The Old Carleton Place Arena

It was built in 1912 to supply an ice surface for hockey teams, ice skaters, and the general public to practice and play other sports and recreational activities. It also had Memorial Park situated on its lot, now the Cenotaph. It was torn down in the late 1960s to early 1970s because of its deteriorating frame structure- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  11 Mar 1940, Mon,  Page 16

This photo was taken from the Patterson and Findlay Solicitor’s office in the old Bank of Nova Scotia building in January of 1936. It shows the backs of frame houses on Beckwith Street and the old arena. The Carleton Place Public Library now occupies the site.Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

From The Carleton Place Canadian, Thursday, July 8^th, 1965 :

To the casual observer the steel structure of the old arena, that is now being demolished, appears to be in good condition: however, “all that glitters is not gold.”

As the wooden covering of the building was removed, serious defects in the steel structure began to appear.  Rust and frost heaving were the main causes of trouble, but some of the steel sections were bent badly out of shape due to excessive loading caused by rotting of the wood framing.  Sections of steel columns that were until recently concealed from view are rusted beyond usefulness.  In fact the inspection of the rusted base of one column disclosed a hole roughly four inches long and two inches wide.

All in all the building was in much worse condition structurally than was discovered by the inspection which led to its closing last February.  The citizens of our community can be thankful that the structure did not collapse and perhaps, now in retrospect, appreciate the worry that faced the men responsible for operating the old rink.  Special thanks must be accorded Mr. Arnold Weedmark, the safety inspector, who had the wisdom and courage to make the unpopular decision to close the rink in the middle of the skating season.

It is now apparent that rebuilding the arena around the old steel structure would have been impossible and the decision, taken several months ago by Town Council, to build a completely new building has been further strengthened.

Demolition of the old building is proceeding rapidly and it should reach its final stages by the weekend.

The Arena Fund Campaign is moving briskly with two of the larger men’s organizations now having made pledges to the Fund, the cash on hand, post-dated cheques and the above mentioned pledges total $25,197.42 dollars.  This however, is only a start towards the campaign objective of $100,000 dollars and everyone in our community will have to dig down and give until it hurts before this project will become a reality.

We no longer have an arena, we need an arena, so now let us build it this year, not the next or the next.  The campaign will have to reach 75 to 80 percent of its objective by October in order for construction to begin in time to provide some skating during this coming season.  Please take this into consideration when the Arena Fund Canvasser calls on you.

The Arena Committee takes it hat off this week to the ladies of the Carleton Place Home and School Association, the Men’s Organization of St. James Church, the Cubs and Boy Scouts of St. Mary’s Church and to an enterprising group of young residents of theLake Ave.region who have been selling their comic books on behalf of the Arena Fund.

It goes without saying that we bow especially low to the still aching members of the Lions and 100 Club who performed valiantly in a soft-ball (?) game last Thursday.  The fireworks provided by the Jaycees were fitting climax for the reassuring demonstrations put on by the Ocean Wave Fire Company.

Further on the H & S bake good sale, Evelyn Sadler reports that the cooking skills of about 40 Prince of Wales district mothers were a big hit with theLakeParkcottagers last Saturday.  The total score for the Arena Fund was 48 dollars.  This week it is the turn of Victoria district ladies and we know they are just waiting to set a new record.

The Ottawa Journal, 23 Dec 1957, Mon, Page 21

Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

Clipped from The Ottawa Journal,  20 Aug 1949, Sat,  Page 5

Debbie Roy— Lots of great memories of skating in the old arena. They would play music during all of the public skates.

Ann Stearns Rawson —I remember ice skating here with you Linda Gallipeau-Johnston and Billy Root! I had a huge crush on him.

 

 Linda Gallipeau-Johnston– Oh that I did not know – he surprised me about 10 years ago and appeared in my back yard!

Gwen Spencer— I remember the fountain The water was ice cold as it poured over the frozen ice around it.

Also read-Carleton Place Arena 1981 — Mary Cook