Dec. 8, 1966
The first formal meeting
Coach Wally Camp brought a group together in the faculty room of the old Durham High School, now Strong Middle School, to organize the booster club.
Serving RSD13 since 1966
History
From a group of basketball fans gathered on a cold winter night to a community organization supporting every interscholastic sport, the Coginchaug Benchwarmers have worked for local student athletes for six decades.
The beginning
The club takes shape
The Coginchaug Benchwarmers were formally organized in late 1966 to promote and support high school athletics throughout Regional School District 13.
Meeting 2
A name and identity
At the next meeting, the club adopted the name “Benchwarmers,” suggested by Coach Camp. Durham High School art teacher Fred Beuther designed the club logo that became part of its identity.
The founders
Eight charter members
The eight charter members who formally established the Coginchaug Benchwarmers were:
Helmuth “Brownie” BrownCoach Wally CampFrank JohnsonBill CahillJake SchillingIra KerschnerHarold CorsonDon Gates
Their philosophy was to promote high school athletics without taking over the duties or responsibilities of the Board of Education.
The original focus
The group initially concentrated on basketball. As membership and community support grew, its mission expanded to include all interscholastic athletic programs in Regional School District 13.
Working together
The club succeeded because members stayed active even when their own children were not participating in school athletics and because everyone worked together after decisions were made.
Early projects
Starting with basketball
The Benchwarmers quickly turned their new organization into action. Members worked on projects that supported athletes, teams, students, and fans while creating fundraising traditions that could grow with the club.
1966, 1967
The basketball program
With the season only weeks away, members solicited advertisements, organized photographs, and compiled records for an informative home game program. The publication became both a source of information and one of the club's earliest fundraisers.
First project
Filming home games
Ira Kerschner proposed filming home basketball games, beginning a tradition later carried on by high school students. During the first year, the club also provided megaphones for the cheerleaders.
Growing support
Recognizing achievement
As its interest expanded to all sports, the club held seasonal sports banquets to honor championship teams and individual athletes with cups and medals. Championship teams also received new blazers.
Fundraising traditions
From programs to the Durham Fair
Early fundraising included advertising in the basketball program, selling refreshments at games, and holding setback card tournaments. The largest tradition became the Benchwarmers food booth at the Durham Fair, known for many years for homemade beef stew.
The beef stew operation
For several weeks each year, members gathered at the Stonegate School cafeteria to peel potatoes, onions, and carrots and cook the beef. The finished stew was stored in sanitized milk cans from Sunshine Dairy and refrigerated there until fair time.
Family Day
The Benchwarmers helped establish Family Day with the Durham Volunteer Fire Department. Held on the Sunday before the Fourth of July, it featured picnics, professional entertainment, and a large fireworks display.
Where the money went
Practical support for teams and fans
The Benchwarmers funded an electric baseball scoreboard, fencing around the baseball field, a pitching machine, an additional basketball scoreboard, a rifle for the rifle team, and a pitching machine for girls' softball. The club also helped the Pep Band purchase shirts and helped pay for an additional bus so students could attend out of town events.
A million dollar milestone
By the club's 50th anniversary in 2016, the Benchwarmers had raised more than $1 million for athletic programs during their first fifty years.
The legacy continues
The current total is approximately $3.5 million. Today that tradition continues through facilities, equipment, scoreboards, annual scholarships, the Durham Fair booth, golf tournament, alumni game, basketball concessions, banners, and the basketball program.