March 30, 2024

LAST SKATE TODAY LIKE LAST WALTZ, AS MEMORIAL ARENA ICE COMES OUT FOR GOOD TUESDAY

Photos and story Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — Most people came for the last skate or to regale in the glory days of the Memorial Arena — and Community Centre as it was first known in 1949.

Jim Hammond came hunting souvenirs this morning. With his screw driver he found what he wanted.

A small plaque next to the elevator recognizing his dad Orvil’s donation to lift fans to the second floor. The Hammonds recently had the house next to the arena that originally belonged to former postie Colin McDougall and just torn down.

Hammond showed it to Mayor Rick Maloney who laughed.

Jim and his wife Cheryl didn’t have their skates, but thought brother Greg would drop by for the afternoon skate he having been a Bracebridge Bear.

Cheryl recalled working in the snack bar for Doug Smith, the manager, skate sharpener and all-round arena jack of all trades.

They were among 110 counted who took in the last skate. Not as many as I thought. But it being Easter a nice weekend and another skate in the afternoon more probably came.

The last skate was like the last waltz — tender, touching and brought a tear to your eye. And a souvenior to your home.

**Jim Hammond came prepared for the last time at the Memorial Arena where his family has fond memories and been a big supporter of it in its 75 years.**

Maloney’s father-in-law Alf Goodfellow — the former license agent in town — was also on hand talking about flooding the rink in the beginning with rain barrel. He said it took a second fill-up of boiling water to finish the job.

John Smith said he and other kids lined up to shovel snow off for him so they could get into games for skating and hockey.

Marg Walton brought her kids and grandkids for one last look-see.

Walton was fresh off a Rotary fundraiser Thursday that netted $29,000 to help bring another Syrian family to town along with money to aide people in the Ukraine.

**They don’t make rinks like this anymore. Those lucky enough to play, skate or be entertained in it have to agree. Good luck with the next one.**

The ice may be coming out Tuesday, but the building will still have some programs this summer including pickle ball, a bike rodeo and youth ball hockey.

Then the building will be imploded, said Maloney, in the fall by the same Aquicon contractors building the new rink cross town. A grand opening is planned there in August. And will include the new library, which will begin its move this July.

Jake Thomson was skating with his wife Emily Bridle and son Walter — a fifth generation of the family that helped build the Memorial Arena.

One skater sad to see the end of the ice was Joseph Lopresti, who has been regular figure skater here since 2005. He claimed this was his last skate because he hates to see it be torn down. But he admitted he may yet step on the new ice.

He likes anything that was built in 1949 the year he was born — like Norwood Theatre he says was built the same year after the war.

Like father, like daughter.

Clyde MacDuff was there with his four daughters.

He couldn’t be missed with his brilliant orange 1974 Bracebridge Juveniles jacket. It looked in pristine shape and still fit him perfectly. I played for the same team and Don Thur was our coach.

His daughter Emily was member of the first Bracebridge Lakers girls hockey team in 1999. They actually went to OFSSA — but didn’t do so well she said. She brought her son Jack, 4.

Susan Robertson, who lived behind the rink on Hiram Street, dropped by with her husband. They live in Gravenhurst now.

She said “lived at the rink” skating every Saturday and Sunday and remembers being “at the end of the line” in “crack the whip” with Dale Sander at the front.

Sybil Jackson liked MuskokaTODAY’s final week of coverage, emailing to say: “I wasn’t much of a skater, but managed to be first down the ice on opening day 75 years ago.

“My mother wasn’t able to get out much, but managed to reserve her 75-cent seat in the greens on many Saturday nights. We couldn’t wait until we were old enough to go ourselves and paid 50 cents for standing room.

“There were many great games and series that were won. I wasn’t at the memorable game where Bracebridge was down four goals and scored six in the final six minutes. The crowd nearly blew the roof off that night.”

Bracebridge historian Ken Veitch has a great account of that game.

Jackson added: “Newcomers to town have often asked me about the competition between Gravenhurst and Bracebridge over the years. I tell them it was about hockey and sometimes curling. Regardless of the competition the closeness of the two towns had led us to be great neighbours.”

Those are just a few stories recalled at the rink or around the Easter table this weekend in Bracebridge and across Muskoka where many fans came to see hockey, figure skating, wrestling, concerts and circuses in one of the finest small town rinks left in the country.

Maloney says the new rink will have more than 1,000 seats on two sides and promises more great memories to come.