two weeks" Salem News, Aug. 24, 2013, p. 1
"Bertram Field reopens tonight with ceremony" Salem News, Nov. 8, 2013, p. 3
"Salem owes much to Depression-era labor" Salem News, July 31, 2012
"Home-field advantage at Bertram Field" (renovations completed) Salem News, July 23, 2021, p. 1
