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History of Penetanguishene Curling Club Curling in
Penetanguishene was first recorded with the Ontario Curling
Association in 1903. The first president, W. A. Firstbrook,
owned a logging mill where Beacon Bay Marina now stands.
From what I have been told by a number of older curlers now
deceased, curling existed in Penetanguishene long before it was
recorded with the O.C.A. Most of the history as I know it came
from my father Alcime DesRochers who was tutored by George
Robinson a top curler of the day and a lifelong member of the
Ontario Curling Association (1935), as well Art (Jumbo) Dubeau
who played lead stone for my father and played that position all
his life.
Over the years the winter temperature varied and when warmer
winters occurred there was not much curling going on and they
did not bother to register with O.C.A. The curling dues at the
Ontario Hospital Curling club were $1.00 and that dollar went to
the Ontario Curling Association.
Legend has it that
there was a curling club where the Penetanguishene Curling Club
now exists, built by the owner of the property and McGibbons
Mill. Another Curling Club stood where the Post Office is now
located. Then H.A. Osborne built a hockey arena with a curling
club attached.
The ice area had many problems with ice cracking and heaving due
to poor underlay. After a very short period of time this club
was abandoned and all joined the Ontario Hospital Curling Club.
This was a great two sheets of good natural ice with a skating
area that circled the two curling sheets. It was a great place
to take the whole family. Here skaters young and old would stop,
watch some curling for awhile, then continue skating and learned
much about the game and eventually end up playing the game.
The first major win recorded with the Ontario Curling
Association was in 1928 when Penetanguishene was the winning
club for the Ontario Junior Tankard.
In 1932 a trophy was donated (The Seiberling Trophy) which was
challenged for on a yearly basis. The names on this trophy
recorded the club champions each year. Unfortunately, this
historic trophy is no longer played for and now sits in the
Penetanguishene Hall of Fame.
In the late 1950s the Penetanguishene Ontario Hospital Curling
building was condemned and had to be abandoned.
Having no place to curl brought on an awareness that something
must be done if there was to be any curling in Penetanguishene.
After a general meeting by all of the local curlers it was
decided to join forces with the new arena that was to be built
providing that the curling club was given two days of ice time a
week and this was agreed on. President Orval Ambeau spearheaded
a campaign to raise funds to be added to the $18,000.00 that we
already had accumulated for a new building. They raised over
$30,000.00 and continued to turn money over to the arena for
years.
Over the years it was not a happy relationship with the arena
board. In 1971 we started to lay plans out to build a new
Curling Club. After many years of meetings the new curling club
was to become a reality.
During a building year no one wanted the position of President
and after much persuasion by Alvin Gropp, John W. DesRochers
finally accepted the position on condition that a Building
Chairman be appointed.
Many meetings took place between the men’s and ladies curling
clubs. We had approximately $18,000.00 in the bank.
The original quotations for a new curling club at the time were
$125,000.00 for six sheets of ice and $90,000.00 for four sheets
of ice. In 1972 there was much discussion over the size of the
club and after a vote, it was agreed by the majority that six
sheets of ice would be the goal.
On May 10, 1972 Ossie St.Amant was introduced as Building
Chairman. A vote was taken that an initiation fee of $100.00
(which entitled a lifetime social membership to the
Penetanguishene Curling Club) be paid as well as annual curling
dues.
This was the beginning. By then the town had offered the curling
club a vacant pi ece of property where the Penetanguishene
Curling Club now stands.
Additional funds were needed and eventually a deal with The Bank
of Nova Scotia would be approved. This was a loan of $60,000.00.
Security would consist of personal guarantees. Guarantors were
limited to $1,000.00 or $2,000.00. It was also agreed that all
future officials and the Board of Directors would be required to
be guarantors.
In 1972 Vince Moreau was Mayor of Penetanguishene and also a
club member. He helped to negotiate an agreement with the Town
that the club be built as a Community Centre with the club then
leasing the building from the town.
Due to the lack of funds, the Penetanguishene Curling club could
not afford a manager so the President elect in the earlier years
would take over those duties; the ice maker was gratis and so
was the barkeep. The entire operation of the club was handled by
volunteers. The building other than the steel section of the
club was accomplished by volunteers such as block laying,
carpentry, painting, electrical & plumbing, etc. It was really a
joint effort.
All of the past officers including the Board of Directors agreed
to re-election for the new building years 1972 - 1973. As we
were well into the new building, the new by-laws and
constitution were adopted. In January of 1973 the construction
of the club was finished to a point where we were able to curl,
however, with many projects to be completed in the future. Many
problems occurred with the ice mainly with condensation and the
ice plant. It took a number of years but eventually, all of the
problems were rectified.
In 1973 a liquor permit was granted to the Penetanguishene
Curling Club. Over the years the Penetanguishene Curling Club
raised money to pay off the mortgage by having bingos, summer
fests, dances and draws.
This is a very brief history of the Penetanguishene Curling
Club. There are many areas that I have not touched on as you
could imagine a building of this magnitude being built mostly by
volunteers. It would be impossible to name everyone who worked
on the building as they are too numerous. Some volunteers worked
day after day others whenever they could and eventually we were
able to open the doors to curling.
John W. DesRochers
Founding President
1971-1973
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