It’s Wayback Wednesday, sponsored by Jamie Lockwood, broker/owner of Sutton Group Muskoka Realty!
By Dennis Rolland, Huntsville Curling Club
On Thursday afternoon, February 8, 1951, a fierce blaze completely gutted the Huntsville Curling Club and robbed the club of not only their headquarters but also took most of their stones and prized possessions.
And so it was, Huntsville Curling Club volunteers, supporters, and the Huntsville business community began the process of clearing the burnt debris and erecting a new rink for the 1951 – 1952 season. The new building was a cement block, two-storey clubhouse, that still exists today. The rinks were covered by a beautiful “Glulam” structure of wooden rib beams and wooden planked walls covering four sheets of natural ice. The club was rebuilt in the same location as the burned club, at the corner of Lansdowne Street, now Veterans Way, and Centre Street.
At 2 PM on January 10, 1952, only ten months after the fire destroyed the curling club buildings, the Huntsville Curling Club held its elaborate re-opening ceremony.
The ceremony began with a bagpiper parade around the rink, followed by Allan White, devoted supporter and owner of the Huntsville Planing Mills, Men’s Club president Wilf Bice, Ladies Club president Moss Leverton, and two rows of Huntsville Curling Club past presidents and skips, along with distinguished invited guests made up of Curling Club presidents throughout Muskoka and Parry Sound
Mr. White, after throwing the first ceremonial rock, said “This Rink has now been well and truly opened.” He was followed by the other honoured attendees who also threw ceremonial rocks.
Following the ceremony, the pipers led the way to the Empire Hotel for a banquet. The banquet was attended by two hundred people in the Huntsville community. Two original club founding members and past presidents Colonel D.M. Grant, president in 1906, and J.W. White, president in 1909 were guests of honour. The mayor of Huntsville, Bob Leigh, and the entire Huntsville council were all in attendance, who, in a demonstration of support, were all members of the club.
Seventy-one years ago, January 10, 1952, the day the current curling club facility officially reopened its doors to the community, after curling club volunteers, supporters and businesses literally raised the curling club from the ashes, was a very proud day in Huntsville.
If any Doppler reader has stories or old pictures of Curling in Huntsville, please contact Dennis Rolland, Huntsville Curling Club, [email protected].
“If you want to make friends – join the Huntsville Curling Club!”
See more Wayback Wednesday photos here.
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One of the best curlers in Town in the 50’s and 60’s was Evan Jenkins. Evan had one leg shorter then the other, but it didn’t stop this great person and athlete from mastering all sports. Not only a wonderful curler, he played softball, golfed, water skied and many other sports. And then there was his dancing ability!