{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Short description|Public park in Chehalis, Washington, US}} {{Infobox park | name = Millett Field | other_name = | native_name = | image = File:Millett Field, Chehalis, Washington 01.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = Millett Field, Chehalis, 2022 | qid = | map = Washington | map_alt = | map_size = | mapframe_zoom = | mapframe_width = | mapframe_height = | mapframe_marker = | mapframe_marker_color = | mapframe_lat = | mapframe_long = | map_caption = | relief = | map_label = | map_label_position = | mark = | mark_width = | type = Athletics, playground | motto = | location = Chehalis, Washington | coordinates = {{coord|46|39|20|N|122|58|02|W|type:landmark_region:US-WA|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = | area = 3.3-acre (1.3 ha) | elevation = | created = | established = | designated = 1898, grand opening 1908 | opened = | closed = Ballfield dismantled, 1979; fenced off, mid-1990s | founder = Daniel Millett | designer = | etymology = | owner = City of Chehalis | administrator = | manager = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | open = Access to courts and playground only | status = | awards = | camp_sites = | hiking_trails = | paths = | terrain = Flat | habitat = | water = | plants = | vegetation = | species = | collections = | disturbance = | budget = | parking = | public_transit = | free_label = | free_data = | other_info = | facilities = None }}
'''Millett Field''', also as '''Millet Field''',{{efn|Early reporting about the field would often spell the name with one "T", however it is documented that the correct spelling is "Millett".}} is the oldest, continuously used public park in Chehalis, Washington and is most noted as home to a Chehalis minor-league baseball team in the early 20th century. The ballfield was regularly used as the central hub of Chehalis sporting activity for decades, including hosting games for several Negro League teams in the 1920s. Located one block north of the NRHP-listed O. B. McFadden House, the {{convert|3.3|acre|ha|adj=mid}} park began in 1898 with an official opening in 1908.
==History== Millett Field began as a land donation to the city in 1898 from its namesake, Daniel Millett, a notable attorney and prior mayor of the city.<ref name="VVRMF">{{cite news |last1=Voie |first1=Brittany |title=Voice of Voie: Remembering Millett Field, a Former Crown Jewel of Chehalis |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/voice-of-voie-remembering-millett-field-a-former-crown-jewel-of-chehalis,20699? |access-date=December 4, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=December 22, 2017}}</ref><ref name="PP">{{cite news |last1=Henderer |first1=John |title=Park Predicament |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/1996/04-30/ |access-date=December 20, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 30, 1996 |page=1}}</ref> After deeding the parcel, originally a business share of the Chehalis Land & Timber Company, Millett bought several surrounding tracts to increase the park's size.<ref name="DODCM">{{cite news |title=The Death of D.C. Millett |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1908/07-17/page-14/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 17, 1908 |page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=The Chronicle Staff |title=D.C. Millett Dies in 1908 |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/dc-millett-dies-in-1908,198797? |access-date=December 4, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |publisher=Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 15, 2008}}</ref> Instructions written in the original deed require the park to be used for "athletic and playground recreation types of activities".<ref name="VVRMF"/><ref name="DODCM"/>
===Early years (1898–1907)=== The park was kept in an undeveloped state by the city however residents used the land for local baseball games, including amateur competitions sponsored by local businesses.<ref name="ESUPOD">{{cite news |last1=Manfield |first1=Mark |title=Early settlers used play on the diamond |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/1995/04-01/page-34/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=April 1, 1995 |page=S4-10}}</ref> The earliest sporting event on the grounds, a baseball game, was recorded in 1896,<ref name="VVRMF"/> with large crowds in attendance reported through the remainder of the 1890s.<ref name="ESUPOD"/>
The first recorded football game played at the park between the Chehalis and Centralia high schools, colloquially known as the "Swamp Cup" or "Thanksgiving Day Game", was in 1907.<ref name="ESUPOD"/><ref name="VVRMF"/> The Chehalis team hosted the Swamp Cup from 1907 to 1915,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Olson |first1=Elmer J. |title=Thanksgiving football thing of the past in Twin Cities |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1976/06-29/page-27/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |issue=Bicentennial Edition |date=June 29, 1976 |page=B11}}</ref> then every other year until the early 1930s; Chehalis never lost a football match to Centralia at Millett Field.<ref>{{cite news |title=Twin City Football Teams Battle To Tie Score |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1930/12-05/page-12/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=December 5, 1930 |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chehalis High School Football Team Defeats Centralia |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1932/12-02/page-2/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=December 2, 1932 |page=1}}</ref> Millett Field was used as home turf for the Chehalis Bearcat's football team until 1932, moving to new grounds after flooding issues and the loss of the grandstand prohibited large crowds from attending the games.<ref name="VVRMF"/>
