ELMIRA, NY (607NewsNow) – Elmira is entering its name in the annals of pro football history.
On November 21, a historic marker was unveiled at Dunn Field, formerly known as the Maple Avenue Driving Park.
According to WENY-TV, the plaque marks the first-ever professional game played at night on November 21, 1902, 20 years before the formation of the NFL. On that night, the Kanaweola Athletic Club, which was an Elmira-based social club, played the Philadelphia Athletics, a professional baseball team that played football in the off-season.
Crews installed sideline lights and brought in temporary search lights for the game. Philadelphia, which later became the Kansas City Athletics and Oakland A’s, won 39-0.
The first-ever football game held at night was a collegiate game between Mansfield University and Wyoming Seminary in 1892. Read more from WENY-TV here.
