HAGERSVILLE—Roger Webb shared these historical documents surrounding the opening of the Hagersville & District Memorial Arena.
The Hagersville Amateur Athletic Association (HAAA) released a brochure for the official opening on Wednesday, December 19, 1962. HAAA got their charter in 1938. The brochure stated, “Since 1955 it has given leadership to the district in the building of our New Memorial Arena, one of the finest in Ontario for a community of this size. To those who worked so hard without pay and without public recognition, this fine new building stands as a lasting memorial.”
A second brochure aimed at raising awareness for fundraising explained, “(The arena) was started by a group of residents … in 1955 and, so far, some $100,000 and a lot of voluntary labour has gone into the project. This is a tremendous achievement but, seven years after the first sod was turned, it is now obvious that the job must be finished…. To complete the building and make the arena fully operational a further $70,000 will have to be raised.”
A beneficiary game was held between local players and NHL “old timers” for the official opening in 1962.
The Hagersville & District Memorial Arena brochure for fundraising the final $70,000 included the following lists of involved community members.
Honourary Chairmen
Hon. James N Allan, Prov. Treasurer
Larry Pennell, MP
Chairman Frank W Hill
Vice-Chairman Lyle Furry
Secretary-Treasurer EO Awde
Committee
Hagersville Co-Chairmen: Harry Thomas & William Mattice
Oneida Co-Chairmen: Peter Laidlaw & Clifford Yule
Walpole Chairmen: Roy Jepson (East) & Larry Tremain (West)
Rainham Chairman Don Schurr
Rainham Co-Chairmen Larry Jensen & Clarke Nagel
Municipal Council Appointments to Committee in charge of allotment of Ice Time
Hagersville: Don Hyde, Wilfred Willis, Irving Winger
Oneida: Jim Hunter & Gordon Smith
Walpole: Bruce Meehan & Robert Nixon
Rainham: Don Shurr