===Professional baseball era (1908–1949)=== thumb|Chehalis baseball team, {{circa}} 1910 An official grand opening took place on May 9, 1908, with a parade and two baseball games between the city of Chehalis and Centralia.<ref name="DOMF"/>{{efn|Chehalis won both baseball games on the 1908 opening weekend by scores of 4-2 and 10-6.<ref name="CLTG"/>}} A grandstand had been built but a roof had not yet been constructed over the bleacher section.<ref name="CLTG">{{cite news |title=Centralia Loses Two Games |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-news-examiner/1908/05-15/page-10 |access-date=April 29, 2025 |work=The Centralia News-Examiner |date=May 15, 1908 |page=2}}</ref> The dedication was declared a public holiday in the city.<ref name="DOMF">{{cite news |title=Dedication of Millett Field |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1908/05-08/page-2/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 8, 1908 |page=2}}</ref> In 1910, the field became host to the Chehalis Gophers baseball team after the establishment of the Class D level Washington State League minor league.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clubs decided on |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1910-03-07/ed-1/seq-15/ |accessdate=December 21, 2021 |work=Morning Oregonian |date=March 7, 1910 |location=Portland, Oregon |page=15}}</ref> The team finished second in the six-team league, led by retired Chicago White Sox ballplayer, Fielder Jones.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=1e115046|title=1910 Washington State League|website=Baseball Reference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/l-WASL/y-1910|title=1910 Washington State League|website=www.statscrew.com}}</ref> The team was named the "Proteges" in 1911, finishing second.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=c39a164b|title=1911 Washington State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1911 Chehalis Proteges Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> Before the opening game against Centralia at Millett Field, the city shut down and a large parade was held.<ref>{{cite news |title=League Season Will Be Opened |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1911/05-05/page-2 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 5, 1911 |page=1}}</ref> The 1912 season featured the team as the "Farmers", winning the Washington State League championship by ending the season in 1st place.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=e29d8073|title=1912 Washington State League|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi|title=1912 Chehalis Farmers Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The city, and the ballfield, has not hosted another minor league team since.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chehalis Minor League Teams |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?city=Chehalis&state=WA&country=US |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> A six-team league was attempted in 1914 but did not materialize.<ref>{{cite news |title=6-Team League For Baseball |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1914/04-10/page-39 |access-date=August 21, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=April 10, 1914 |page=1}}</ref> For the remainder of the 1910s, the field was used primarily by the school district and by 1919 the city's park commissioner, prominent Chehalis funeral businessman L.J. Sticklin, remarked that "the days of minor league baseball are apparently passed".<ref>{{cite news |title=For Improving The City Parks |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1919/05-30/page-1 |access-date=September 5, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 30, 1919 |page=1}}</ref>
The ballpark hosted the Timber League beginning in 1924, an independent and semi-pro baseball circuit that prior to its incorporation went under other monikers, such as the Southwest Washington League and the Lumber League.<ref>{{cite news |title=Timber League For Chehalis |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1926/02-19/page-76/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=February 19, 1926 |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Southwest To Have League |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1924/02-29/page-58/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=February 29, 1924 |page=1}}</ref> These semi-pro leagues began in the 1910s after the loss of the city's minor league team; the Timber League lasted until 1949. The first Chehalis Timber League baseball team, a reorganized club from Kelso during the 1926 mid-season, was known as the Timber Wolves;<ref>{{cite news |title=Chehalis Joins Timber League |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1926/07-16/page-57 |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 16, 1926 |page=1}}</ref> future teams were named after various mascots during this time, most notably, "Moose".<ref name="MBCG"/> Organized team competitions included the Chehalis Twilight Baseball league,<ref>{{cite news |title=River Rats In Lead |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1927/03-25/page-43 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=June 24, 1927 |page=5}}</ref> the American Legion league,<ref>{{cite news |title=American Legion Game Ends In Tie |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1930/06-30/page-2 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=June 30, 1930 |page=2}}</ref> and a Chehalis Softball league.<ref>{{cite news |title=Carnival In June To Raise Funds For Lights |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1936/05-22/page-1 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 22, 1936 |page=1}}</ref> The largest recorded crowd at the field during this period was a Chehalis Bearcats football win over Hoquiam in an annual Armistice Day game in 1929.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chehalis, Wash. |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/kentucky/whitesburg/whitesburg-mountain-eagle/1929/11-21/page-3 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=Whitesburg Mountain Eagle |date=November 21, 1929 |page=3}}</ref>
