the new game, part one

When their time is past many old high school gyms follow the same path that their former players, coaches & fans are on - slow decline leading to an eventual quiet end.  Some linger on as elementary or middle school facilities while others become community recreation centers or senior living spaces.  But some are reinvented to a new & different purpose, all the while preserving their original intent.  Three examples of this live in the west central part of our state.
Whitestown, the former home of the Panthers, participated in Sectional play from 1921-1963 and won their lone title in 1946, posting a record of 24-10 and defeating Zionsville in the championship game.  Since it's consolidation & closing in 1963 the old gym has gone through a number of changes, most recently in 2017 when the Mattingly family renovated the property and opened the Moontown Brewing Company, a brewpub/restaurant.  Not only does Moontown preserve and protect the legacy of the old Whitestown gym, it may serve as  a roadmap for others lost along the way. © Chris Smith