Shadows lengthen across Preinkert Field House. Its red brick facade seems to whisper stories.
This is Preinkert Field House a significant landmark at the University of Maryland College Park. It holds a rich history intertwined with the life and tragic death of Alma H Preinkert. The building itself was dedicated in 1931. It was originally known as the Women’s Field House.
Alma Preinkert served as the university registrar from 1919 to 1954. She was a beloved figure on campus a respected leader. Her dedication to the university was immense. She championed women’s athletics. She helped create opportunities for female students. A swimming pool was added to Preinkert Field House in 1951. This was a testament to her commitment.
Tragically Alma Preinkert’s life was cut short. In 1954 she was murdered in her Washington DC home. The crime remains unsolved. This shocking event deeply affected the university community. It prompted the Board of Regents to rename the Women’s Field House in her honor on March 12 1954.
The pool added during her tenure was decommissioned in the 1990s. Today Preinkert Field House houses academic spaces. It is used by the public policy school. It also serves the theatre dance and performance studies school and the arts and humanities college. It even hosts the National Center for Smart Growth.
The building stands as a quiet but powerful reminder of Alma Preinkert. Her legacy lives on not only in the name of this building but in the opportunities she created for women at the university. Even today students and faculty feel her presence. Some believe her spirit still haunts the building a silent guardian of the university she served so faithfully. Her story is a blend of triumph tragedy and enduring memory. It is part of Preinkert Field House’s enduring legacy.