The first Negro League team to play at the ballfield was in 1914 when the Colored Giants of Chicago played the Portland Colts.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Calendar, Including Newspaper Clippings, of the 1914 Chicago American Giants |url=http://negroleagues.bravehost.com/agh.html |website=negroleagues.bravehost.com |access-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614025721/http://negroleagues.bravehost.com/agh.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Portland and Colored Team |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1914/04-03/page-38/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=April 3, 1914 |page=1}}</ref> Negro League teams, most notably the Colored Giants of Tacoma, competed at Millett Field throughout the 1920s.<ref name="MBCG">{{cite news |title=Moose Beat Colored Giants |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1926/05-14/page-16/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 7, 1926 |page=15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Base Ball Team Is Reorganized for Better Games |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1923/06-15/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=June 15, 1923 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chehalis Moose 18; Colored Giants 9 |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1927/06-17/page-46/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=June 17, 1927 |page=27}}</ref> Barnstorming clubs, such as the Cuban House of David, and the House of David Bearded Beauties, played at Millett Field.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baseball Game At Chehalis Tonight |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1933/08-23/page-4/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=August 23, 1933 |page=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chehalis Baseball Team vs. House of David |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1928/04-13/page-10/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=April 13, 1928 |page=10}}</ref>
During the late 1920s and into the 1930s, an annual baseball competition was held at Millett Field between the Portland and Seattle teams of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company. A championship cup, for a time sponsored by the St. Helens Hotel, was awarded to the winner.<ref>{{cite news |title=Big Crowd Expected In Chehalis Saturday, Sunday |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1931/06-05/page-2 |access-date=October 9, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=June 5, 1931 |page=1}}</ref>
thumb|Chehalis High School football team, {{circa}} 1920 The park was used for more than baseball and football. The outfield was temporarily converted for track and field events in the 1910s and 1920s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Many Athletes To Be Entered |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1913/05-09/page-3/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 9, 1913 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=School Notes |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1927/03-18/page-43/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=March 18, 1927 |page=20}}</ref> Concrete tennis courts were built in the southeast section of the park in 1925 with financing provided by a local Business and Professional Women's Club.<ref name="CPWA">{{cite news |title=City's Parks Will Attract |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1925/05-15/page-3/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 15, 1925 |page=1}}</ref> Various non-athletic events, such as military training, national and local celebrations, festivals, carnivals, and early Decoration Day observances were held at Millett Field since its grand opening.<ref>{{cite news |title=All Chehalis Will Honor The G.A.R. and W.R.C. Today |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1919/05-30/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 30, 1919 |page=1}}</ref> The field was often as a takeoff or landing strip for airplane exhibitions and stunts in the 1920s, often coinciding with July 4 celebrations or Chautauqua events.<ref>{{cite news |title=All Ready For Monday, July 5 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1920/07-02/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 2, 1920 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=If Chautauqua Was Culture |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1967/04-15/page-6/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=April 15, 1967 |page=6}}</ref> Gustav Stromer, an early Washington state aviator, used Millett Field to launch a biplane in 1914. Crashing on his first attempt, the repaired airplane was able to achieve flight on a second bid from the park.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aviator Stromer's Bad Fall |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1914/07-24/page-21/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=July 17, 1914 |page=3}}</ref>
