This week I found some great social notes about the Almonte Ice Palace. No one really seems to know much about it even though it was the place to go a very long time ago. Michael Rickley-Lancaster, curator of The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, thought that it was on *’Coleman’s island’ in Almonte. So I searched and searched and today I found out he was absolutely right.
In the history of the Almonte Curling Club it said:
1905-A new two-sheet structure was built onto the end of the old hockey rink on Coleman’s Island. This building was condemned around 1941. Did you also know that the Almonte Curling Club played on various locations on the Mississippi River, the main one being near the fairgrounds on Water Street?
January 6, 1911– Almonte Gazette
The electric lights at the skating rink have been placed on the commercial line, with the result that the lights are right up to the mark in every respect, and both skaters and hockeyists are extremely pleased.
While skating at the rink last Thursday evening Mr. H. B. Lumsden, teller in the Bank of Montreal here, fell on the ice, fracturing some of the small bones in his left wrist. The injury necessitated a week’ s enforced holidays for Mr. Lumsden at his home in Ottawa.
The Almonte Rink Company have time to induce others to keep a tab on what young people want, and this historic old town has decided that the skaters must have music and are now negotiating with a Montreal firm for the instillation of an electrically driven organ which will render the latest dreamy waltzes at a moments notice.
Photo-Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Notwithstanding the fact that Carleton Place has a skating rink– a large number from the junction town attend the Almonte Ice Palace. The drive over is no doubt some inducement, but some say that the walking to Almonte is good too.
The innovation introduced by the Messrs. Gemmill at the Davis House (Almonte House) of furnishing light lunch, sandwiches, hot tea and coffee seems to be meeting with the favour of the public. Farmers and their wives, or families driving to town find it convenient to drop in and have a lunch in a comfortable room.
Many sleighing parties to and from from Carleton Place find it a nice place for a light supper. After-rink parties from the Almonte Ice Palace are finding it all right for a cup of tea or coffee or hot Bovril before going home. The idea is a good one, and should be encouraged, as it is filling a want created with the advent of local option.
The old Almonte arena in the photo above stood where the new one now stands. Linda Nilson- Rogers believes the old roof caved in so they built a new one. She said that the best thing was Fred Larose running the Canteen! He was a nice man and he would let the kids take extra creamers for your hot chocolate.
They also had these long heaters by the stands that roasted you in front while your butt froze!
Related stories
The Old Carleton Place Arena
Your Carleton Place Trading Card–Meet Number 7 — Brian Trimble
Come and visit the Lanark County Genealogical Society Facebook page– what’s there? Cool old photos–and lots of things interesting to read.
Information where you can buy all Linda Seccaspina’s books-You can also read Linda in Hometown News
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