Stories from the Sprague Log: 1951

Sprague Electric was a very community-oriented company. Sprague sponsored many sports teams so they could really connect workers with the community they live in. It was the largest company in North Adams, employing a significant percentage of the town’s population. Being a sponsor for so many different sports teams allowed the workers to build strong relationships, spread the love of being part of the Sprague family, and share their passion for the sport. Building employees' trust was not only about praising the work they were doing but also about looking beyond their roles in the factory and celebrating them for who they are. Through baseball/softball, bowling, and high school sports, this helped foster a culture of positivity at work. Sprague Electric's newsletters’ coverage of high school and nearby college sports reflected their strong connection to the North Adams community. Many families were parents, close relatives, and/or alumni of local high schools, demonstrating the close ties within the community. The Logs included current standings, game scores, and updates, showing that Sprague valued the youth and their relationship with the community. The weekly inclusion of sports results in the company newsletter demonstrated this ongoing commitment. The Sprague Electric Women’s Bowling League held an annual Bowling Banquet at Clarksburg Sportsman’s Club, with Earnest L. Ward serving as the master of ceremonies in 1951. He described the act of rolling a ball and operating a rolling machine as being of the same relationship, praising the women for how their hard work at the company showed through in their bowling skills. Guest speakers at the banquet congratulated the women on their accomplishments in the bowling league while adding a touch of humor to their remarks. One of the guest speakers, Jack Washburn, remarked on the women having a separate league from an official company league and paid tribute to one of the women workers, Pat Gilmore, and her mother, who together represented two generations of a bowling family. Prizes were given on behalf of the union, and the bowling statistics were printed in the sports section of the issue. Highlights of the banquet noted the lighthearted nature of interactions among the guests, particularly how they joked around and had a good time. In addition to sponsoring the bowling leagues, the company also sponsored basketball teams: a men’s team, the Sprague Royals, and a women's team, the Sprague Lassies. Both teams played in local competitions and a few regional ones. These competitions were mostly against other Adams and Williamstown teams, but a few games were played against teams from southern Berkshire County and Amherst as well. Neither the Royals nor the Lassies qualified for the National Basketball Tournaments, but the women’s team was entered in the New England A.A.U. Girls Basketball Tournament and won the Good Sportsmen Award.

Sprague's basketball teams also participated in events outside of scheduled tournaments. In February 1951, at the Lions Club, the Sprague Lassies held a fashion show showcasing the latest in women’s basketball fashion. Judging from the photo and the caption, it was not intended to be a serious fashion show but rather an excuse for a fun community gathering. Another event was a basketball competition between married and single women, where the single women won. Events like these were meant to be lighthearted and engaging rather than fiercely competitive. They fostered a sense of solidarity amongst the workers at Sprague and between the company and the surrounding communities.