In the late 1800’s when people wanted to play hockey or go skating they went to the old drill shed located on Herriott Street or they could go further down the street to the open air ring located on the corner of Herriott and Beckwith. In 1889 the Perth Arena was built in this location for a cost of $4,000. The building, built with the bare necessities, was a wood structure and had a 170 foot by 70 foot ice surface. In the first years of pertain there were only one foot high boards around the ice and the bottom of the rink consisted of a dirt and sawdust base making it difficult to get the ice surface started in the late fall. The arena was built without seats and until one row of seats was added to seat between 700 and 800 people, it was standing room only. Music was added in 1911 in the form of a large military band organ that was purchased in the United States and placed in the upstairs of the arena. The arena was remodelled in 1930. Reserve seating was added to the arena giving the building a seating capacity of 1100 while upstairs the dressing rooms were rebuilt and showers and heat were added. Hardwood floors were also installed. The remodelling of the arena lead to the Perth rink being labelled the neatest and cleanest rink in the Ottawa Valley. Throughout the next 30 years the arena was the sight of many carnivals and hockey games and it became the social gathering spot of the town. After the war the roller skating craze hit Perth and in the summer roller skates replaced ice skates. In 1955, the owner of the building, George S. James, donated the rink to the town and in turn the operation of the rink was passed onto a committee. Even though maintenance of the rink was the responsibility of the town, aside from covering the building with aluminum siding and minor repairs, the arena was allowed to slide into a state of disrepair. In 1961 the building was closed because it was unsafe and it was subsequently torn down.
Interior view of the Perth Skating Rink about 1910. Hockey player at the left is Willie McLaren, beside him is Ginger Lee holding the ice scraper, next man is not known, gentleman with overcoat and hat is Mr. McLaren. The tall man in the centre with long overcoat and cap is George James and beside him holding another ice scraper is Charles Samways. The gentleman third from right, wearing long overcoat and hat is Ernie Meighen. The other players are not known. At that time there were no seats in the rink, only standing room along the side boards. The ice scrapers were manufactured in James Brothers Machine Shop on the Foster Street side of James Brothers Hardware Store, where similar scrapers were made and sold to many places throughout Canada.
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