Zemp Stadium
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Zemp Stadium |
Home to Camden High School football since 1929, Zemp Stadium (capacity 8,000) has been host to 7 State championship teams during its long and illustrious history.
The new home side, constructed prior to the start of the 1997 season
The old home side, now the visitors' stands
The stadium was constructed and dedicated in 1929 after longtime Bulldog supporter Blakeney Zemp. It is the second-oldest active use stadium in the state of South Carolina, only behind W.K. Brumbach Stadium (The Reservation-1925) in Gaffney.
Plaque honoring Zemp and CHS benefactors
Zemp Stadium has seen many memorable moments during its history, including two state championship wins, on Thanksgiving Day 1936 over Honea-Path and again in 1957 over Lancaster before 6,000 fans. On its way to the 1964 State title, the Bulldogs defeated Eau Claire 7-0 in perhaps the most famous game ever played at Zemp Stadium.
Old bell from the Wateree Mills Plant - donated prior to the 1961 season
In recent years, the Dogs have given home fans many classic moments to remember, including the 1990 wins over Sumter, Hartsville and the Upper State Championship against Daniel (before perhaps the largest crowd ever at Zemp) which propelled that team to the State title.
The Lindsay Jennings' Press Box - that's Billy Ammons' honored jersey on top
In 2000, Camden edged Marion 13-9 in a hard-fought playoff game, earning a berth in the AAA Lower State Championship. In 2001, Camden downed Newberry 34-14 for the Lower State title.
The Camden Locker Room
But perhaps the most exciting moment in stadium history occurred during the 2001 AAA Playoffs, in a second-round game against Wilson. Facing defeat with just 9 seconds left, Camden's Kelvin Grant returned a Wilson kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown on the game's final play, lifting the Dogs to a 19-17 win and saving CHS's eventual 15-0 and State Championship season.
Following the 1996 season, Zemp Stadium was renovated, improved and expanded. The old visitors' stands were torn down and a new home side, with a state-of-the-art press box, was constructed in its place.
Other Home Fields
1) Property behind the old Episcopal rectory
2) Monument Square near Dickinson monument, Laurens and Broad Street
3) "Sand-spur infested" lot on West DeKalb Street, site of former Powe Veneer Plant
4) Polo Field #2
5) Polo Field #1, behind old Kirkwood Hotel on Polo Lane
6) Wateree Mills Field
7) The baseball field
8) "The Fair Grounds"
Scoreboard in the South end zone
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