The Fieldhouse hosted its first game 45 years ago tonight

The Mason County Fieldhouse hosted its first game 45 years ago tonight. Mason County opened in 1960 without a gymnasium. The Royals played their home games in the Washington Elementary School gym or at the Maysville High School gym. Mason County never lost a game at Washington. Voters kept rejecting a special tax to fund construction of a new gym. Proponents of a new home for the Royals didn't give up. The special tax, which also funded construction of an industrial arts building, was approved by 135 votes in a special election on Feb. 24, 1962. The first bids for the gym were considered unacceptable, and were rejected on Dec. 21, 1962. New bids were opened in January 1963. East End Construction Company of Maysville was awarded the contract on its bid of $802,598. An open house was held on Jan. 10, 1965. Thousands of people toured the spacious facility. Then, on Jan. 15, 1965, the Royals defeated Ripley 82-63 in the first game in what later became known as The Fieldhouse.