The floor was still under construction as Concordia Seminary Athletic Director Pete Pederson addressed 1,200 people in the campus’s new fieldhouse on Nov. 20, 1949.
The fieldhouse was the first of its kind at the Clayton campus, the result of years of student donations to the gymnasium fund.
“We have been a very patient people and therefore now a very happy people,” seminary President Dr. Louis Sieck said as reported by the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Now 75 years later, there’s still basketball being played at the historic building, now named after Pederson.
Concordia is celebrating the Pederson Field House’s diamond anniversary Feb. 20-22 with a series of events and games in the building.
Started with an airplane hanger
The seminary purchased the 162-by-147-foot Army surplus hangar in 1949. Plans called for a capacity of 3,300 with other amenities — including locker rooms, handball courts, boxing and wrestling rooms, exercise rooms and a student lounge.
The Preachers had been playing basketball for 22 years after the relocation to the seminary’s present location in Washington University’s fieldhouse with practices in CBC’s gym, according to a 1949 St. Louis Star and Times article.
Students had been donating $5 each towards the gymnasium fund.
While the surplus hangar was valued at $45,000, the total construction cost was $165,000, the Star and Times reported.
The playing floor, not quite complete at the dedication, was reported to measure 120-by-80 feet.
Wischmeyer and Lorenz architected the building, and construction was contracted by Woermann Construction Company, the Globe-Democrat reported.
NBA practices, concerts
Through the years Pederson has played host to choral concerts and badminton meets.
The NBA Hawks, who played in St. Louis from 1955 to 1968, used Pederson as a practice facility. The team won the NBA championship in 1958.
The field house has served as the home of Preacher basketball since its inception and has played host to many high school games.
75th anniversary celebration
Concordia will host a celebration of the fieldhouse Feb. 20-22, kicking off with an opening banquet at 6 p.m. Feb. 20.
A service and presentation — Psychological Salvation: The Psalms, Basketball and the Holy Spirit by Dr. Timothy Saleska, professor of Exegetical Theology — will occur the morning of Feb. 21.
Tailgating and alumni basketball games at the fieldhouse will be held that afternoon and evening. Tailgating begins at 4 p.m. with basketball starting at 6 p.m.
The celebration concludes Feb. 22 with an open gym from 10 a.m. to noon.
Registration for the whole event is $40. There is no cost to alumni who only want to play in the basketball games, but registration is required. The deadline is Feb. 6.
