Thursday, 5 June 2014

Looking back 100 years at Perry Street Arena

PerryDome opened in 1914 and was then 'state-of-the-art'

By Mark Schadenberg
Woodstock has many significant historic buildings that still stand today, but in the arena of sports it's the Perry Street Arena that brings back the memories.
The Woodstock District Community Complex twin-pad facility also known as Southwood Arena opened its doors in August of 1996, which also marked that same summer as the closing and demolition of the Perry Street Arena.
Recognition of the Perry Street Arena is significant in 2014 as it opened in 1914 (grand opening was Jan. 6) and at the time was considered a top-notch ice facility, and was promoted as being the first arena in Ontario with no obstructed seats due to its construction style of steel girders in both the walls and ceiling. It was reportedly just the second arena in the province with a scoreboard featuring an automatic stop-time clock, and the only one outside of Toronto.


The 178' x 80' ice surface was too small by today's standard of minimum 200' x 80', but in 1914 a description in The Sentinel-Review by Frank Hyde (A former president of the Woodstock Amateur Athletic Association) made the ice palace seem as if it was pro level. Keep in mind, that Maple Leaf Gardens wouldn't open for another 17 years, in 1931.

“In general the building is high and substantial . . . an architectural plan that would conduce to safety, comfort and beauty of appearance.”
“The feature most interesting to the skaters and hockey players is the great ice surface provided . . . ample room for a great crowd of skaters who appreciate the comforts this affords.”
“The big clock will be controlled by an electric button operated in the timer's box. Each time the game stops for an off side or other cause, the clock also ceases to run but starts again as soon as the game is resumed.”
“For many years past the growing interest and developing in local skating and particularly the game of hockey has shown the urgent need of a rink with adequate accommodation and up-to-date facilities, fully in keeping with the advancement of the season's pastimes and the future maintenance of this city's prominence in the realm of winter sports.”

Those who recall the Perry Street igloo will remember that by 1996, the facility was well below standards for accessibility. The north hallway to (former) dressing rooms was utilized simply as storage, while the south hallway with its angled ceilings was also a crowded claustrophobic corridor.
Woodstock's original indoor arena was on Canterbury Street – just east of Riddell.
The Perry Street Arena was privately built and not purchased by the City of Woodstock until 1948 when the ice plant was converted into producing artificial ice. Naturally, before this time, the natural ice relied considerably on how cold it was outside.
By the time the arena finally closed after the 1995-96 season, the concrete floor under the ice had heaved so significantly that ice depths apparently varied from 2 – 8 inches, and the ice had not been removed for 7 years as there was a fear that cracks in the floor would prevent re-freezing. It was then in 1996 the oldest arena in Ontario. Today, the Galt Arena now owns the banner as the oldest operating arena in the world, by the way, as it opened in 1922.
A large committee was formed to give the old PerryDome a proper sendoff – the Perry Street Arena Farewell Reunion was April 20, 1996 – I should remember as former city council member Dave Nadalin and myself were co-chairs. The day was billed as nostalgia in the afternoon with many displays of mostly figure skating and hockey memorabilia and artifacts (photos, trophies, jerseys, vintage equipment), followed by a dance/pub at night. As soon as the 'party' ended, the ancient compressor was turned off.
Many top-level amateur figure skaters learned their craft at the PerryDome – Eddie Collins (pictured), Jack Lawson, Julie Kivinen, Lana Sherman, Martin Smith and Scott Grover, plus renowned coach Kerrie Leitch. It is recognized as well that the Woodstock Skating Club (formed in 1934) is the third oldest in Ontario, surpassed only by London and the Minto Club it Ottawa. The club's inaugural carnival show was Jan 22, 1935.

Many hockey players and noteworthy teams excelled through the decades including the 1969 OHA Jr C champion Woodstock Navy Vets, the 1964 Allan Cup Sr A national runner-ups in the Woodstock Athletics, the 1977 Sr A Royals, the Jr B Clippers of the 1940s, 1933 intermediate RedShirts, plus many more great minor hockey, juvenile, junior and senior teams. 
Future NHLers would play a season or two in Woodstock on their way up the ladder, including Bobby Hull (1955 Woodstock Warriors Jr B), Bernie Nicholls (Jr B in 1978) and Mike Craig (Jr C in 1987).
Hockey was so popular, CKOX 1340 AM would broadcast games home and away with Bill Tonner as play-by-play voice.
Before Jake Muzzin found success with the Los Angeles Kings, it was widely considered that Woodstock's only NHL player was Doug Shelton with the Chicago Blackhawks, but many excellent players came from Woodstock including Jerry Laflamme, Gerry Stringle, Ed MacQueen, Al Cullen, Scott Seagrist, Ted Long, Dave McLaren, Brian Paton and John Gofton.

The original arena owners appear to be a committee led by president Captain F Millman, vice president Allan Muir, secretary Henry Sneath, and 4 directors.
The skating club's history annals note that the arena's owner by 1948 was Harry McIntosh, who was in the coal and heating business.
With the City gaining ownership and a grand re-opening on Dec 1, 1948, then mayor Donald Thomson said:

“This arena is owned by you, the people and is to be used by you in the pursuit of healthful recreation.”
“A new duty falling upon this council will be the administration of the arena . . . but municipal arena administration has been carried out with marked success in other centres and this council will be in a position to profit from the lessons to be found in the experience of the centres.”

Naturally, the Perry Street Arena hosted other activities – such as the circus, roller skating, pro wrestling, gymnastics, broomball, and many concerts.
Today, the site of the Perry Street Arena is the Gallery Cinemas 7-plex movie theatre.

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Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland

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