Did You Know?

Contributed by John Ashton

The wonderful sport of basketball is played by millions of individuals all over the world. It is played and enjoyed in outdoor playgrounds, indoor gyms, multimillion-dollar facilities cruise ships, war ships, skyscrapers, and spontaneous events on dirt grounds, streets, and even in people's homes.

DID YOU KNOW…two Pictou County born individuals played on basketball’s first team and the first scrimmage in the world in the year 1891.

Rev. Findlay G. MacDonald (Sunny Brae) and John G. Thompson (New Glasgow) were attending the YMCA Springfield College in Massachusetts U.S.A. They were playing for the varsity soccer team and athletic director James Naismith (Almonte Ont.) wanted to have an exercise sport indoors to keep the players active and to have fun during the winter months.

Two wooden baskets were hung on each end of an oval gym. The first scrimmages were more like tackle football. Which brought James Nasmith to develop “Basket Ball Rules”. On March 21,1892 the first public basketball game was played with our Pictou County men on the teams.

Click photos for the best viewing.

Information and photos courtesy of Springfield College Archives and Special Collections and the Pictou County Sports Heritage Hall of Fame.

Footnote:

John Ashton is a Pictou County historical researcher, newspaper columnist, author, graphic, and visual artist. He has operated his business Ashton Creative Design from his Bridgeville studio, office/gallery, and archives for over 37 years.