Old Arena Images & Beginnings

[James Laverance]

An exterior view of the Victoria Rink in Kenora in 1901 along with an article on it.

World Professional Sculling Championship, Rat Portage (Kenora), September, 1901. View of race course

November 30th, 1897, The Rat Portage Miner & Rainly Lake Journal.

 

[Theokritos]

An exterior view of the Victoria Rink in Kenora in 190 along with an article on the it.

Which year?

 

[James Laverance]

Which year?

1901.

 

[James Laverance]

Correction.
The previous attachment in my post was not the Victoria Rink it was a rowing club and curling rink.
This may be the right rink taken in 1910.

 

[James Laverance]

This is a map of the town from 1897 to confirm that it's the right rink.

 

[James Laverance]

Another view of the rink.

 

[James Laverance]

^^^ This isn't the Victoria Rink it's a Church.

 

[James Laverance]

The Cornwall Victoria Rink under construction in late 1896.This rink would last until 1933 in the Cornwall fire.

The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
17 Oct 1896, Sat • Page 7

 

[tarheelhockey]

The Cornwall Victoria Rink under construction in late 1896.This rink would last until 1933 in the Cornwall fire.
View attachment 368022
View attachment 368023
The Ottawa Journal
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
17 Oct 1896, Sat • Page 7

Anyone know the purpose of this high ceiling? Is it a matter of the semi-circular arch being more stable, maybe able to hold more weight for lights and decor? Possibly an anti-snow measure? Just for looks?

 

[James Laverance]

If this isn't the Kenora Rink then I don't think there is an image of it.

 

[James Laverance]

I've done further intensive research on the subject and finally I'm sure this is the rink.

Located on Chipman, Centre Fort, and Railway Streets in Southwestern Kenora on the same lot as what once stood the Opera House just East of the Rowing Club.

 

[MeHateHe]

Not an arena beginning, but an arena ending. Grimshaw, AB rink burning down in 2008. Primarily a wooden building, clad in aluminum. Fire started in the Zamboni bay, likely electrical, but could have been something faulty with the propane tanks on the Zamboni. Once the flames got into the creosote-soaked beams, it was all over. Took less than an hour for the building to be reduced to ashes. Building was from the 1950s.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Not an arena beginning, but an arena ending. Grimshaw, AB rink burning down in 2008. Primarily a wooden building, clad in aluminum. Fire started in the Zamboni bay, likely electrical, but could have been something faulty with the propane tanks on the Zamboni. Once the flames got into the creosote-soaked beams, it was all over. Took less than an hour for the building to be reduced to ashes. Building was from the 1950s.

Aw man, this makes me sad 12 years later. I used to practice law in Peace River for a couple of years, which is right next to Grimshaw, had plenty of clients from there. I left in 2004. Never skated in that rink, but I know what an important part of the community a rink is.

 

[MeHateHe]

Aw man, this makes me sad 12 years later. I used to practice law in Peace River for a couple of years, which is right next to Grimshaw, had plenty of clients from there. I left in 2004. Never skated in that rink, but I know what an important part of the community a rink is.

She was a fine old barn. Building was damaged in 2005 by a freak wind event that blew out the back wall. Fixed up over a year later and then this happened.

 

[James Laverance]

It is now official.
There is no Kenora Victoria Rink image period.
The closest thing to it is a photo of the rink a day after it burned down in 1915.

 

[James Laverance]

This is the Victoria Rink in Kenora after all.
I was informed that the big white building was a fire hall built beside the rink or a lumber mill in Keewatin though the fire hall(current location of the lake of the woods brewing company) wasn't built until 1912 after this photo was taken in 1908.

 

[James Laverance]

This is another image of the rink though don't know the date of it.
The rink is on the right in Kenora.

 

[James Laverance]

This is an old map listing the Kenora Thistles as playing in the same area of the photo.

 

[James Laverance]

A side view of the Victoria Rink from 1908.

 

[James Laverance]

^^^This is an image of the Kenora Power House not the Victoria Rink.

 

[sr edler]

Ice rink in Grand'Mere, Quebec in 1914. Sourced from local paper La Semaine (Jan. 9, 1914). Grand'Mere had a good team in 1913–14 with future NHL players Dave Ritchie and Phil Stevens on the roster. They lost a challenge for the Allan Cup that season to the Regina Victorias 5 goals to 10 (4-6, 1-4).

 

[buffalowing88]

Anyone know the purpose of this high ceiling? Is it a matter of the semi-circular arch being more stable, maybe able to hold more weight for lights and decor? Possibly an anti-snow measure? Just for looks?

I work in architecture and can absolutely be wrong in this but I believe these structures were popular at the time because the were aesthetically-pleasing, as you noted, but also because they were a stable structure. I doubt the snow was an issue because you can find similar buildings in plenty of places being put up at the same time. But I could certainly be wrong. If I had to guess, though, it's a mix of looking good and being structurally a sound design for large crowds. Just my two cents.

 

[greyraven8]

The Schreiber Skating Rink built in C.1910 home to the Schreiber Colts team that played in the
New Ontario Hockey League from 1910-12.
View attachment 340246
A team photo from that period.
View attachment 340247
An Interior of the Schreiber Citizen's Rink built in 1936.
View attachment 340248

Pic of the 1937 Schreiber team - champs of the Thunder Bay Senior League on the Gateway to Northwestern Ontario History site:

Schreiber Hockey Team

Other Schreiber team pictures are up on Gateway - most are more recent then above or undated.
such as this CPR team.

Schreiber Hockey Team

 

[James Laverance]

Pic of the 1937 Schreiber team - champs of the Thunder Bay Senior League on the Gateway to Northwestern Ontario History site:

Schreiber Hockey Team

Other Schreiber team pictures are up on Gateway - most are more recent then above or undated.
such as this CPR team.

Schreiber Hockey Team

Nice Pics Thank you.
Here's one more inside the old Schreiber Arena built around 1910-1918 and home to the Schreiber Colts Team that played in the New Ontario Hockey League from 1910-12.Also two inside the Citizens Arena built in 1936.

 

[JMCx4]

I work in architecture and can absolutely be wrong in this but I believe these structures were popular at the time because the were aesthetically-pleasing, as you noted, but also because they were a stable structure. I doubt the snow was an issue because you can find similar buildings in plenty of places being put up at the same time. But I could certainly be wrong. If I had to guess, though, it's a mix of looking good and being structurally a sound design for large crowds. Just my two cents.

Arch buildings are resistant to both snow loads & wind deflection due to their shape. They also allow a relatively wide span without the need for separate roof supports. Note that militaries around the world have adopted this style of building as permanent & temporary installations for storage & work spaces & housing. It was all about functionality.