Tradition and Hastings Football.  The 2009 season marked 75 years of Hastings Raiders football at historic Todd Field.  The first game at Todd Field was played on November 8, 1934.  A special 75th Anniversary announcement occurred at the last home game for the Raiders in the 2009 season.  The picture above was taken during that game on October 14, 2009.

Dick Darsow compiled this history while researching his book, The Hastings Archives, published in 1999.

1932 Irving Todd Jr. donated $500 toward improvements for an athletic field. The former eyesore was graded, cement curbing for a track was poured and ten carloads of cinders (one place it states eighteen) were donated by the Milwaukee Railroad for the track. Black dirt was hauled in for a base for the field and it was seeded. An athletic field was born-named Todd Field. The city, aided by the county, did the grading. At the same time, the city improved 10th Street.

1933 In the fall, Highway 53, now Highway 55, was paved from Highway 3, now Highway 61, to Pine Bend.

1934 The state highway department, impressed with the development of the athletic field, began purchasing lots along Highway 53 (55) between Vermillion and Maple Streets for development of a parkway. In August, workers began spreading 8,000 yards of black dirt over the future park. Trees and shrubs were planted in the fall or the following spring. Note: this was a state project. WPA construction of the field's south stone work was completed in the summer. The north stone work was yet to be done. The first game was played on Friday afternoon, November 8, with Hastings defeating Cannon Falls 21-0. All previous home games had been played at the Asylum Field.

1935 Work on the north stone wall continued. With the finishing of the gateposts, all that was left to be done by August was the fence. Irving Todd Jr. donated $1000 toward the cost of the fence. The total estimated cost of Todd Field to date was $75,000.

1936 Construction of the tunnel under Vermillion Street was started in February and was completed by the WPA in June at a cost of $2,300. (It was sealed in the fall of 1980). The city council authorized $300 toward the construction of the tennis courts.

1937 Colonel Hayden S. Cole, President of the First National Bank, donated money for the tennis courts, which were completed in May. On May 29, Todd Field, the tennis courts, and Roadside Park were dedicated. In September, the city council took up the issue of having no title to the now developed Roadside Park. They notified the state highway department that with no official presentation of the property, the city could not appropriate maintenance funds for the coming year.

1939 A contract to light the field was let for $2,350.52. The first game played under the lights, Hastings defeated Stillwater 32-12.

The Story of Todd Field 

In the early years, limestone for homes, buildings, and foundations was in demand and was quarried in a pit between 10th and 11th Streets, west of Vermillion Street. A gravel pit ordered the quarry on the west side. In time, it became a cattle watering hole, unofficial City dump for residents, and an eyesore for everyone. In 1932, the School Board, urged on by residents, took possession of two square blocks for the tax title. The City, aided by the County, graded the land, curbing for a track was poured with cinders donated by the Milwaukee Railroad, black dirt was hauled in for a base for the field, it was seeded and an athletic field was born. Irving Todd Jr. donated $500 to aid in the construction. 

The following year in 1933, Highway 53, now known as Highway 55, was paved from Hastings to Pine Bend, increasing the traffic significantly in that area. In 1934, the Highway Department, impressed with the development of the athletic field, and urged by the School Board, purchased several lots and square blocks west to Maple Street for development of a parkway. The whole area was graded, and in August, 8,000 yards of black dirt were spread, trees and shrubs were planted the following spring. 

The south stone work was competed by the WPA in the summer of 1934 and the northstonework in 1935 along with corner and gateposts. Irving Todd Jr. donated another $1000 toward the installation of the fence. Total cost of construction thus far was $75,000.  

Early in 1936, a tunnel under Vermillion Street was built costing $2,300 so that school children did not have to cross that busy roadway to get to the field. Colonel Hayden S. Cole, president of the First National Bank, donated money for the tennis court that was completed in May 1937. The stadium was dedicated on May 29, 1937, and called Todd Field. The park area was called Roadside Park, and was dedicated the same day. 

The Hastings Athletic Club solicited funds from the public, and raised enough money to let a $2,350.51 contract to light the field. Previously all games had to be played during daylight hours that seriously restricted public attendance. A lighted field afforded evening games where sellout crowds were common. 

The field was upgraded in the early 1970s when an irrigation system was installed and steel bleachers replaced the stone seats. Again in 2000, a complete remodeling and renovation was done costing in excess of $1,000,000. Rebuilding the north wall, replacing the bleachers to meet new state law and increase seating capacity, new lighting, and numerous other improvements were complete. Citizen contributions and a major donation by Hastings High School Alumnus Richard “Pinky” McNamara helped the School Board fund the program. The McNamara Stadium at Todd Field was rededicated September 22, 2000. The Wold Architects who did the design work have proclaimed Todd Field to be one the finest High School stadiums in the country, and it is certainly one of the favored spots in Hastings. 

Richard B. Darsow

City Historian

December 2002 

1932   Irving Todd Jr. donated $500 toward an athletic field

1934   First football game at the field was on November 8

1937   Dedication of "Todd Field"

1949   Hastings wins state football title

1970s Upgrades to the field

2000   Complete remodel and renovation with major donation from Richard "Pinky" McNamara; dedication of "McNamara Stadium at Todd Field"

2001   Hastings wins state football title

2009   75th Anniversary of Todd Field

2018   Hastings places 2nd in Conference
2018   Last game on the grass - October 27, 2018

2019   Stadium upgrades and new synthetic turf
2019   First game on the new turf - September 13, 2019

2021   Hastings places 2nd in Conference