The football field was permanently moved to the south of the grounds away from the baseball diamond in 1925, providing annual savings and maintenance due to the necessary conversions of the two sports.<ref name="CPWA"/> Windstorms caused repeated damages to the ballpark, with a fence repair in 1930<ref>{{cite news |title=Park Board Makes Plans For Season |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1930/05-28/page-3 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=May 27, 1930 |page=3}}</ref> and the decimation of the grandstand by a strong windstorm in 1932; the grandstand suffered a total loss of the roof and severe damage to the seating area. It was rebuilt in 1935, funded in part by local dances held to raise monies for the project.<ref>{{cite news |title=Heavy Winds and Rains Visit This Section |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1932/12-30/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=December 30, 1932 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ticket Sale For Grandstand Funds |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1935/08-16/page-1 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=August 16, 1935 |page=1}}</ref><ref name="JEMTON">{{cite news |title=John E. Murray Talks On Navy |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1935/11-01/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=November 1, 1935 |page=1}}</ref> In 1936, flood lighting that was paid for by the softball league was installed at Millett Field, becoming the first ballpark in Southwest Washington to have a lighted field.<ref>{{cite news |title=Flood Lights For Millett Field |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1936/05-29/page-6 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=May 29, 1936 |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Try This Stunt For A Morning Exercise |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/chehalis/chehalis-bee-nugget/1936/06-05/page-9 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Chehalis Bee-Nugget |date=June 5, 1936 |page=9}}</ref>
===Local ballpark years (1950–1979)=== thumb|upright=0.8|The last remaining light tower at Millett Field, 2022
A demand for stronger lighting at the ballpark began in earnest after the flood lights were erected in 1936. Despite continuing community efforts to raise funds, headway on the project did not emerge until 1952 when poles for the lighting were installed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Millett Work Due Saturday |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1952/10-24/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=October 24, 1952 |page=1}}</ref> The completed lighting of the field was celebrated with a dedication program in July 1953 after a strong final push to gather proceeds to complete the task.<ref>{{cite news |title=Millett Field Project Gains |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1953/03-18/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=March 18, 1953 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Millett Field Lights Dedication Date Set |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1953/07-10/page-6/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=July 10, 1953 |page=6}}</ref> The Chehalis Bearcat high school baseball team played their first night game at the field in May 1954 against crosstown rivals, the Centralia Tigers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bearcats vs. Tigers Tonight Under Lights Of Millett Diamond |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/05-04/page-6 |access-date=October 11, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=May 4, 1954 |page=6}}</ref> Despite the popularity of the ballpark, it was often plagued by flooding, being underwater especially in 1954<ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Scoreboard Measures High Water |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/02-22/page-1 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=February 22, 1954 |page=1}}</ref> and 1961,<ref>{{cite news |title=Twin Cities Are Wet |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1961/02-22/page-1 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=February 22, 1961 |page=1}}</ref> as well as notoriously known for large quantities of mosquitos.<ref name="SSOSW"/>
After the closing of the Timber League, baseball competitions were still held at the park into the 1970s, including amateur and semi-pro leagues, a local Babe Ruth League, girls' softball, and high school district tournaments. A Timber League revival began in 1954 though no further league games were played at the ballpark after the late 1950s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Timber League Debut For Twin Cities Club Scheduled June 4 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1954/05-26/page-6/ |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=May 26, 1954 |page=6}}</ref> A new fence was built in 1958 and deemed too close to home plate, with eleven home runs hit in just one week's worth of semi-pro games.<ref name="SSOSW">{{cite news |last1=Simmons |first1=John |title=Sports Shorts Over Southwest Washington |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1958/07-17/page-8 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=July 17, 1958 |page=8}}</ref>
Due to a railroad strike, Millett Field hosted the 1956 Northwest Regional Babe Ruth tournament that was originally planned to be held in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The stadium was overhauled in two days to provide an electric scoreboard, additional bleachers, and preventative measures against non-paying spectators from viewing the games. A team representing Portland, Oregon won the championship, led by future Major League All-Star, Mickey Lolich.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaija |first1=Jerry |title=In 1956, Railroad Strike Caused Move of Regional Baseball Tourney to Chehalis |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/in-1956-railroad-strike-caused-move-of-regional-baseball-tourney-to-chehalis,98189? |access-date=September 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 18, 2013}}</ref>
