Mcpherson Park

McPherson Park, named after the McPherson (specifically William Edward “Pete” McPherson) family who owned the property, was located just north west from Central High School, and was the home field of the Hillsboro All-Stars. The Hillsboro All-Stars was an African-American semi-pro team made up of local ballplayers. It was also home field for the pony league Hillsboro Junior All-Stars, aged 13 to 15, with Roosevelt Warner as their coach.

Baseball was still segregated in Orange County until the late 1960s, so after a “scheduling conflict” unfairly denied local black teams access to the mill ballfield (now in Gold Park), Pete McPherson decided that black players needed their own place to play ball, so in 1946 he purchased the property and built a ballpark. The community came together to build the facilities, and because many of the players were brick masons and had extensive experience in construction, the work only required two weeks to complete.

Thanks to McPherson, the stadium was of excellent quality with a backstop, two dugouts, and covered bleachers. He also ensured the team had a bus to drive them to away games. During home games, local kids would retrieve foul balls and balls hit out of the park, and would often receive a nickel or a candy bar for their efforts. "Buddy" Payne was the ballpark announcer.

John Whitted, with stands in background, circa 1950 (photo from Margaret Whitted via Chris Holaday)

William "Bootsie" Whitted, view east, with stands in background, circa 1950 (photo from Margaret Whitted via Chris Holaday)

Marvin McPherson, view east, with stands in background, circa 1950 (photo from Margaret Whitted via Chris Holaday)

Unknown player (left), John Whitted (right), circa 1950 (photo from Margaret Whitted, via the Orange County Museum)

The Hillsboro All-Stars, 1954 (image courtesy of Billy McPherson via the Orange County Historical Museum)

[Humorous] game write-up and team roster, July 1947 (via The News of Orange)

1955 aerial photo excerpt, showing McPherson Field circled in red

The Hillsboro Junior All-Stars, 1957

The property was subdivided by the McPherson family in 1993, and a house was built on one of the subdivided lots in 1996.

(Thanks to the Orange County Museum/Courtney Smith and Chris Holaday for much of the above information.)