Public Library to host tailgating party on Thursday

By: Brittney Schering

In conjunction with the exhibit, “Gridiron’s Golden Era,” the Grand Rapids Public Library will be hosting a tailgating party on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Fans, players, coaches, and friends of Grand Rapids high school football are invited to see the “Gridiron’s Golden Era: Early Days of High School Football in Grand Rapids” exhibit, converse and reminisce with fellow City Leaguers.

Food, game footage, and more will be provided at the party. Participants are encouraged to bring their City League football memorabilia- tickets, programs, magazines, postcards, giveaways, and newspaper articles- for library staff to scan for the library’s collection. Scanning will be done on the spot, and the items will be returned the same day.

For more than a century, Grand Rapids high schools have been playing football. Dating back to 1892, a team of 11 was created to play on the gridiron. Eventually, new schools were added throughout the city of Grand Rapids, and the City League was born.

Each year, teams fought for the City Title, and several won the State Champion crown. Drawn from the archival collections of the Library, Gridiron’s Golden Era was the history of high school football. It is explored, including stars of the gridiron like Gerald Ford, Terry Barr, George Andrie, Paul Goebal, and Hugh Blacklock.

Gridiron’s Golden Era Tailgating Party will be held at the Main Library, located at 111 Library St. NE. Free parking is available in the library lot. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, please head over to www.grpl.org.