Glenn M. Curtis Memorial Gymnasium: The mecca of state basketball

Indiana is known around the globe for its love of basketball, particularly when it comes to high school ball. At one time, Martinsville served as the epicenter of high school basketball when it constructed the largest gymnasium in the state — a facility that could fit more people than the city had residents.

This historic gymnasium was built in 1923-1924 and was created to be the athletic facility for what was Martinsville High School at the time. When the gymnasium was first constructed, it was Indiana’s largest with seats for 5,200 fans, which was more than the community population at that time.

The gymnasium retains most of its historic architecture and now serves as the gym for John R. Wooden Middle School. Currently, the gymnasium predominantly displays a photo mural along one side of gymnasium showcasing historic photos of the gymnasium and basketball in Martinsville.

The Glenn M. Curtis Memorial Gymnasium was named after the local legendary basketball coach in 1959, a year after he died.

Curtis, who coached Martinsville from 1919 to 1938, led the Martinsville High School basketball team to three state titles, including 1927 when John R. Wooden was a player on one of those teams and ultimately mentored by Curtis. Curtis left Martinsville with a record of 396-139 — or 74 percent — and went on to coach at Indiana State from 1938-1946 before coaching professionally.

Curtis eventually returned to Martinsville to become the superintendent of the school district.

He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1964.

The historic gymnasium is located at 759 S. Main St. in Martinsville.

(Prepared by the Morgan County Leadership Academy Class of 2022 on behalf of the Morgan County Bicentennial Committee)