Difference between revisions of "Columbia C"

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[[Image:ColumbiaC.jpg|thumb|240px| The Columbia "C"]]
 
[[Image:ColumbiaC.jpg|thumb|240px| The Columbia "C"]]
The '''Columbia "C"''' is a giant painted letter "C" on a 100 foot high wall of Fordham Gneiss<ref>Gneiss is a stone native to the Bronx, whereas most of Manhattan is compost of Schist. As the saying goes, "The Bronx is nice, but Manhattan is Schist" (or "the Schist," depending on one's perspective).</ref> on the Bronx shore of Spuyten Duyvil Creek opposite from Columbia's [[Baker Field]] athletic complex.
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The '''Columbia "C"''' generally refers to the giant painted letter "C" on a 100 foot high wall of Fordham Gneiss<ref>Gneiss is a stone native to the Bronx, whereas most of Manhattan is composed of Schist. As the saying goes, "The Bronx is nice, but Manhattan is Schist" (or "the Schist," depending on one's perspective).</ref> on the Bronx shore of the [[Harlem River]] opposite from Columbia's [[Baker Athletic Complex]].
  
In [[1952]], Columbia medical student and coxswain of the heavyweight crew team Robert Predergrast approached the New York Central Railroad for permission to paint the sign, which was granted. The crew team completed the 60 ft by 60 ft sign in traffic white and ultramarine blue with a 12 ft stroke by the fall of '52. Work was aided by a botswains chair attached to drillholes at the top of the rock by ropes. The sign is maintained by members of the crew team, who repainted the sign in 1987.
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In [[1952]], Columbia medical student and coxswain of the heavyweight [[crew]] team [[Robert Prendergrast]] approached the New York Central Railroad for permission to paint the sign, which was granted. The crew team completed the 60 ft by 60 ft sign in traffic white and ultramarine blue with a 12 ft stroke by the fall of '52. Work was aided by a boatswains chair attached to drillholes at the top of the rock by ropes. The sign is maintained by members of the crew team, who repainted the sign in [[1987]].
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==Letter 'C' Marks==
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[[Image:ColumbiaCCompare.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Left: Old style Columbia "C" used in lettering on [[Wien Stadium]] stand; Right: New style Columbia "C" used outside [[Satow Stadium]]]]
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The letter 'C' is also used as an athletics-related logo in a number of ways. These include an eight-sided octagonal C similar to the one seen one painted on the rock, the "Split C" (a mark reserved for use by [[Club Sports]] who aren't allowed to use the logos of the Intercollegiate teams), an interlocking "CU" logo (seen mostly on bookstore merchandise these days), and the "Block C" (featured on football helmets since 2006)<ref>[http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/ivy.htm The Helmet Project: Ivy League]</ref>.
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<gallery>
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Image:SplitC.png|The "Split C" used by Club Sports teams
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Image:CUInterlocking.gif|The interlocking "CU" logo
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Image:BlockC.gif|The "Block C", seen most frequently on football team helmets. Actual current design seems to have a slightly stronger drop shadow.
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Image:FootballProgram1922.jpg|A classic Columbia "C" on a 1922 Columbia football program
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</gallery>
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== External links==
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* [http://www.columbiauniversitycampus.com/#/sports-complex/Baker-2751/  Photographs of "C"]
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
*[http://www.washington-heights.us/history/archives/baker_field_12.html History of WaHI: Baker Field]
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*[http://web.archive.org/web/20120119135759/http://www.washington-heights.us/history/archives/baker_field_12.html History of WaHI: Baker Field]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Latest revision as of 01:31, 18 April 2013

The Columbia "C"

The Columbia "C" generally refers to the giant painted letter "C" on a 100 foot high wall of Fordham Gneiss[1] on the Bronx shore of the Harlem River opposite from Columbia's Baker Athletic Complex.

In 1952, Columbia medical student and coxswain of the heavyweight crew team Robert Prendergrast approached the New York Central Railroad for permission to paint the sign, which was granted. The crew team completed the 60 ft by 60 ft sign in traffic white and ultramarine blue with a 12 ft stroke by the fall of '52. Work was aided by a boatswains chair attached to drillholes at the top of the rock by ropes. The sign is maintained by members of the crew team, who repainted the sign in 1987.

Letter 'C' Marks

Left: Old style Columbia "C" used in lettering on Wien Stadium stand; Right: New style Columbia "C" used outside Satow Stadium

The letter 'C' is also used as an athletics-related logo in a number of ways. These include an eight-sided octagonal C similar to the one seen one painted on the rock, the "Split C" (a mark reserved for use by Club Sports who aren't allowed to use the logos of the Intercollegiate teams), an interlocking "CU" logo (seen mostly on bookstore merchandise these days), and the "Block C" (featured on football helmets since 2006)[2].

External links

Sources

References

  1. Gneiss is a stone native to the Bronx, whereas most of Manhattan is composed of Schist. As the saying goes, "The Bronx is nice, but Manhattan is Schist" (or "the Schist," depending on one's perspective).
  2. The Helmet Project: Ivy League