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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1977, PAGE 7 Brian Winter's H istorical Whitby BURNS ARENA Arenas of olden times were a far cry from the modem complex we have today at Iroquois Park. In fact, they were very much like barns, covering a sheet of ice. Many Whitby residents remember the old community arena which stood from 1953 to 1972 on the block bounded by Brock, Ontario, Green and Gilbert Streets, but it is unlikely that many are aware that this block had been the site of the town arena since 1889. In November 1888, the first Whitby arena, on the south east corner of Brock and Mary Streets burned down. leaving the skaters without an ice surface and the active Whitby Curling Club also without a rink. In October 1889 the members of the Curling Club asked two local contractors, William Barnes and George Cormack to build a new arena on Brock Street, south of the King Brothers' Tannery (now the site of the Dominion store). The new arena cost between $3,000 and $4,000, raised by- public subscription. The land was donated by the Curling Club. Construction began in November 1889, according to plans drawn by Ontario County Architect, A. A. Post. The building was of wood, with a barn frame construction. The main ice surface was 49 by 145 feet, with a curling rink on each side of it. Hockey became popular in Whitby in the 1890s and at the turn of the century Whitby had several championship teams. Also, with the growing interest in hockey, there were complaints that the ice surface was too small to provide adequate practice room for the teams, and did not meet Ontario Hockey Association standards. 1 By 1913, Fred Burns, who was mayor ofWhitby in 1922 and 1925, had purchased the arena, and in September of that year, he decided to enlarge the building. He let the contract to K. F. Beamish to enlarge the old arena so that it would have an ice-surface of 75 by 180 feet, well within OHA standards. The enlargement of the old arena provided a gallery around the whole building, with a reserved section for 400 Corridor CaperS J Friday will be the last day for the winter school period. Report cards have gone home and children and teachers are anticipating a week's vacation. For those of you who will be heading south, have a good vacation. If by chance you are staying home, the weather is beautiful, so just enjoy your holding in Ontario. Last Monday night at the Administra- tive committee meeting, we viewed 3 plans of subdivisions. Two of the proposed areas contained single family detached homes and one subdivision was a mixed bag of semi's, singles, links and townhouses. The Strong property had 38 singles with the smallest lot 60' by 148'. One developer can obviously build homes and make a profit with lots that size, while the Dorvis people feel they must have 20' and 30' lots to be economically feasible. Could it be that some developers are greedier than others, -- or is it, as Mr. STOVES 19500 219-° in Stock Less 10% During The Month of MdrCh MITCHELL BROTHERS Building Supplies Ltd. Brooklin 655-4991 people at the south end. Additional dressing rooms were built for the curlers, and an excacation was made at the north end of the rink for a furnace to heat these rooms. The furnace was not of much use, however, for the wind and cold air whistled into the btilding through the cracks between the boards. Work commenced on the enlargement during the first week of October, 1913, with the west side of the old building being moved about 35 feet from its former position to provide for widening the ice surface. An addition was also made at the south end to provide the public gallery. Whitby citizens were proud of the fact that their new arena's ice surface was 15 feet wider than the Oshawa rink and several feet longer. Fred Burns continued to operate the arena for many Edwards expiaimleu, one iad just von the Wintario lôttery? There also seems to be a little confusion as to the owner of two road allowances on Northview and Broadview Avenue. Records indicate the road allowances were deeded to the Town, but Mr. Hann feels he is the rightful owner and the Town has no record of selling the property. Investiga- tions are nw underwav. Sewers and Water Much has been said and written concerning sewer charges. Should they be on the tax bill, or should they be paid on an individual consumption basis? Prior to 1976, if you were in an existing or proposed service area, you paid a sewer rate on your municipal taxes, based on your assessment. Now, of course, you pay for sewers on a usage basis, rnuch like hydro, gas or oil. Whitby did transfer a huge debt to the region, and somehow this has to be paid. Whitby had the foresight to amalgamat'e in 1'968, so therefore there was no boundary change when the Region was established and likewise no transitional grant for Whitby from the Province. We may have had a Council then that was so intelligent they out- FISHER REFRIGERATION SERVICE Repairs to Ail Makes Freezers - Refrigerators - Air Conditioners We Recharge Automobile Air Conditioning 20 QUEEN STREET BROOKLIN, ONTARIO 655-3233 years until it was purchased by Ernie Taylor. Mr. Taylor operated until 1949 when the Whitby Kinsmen Club purchased it from him for $5,500. The Kinsnien Club managed the arena until 1953 when the new community arena board started to build the concrete block structure which became the home of the world champion Whitby Dunlops. The Kinsmen Club donated the land on which the old arena stood, and the Rotary Club provided the new ice surface. The old wooden arena had served Whitby for 64 years, but this was fnot the end of its usefulness. It was dismantled, board by board and re-erected at the com- munity of Tara Ontario, where it served for many years. The above picture shows the enlarging of the Burns arena in October 1913, looking riorth from Ontario Street. snarted tneiselves and us in the longrun. Uur present Council is now trying to make the pest of-the situation and are being blamed for circumstances created by previous councils. Maybe the Province wiljhelp out, but then that would be extracting moley from your left pocket instead of the right one. It boils down to the fact that the Region has a huge debt for sewers (niost of this coming from Whitby) and somehow this has to be paid by the residents of the Region. The West Lynde Association will be meeting with the Town Fathers on Tuesday night to discuss the problem. Maybe they will be able to come up with an acceptable solution. See you next week, and have a good winter break. M. McEachem, 725-8967. WESCO WEEDSPRAYING & LAWN MAINTENANCE Weed Spraying Lawn Rolling Fertilizing Seeding Aerating Sodding Avoid a long wait. Make an appointment now for a beautiful Iawn. Call 655-3932 R. N. Smith Brooklin