Club History

Unwin Park’s Historic Past

Thanks so much to Alanah Pastres for sharing some wonderful photos of Newton Baseball’s early history.

“My father is Brian Fichter and is featured in many of the articles and photos I passed along to you. My grandfather, August (Gus) Fichter, was the president of the Newton Little League. He and a group of parents convinced the owner of that land to donate it to the Little League. His name was Harold Bent and his name was on the big scoreboard in Centre Field.
The materials for the dug-outs were donated by AIM Steel and the builders were all parent volunteers. AIM Steel also sponsored my dad’s team and provided the uniforms.
My grandmother, Barb Fichter, saved all the newspaper articles. She and my grandfather had three boys (Brian, Ron and Rick) who all were in the league at some point. When my uncle Rick was too little for the uniforms, she cut them down to fit him so he could look like the big boys (seen in the Diaper League newspaper photo).I hope this information is helpful to you. I know that the Newton Little League was a big part of my dad’s youth and he has many great memories of his dad from this time. My grandfather passed away when he was only 46 years old and my dad was in his early twenties. These articles and photos mean a great deal to my family and it is awesome that they can be shared with others as well.”

Did you know?

1. Harold Bent was a Newton (Surrey) resident who at one time served on a Parks Committee.
2. Harold Bent Stadium was located in Unwin Park, at one time known as Newton Park. Unwin Park is still where we play our home games.
3. This same diamond was also known as the Diane Cook field. This diamond has also been known as Diamond # 1 – still in use!
4. Both names noted here would not have been official Surrey names, but rather names used within the Newton Baseball organization

Reeve Roland Harvey, Mayor of Surrey at the time dedicated the Harold Bent Little League Stadium. This was May 7th, 1964 with media in attendance.

1964 the Union Jack Flag is being raised, one year prior to the existance of the Canadian Maple Leaf flag!

Thanks to Pierce Smith from the Surrey Archives for this from the Edna Smirl photograph Collection. Taken around 1920 of the baseball diamond in Newton.