===Closure and repurpose (1979–present)=== thumb|upright=0.8|Basketball courts, 2022 After the construction of ballfields at Recreation Park (1954) and Stan Hedwall Park (1972) in Chehalis, use of Millett Field began to decline.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McClurg |first1=Dian |title=Parks Gone Wild |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/parks-gone-wild,239549 |access-date=December 10, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 10, 2004}}</ref> The grandstand and bleachers were taken down in 1979 and the playing field eventually grew over. The ballfield area was fenced off and officially closed in the mid-1990s during an ecological cleanup of a nearby factory and the surrounding area. Due to a flood in November 1986, approximately 10,000 gallons of pentachlorophenol, a protentional carcinogenic chemical used in the process of treating lumber, was leaked into the field and nearby neighborhood. The remediation was completed in 1996.<ref name="VVRMF"/><ref>{{cite news |author1=Julie McDonald |author2=Edna Fund |title=From Native American Legends to 2007: A History of Flooding in the Chehalis River Basin |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/from-native-american-legends-to-2007-a-history-of-flooding-in-the-chehalis-river-basin,21216? |access-date=July 26, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=December 6, 2017 |quote=Article a copy from the book "The Flood of 2007: Disaster and Survival on the Chehalis River"}}</ref>
thumb|upright=0.8|Gate, barring entrance to original tennis court area, 2025 The tennis courts became unkempt and an unauthorized but tolerated skate park was built on the concrete pads but was eventually removed in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=Five Years Ago, 2001 - Shut Down |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/2006/03-25/page-18/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=March 25, 2006 |page=B6}}</ref> Nearby residents raised funds to convert the tennis courts to a fenced basketball court in the early 2000s, completing the project in 2004.<ref name="VVRMF"/> An attempt in 2006 to consider the land surplus for use as a flood mitigation tool did not materialize,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Carrina |title=Flooding fix proposed for Chehalis Avenue |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-chronicle/2006/02-28/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=February 28, 2006 |pages=1, 9}}</ref> however a playground area, built with the cooperation of a local fitness club and the city was unveiled that year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=The Chronicle Staff |title=Thorbecke's installs playground |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/thorbeckes-installs-playground,222399? |access-date=December 4, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 9, 2006}}</ref>
A plaque on the tennis court enclosure, and one remaining light pole, are the only visible reminders of the field's baseball past.<ref name="VVRMF"/>
==Geography== Millett Field, listed at {{convert|3.3|acre|ha|adj=mid}}, is located in Chehalis, Washington, one block north of the O. B. McFadden House, a residence listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="PP"/>
==Features== thumb|upright=0.8|Tennis court conversion, 2022 Millett Field's home plate was positioned in the northern corner of the ballpark, with the Crossarm Mill factory, the downtown core, and Park Hill behind the grandstand.<ref>{{cite news |title=Younger Twin City - Photo caption |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1960/09-24/page-12 |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=September 24, 1960 |page=12}}</ref> The outfield fence, at points in time temporary in placement until made permanent in 1958, ran parallel to the train tracks. Behind center field was a small forest of trees and left field abutted the tennis courts.<ref name="SSOSW"/>
Millett Field had a grandstand with accompanying bleachers and the park was surrounded by a wooden fence. Three thousand people could attend ballgames when the park was first constructed, with 1,000 people able to sit in the grandstand, 500 in the bleachers, and an additional 1,500 around the fence line.<ref>{{cite news |title=Millett Park at Chehalis |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-news-examiner/1908/04-17/page-5/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Centralia News Examiner |date=April 17, 1908 |page=5}}</ref> The bleachers were expanded in 1930 to seat an additional 500 more spectators<ref>{{cite news |title=Sale of Football Tickets is Opened |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1930/11-21/page-8/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Centralia Daily Chronicle |date=November 21, 1930 |page=8}}</ref> and the rebuilt grandstand of 1935, though smaller in capacity than the previous stand, accommodated up to six hundred spectators.<ref name="JEMTON"/> The grandstand was refurbished a final time in 1960.<ref>{{cite news |title=Repairing the Millett Field Grandstand |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/centralia/centralia-daily-chronicle/1960/09-29/page-2/ |access-date=December 21, 2021 |work=The Daily Chronicle |date=September 29, 1960 |page=2}}</ref>
The park, as of 2022, is enclosed in a chain link fence. The old ballfield area is closed to all visitors, with the basketball courts and playground portion the only accessible points to Millett Field. The last remaining light pole stands in a grove of trees in the southwest corner, near where the ballfield's center field was located.
==Notable ballplayers== * Woody Jensen, former Pittsburgh Pirate, played as a member of an early 1920s Chehalis Timber League team<ref>{{cite news |title=Successful Pirate |url=https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/missouri/st-louis/st-louis-sporting-news/1936/02-13/page-1 |access-date=October 23, 2024 |work=The Sporting News |date=February 13, 1936 |page=1}}</ref>
==Notes== {{noteslist}}
==See also==
* Chehalis Gophers * Chehalis Gophers players * Parks and recreation in Chehalis, Washington - for additional information on other baseball/softball fields in the city
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Chehalis, Washington|state=collapsed}}
Category:Parks in Chehalis, Washington Category:Parks in Lewis County, Washington Category:Parks in Washington (state) Category:Defunct Negro league baseball venues Category:1898 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Baseball venues in Washington (state)