Sunday, September 1, 2024
Located in the “school room” at the Coryell Museum and Historical Center, visitors will notice old photographs of various schools that were once scattered across the county. One of the photos shows the Gatesville High School girls basketball team from the school year 1923-24, one hundred years ago. The players are standing on the steps of the school wearing their uniforms along with their coach, Mary Lou McCollum. Also on display at the museum is an original GHS uniform worn during the 1920s when girls basketball became popular at the school.
The 1920s were considered the “Golden Age of Sport” because it was the start of high-level competition sport with tremendous athletes – which was not only true for men, but for women as well.
In the early days, women were encouraged to play more “lady like” sports such as golf, tennis, swimming, and field hockey. As time progressed, women began to get more athletic freedom in sports.
During the 1920s, the new game of basketball was beginning to appear in high schools across the nation as an alternative sport for women.
Gyms during that time were much smaller than they are today – which added to the fact that the rules for girls were much different to what they were for the boys.
In those early days, it was common to see women basketball players wearing very conservative uniforms that would only show their hands, neck, and head. Players would wear bloomers or skirts, a high collar linen shirt, and woolen stockings.
Teams were distinguished by what color scarf they were wearing around their necks or by the color of their wool stockings. The Gatesville basketball players wore black long sleeve woolen blouses and black woolen bloomers. Their team was identified by the gold ends on their scarves, wristbands, and along the collar of the blouse.
One hundred years ago, in 1924, the International Women’s Sports Federation was formed, which led to a higher level for female basketball players.
That same year was the first time that the Olympics included women’s basketball as an exhibition event, and women were able to participate. Before going to that professional level, most players participated in their high school basketball teams, and that appears to be what the women in 1924 were doing at the Gatesville High School – a mere 100 years ago.
Visitors are welcome to drop by the museum located at 718 E. Main to view the massive spur collection. Coryell Museum and Historical Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, as is the gift shop. Yearly, Coryell Museum memberships are $20 for singles, $30 for families, and $40 for businesses, which includes free admission to the museum, plus four newsletters. Of course, large and small donations are welcome at all times.
Coryell Museum offers area schools and tour groups a delightful, guided tour through the museum with docents at many exhibits. Call the museum at 254-865-5007 to plan a visit.
