Pictured:  The new scoreboard at the Woodstock ballfield, which has been named O’Hearn Field.

By Rose Van Nieuwenhuyzen –

On Sunday, Oct. 10, the Woodstock Community Club planned a big day for the dedication of O’Hearn Field, in honor of Ed O’Hearn. Ed has spent many years on the Woodstock East Diamond and helped to maintain it, even when the ballfield wasn’t being used.

When the club had the opportunity to put a name on top of the scoreboard, O’Hearn seemed like it was a perfect fit.

The weather was not ideal, with strong winds and cool weather, but a nice crowd gathered at 12:30 for a free meal of hot dogs, potato salad, nachos and cheese, root beer floats, etc.

At 1:30 p.m. the dedication program started. The O’Hearn, Legler, Powers, Biever, and Van Nieuwenhuyzen families each had six chairs located at all the bases and the pitcher’s mound. Every family received a plaque and a bat with their name on it.

Three former players honored were (from left): Gary Biever, Rolly Van Nieuwenhuyzen, and Ed O’Hearn.

As she went around the bases, Woodstock Community Club Chairman Allison Kruisselbrink read memories written by each family of the years they played on the Woodstock ballfield.

Kruisselbrink said the improvement efforts started in May with the idea to add a scoreboard and hopefully generate more use of the city’s ball field, which was built in the 1960’s.

The community club contacted sponsors to pay for the scoreboard and eventually 35 local sponsors provided $28,985, which was also enough to add other improvements, such as new aluminum players’ benches and bleachers, red rock in the fan areas, and LED lights.

Thanks to the great job the community club did, it is hoped that this ball diamond will be used in the years to come.