Humble ISD hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for renovations taking place at Charles Street Stadium in downtown Humble on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. Pictured at the Charles Street Stadium construction site are (from left): Alexas Rocha, Humble High School senior; Jahaira Escalante, Humble High School senior; TJ West, Humble High School junior; Ms. Paula Settle, Humble City Council Place 4; Ms. Chris Parker, School Board Trustee; Ms. Nancy Morrison, School Board Parliamentarian; Mr. Ken Kirchhofer, School Board Trustee; Dr. Elizabeth Fagen, Superintendent; The Honorable Norman Funderburk, Mayor of Humble; Mr. Robert Sitton, School Board Trustee; Mr. Robert Scarfo, School Board Vice President; Mr. Charles Cunningham, Humble City Council Place 2; Mr. Bruce Davidson, Humble City Council Place 3; Trinity Morrow, Humble High School senior; Alex Ramirez, Humble High School senior.
December 9, 2021
Humble ISD broke ground on renovations for the district’s historic Charles Street Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 9.
The renovations will help preserve the history of Charles Street Stadium while ensuring it will continue to be a source of community pride. Plans include demolition and rebuilding of the concession stand, ticket booth, restrooms, as well as adding storage for equipment and maintenance. A new field house with locker rooms, meeting rooms and a conference room will be added, along with a new press box, fencing, parking and stadium entrances with controlled access for entering guests. ADA compliant upgrades will include bleachers and sidewalks.
The motto “Impossible is Un-American” will be featured on the stadium’s new exterior south wall. The motto dates back to 1918 when it was displayed on the original Humble High School building. It is also displayed over an exterior door at the Charles Bender Performing Arts Center, formerly Charles Bender High School.
“Charles Street Stadium is a part of our history, and it is a part of Humble ISD’s partnership with the City of Humble,” Dr. Elizabeth Fagen, Humble ISD Superintendent, said. “We’re working to preserve the stadium’s history, while renewing it to meet modern standards.”
The new field will consist of artificial turf, which is more durable than grass and will allow more flexibility for hosting events.
“Artificial turf gives us the advantage of being able to use the new field whenever we want, no matter the season,” Coach Marcus Schulz, Humble High School Head Football Coach and Campus Athletic Coordinator, said.
The stadium, located on Charles Street near FM 1960 Business in downtown Humble, has a rich history of hosting Humble ISD events and community events.
The original stadium was built on land purchased from the Charles Bender Estate for $2,500 in October 1938. At that time, the district hired Hedrick and Lindsley, Inc., Architects and Engineers of Houston to design the stadium; W.C. Lindley Lumber Company to supply construction materials; and E.W. Robbins to furnish sand and gravel for the site.
Charles Street Stadium first opened in 1942 as Humble Stadium, and served as the main playing field for Charles Bender High School for 23 years before the new Humble High School and what is now Turner Stadium were built in 1965.
“Many of us have memories of the Charles Street Stadium, but now we look forward to a new opportunity for the next generation to make their memories in the same place we made ours,” Dr. Robert Meaux, Humble ISD Instructional Assessment Application Developer and District Historian, said.
Once completed, the new Charles Street Stadium will once again be home to Humble High School’s subvarsity football team, as well as football teams for Humble Middle and Ross Sterling Middle Schools. The facility will also continue to be the main venue for all Humble ISD soccer teams.
Pfluger Architects is the design firm chosen for the $9.7 million project. Holt Construction is the contractor building the new stadium.
The construction is part of the district’s 2018 bond program focused on renewing older facilities as well as building new facilities that are needed for growth.
The Charles Street Stadium project is planned for completion in Spring 2022.