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$350,000 FIRE The Old rp. Arena - Blazed At Dawn The screaming wails of Toused the ES ; Oshawa one grey dawn rs September, 1953. ' Phousands rushed from their homes to watch in awe as their monument to sports -- the Osh- _ awa Arena -- burned. Now, more than 11. years later, 'the Bond Street ice pal- ace has a crowned successor, at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium. Loss in dollars and cents was huge that morning of Sept. 15, 1953. Estimates ranged from $350,000 to $500,000, ranking the blaze as one of the worst in the city's history. George Campbell, Sports Editor of the Daily Times, and a man who watched the »irth and death of the Arena, wrote its obituary. IMMEASURABLE LOSSES He returned from the still- smouldering ruins, described the glories and the triumphs and the history, then concluded: '"'Memories that are associat- ed with the Oshawa Arena in hockey, lacrosse, wrestling and skating shows will long remain fresh . . ; "* |, . fresh enough, we trust, to result in a speedy, whole- hearted movement by 'the sportsmen, citizens and fans of this community to build again a new and greater Oshawa Arena"'. Speedy? No. More. than nine years passed before the idea of a Civic. Auditorium became more than an idea. Whole- hearted? Yes. There were immeasurable losses incurred, as the flames licked the old Oshawa Arena.' Oshawa lost its Junior A Gen- erals, just before a season in which they were everybody's choice as the Eastern Canada champions and potential Me- morial Cup winners. They were the class of the league then, but they were dis- banded and split up among the other teams in the OHA Junior A circuit. It was not until three years ago that Wren Blair brought the Generals and Jr. A hockey back to the Motor City. The now-defunct Truckmen of the Senior OHA loop were also evicted, and spent their last days in the Bowmanville Arena. Minor Hockey suffered a ser- ious setback, and is now being played: in the small-capacity Children's Arena and a num- ber of outdoor rinks. The Oshawa Arena was built, complete with artificial ice in a four-month period in 1929. Plans for it were announced by Col. R. S. McLaughlin at a ban- cath reed "eM. team in' September, a will have an artificial ice before the winter is over," rink before Oshawa's number one sports- 'man, sports fan' and _ sports booster promised. - Col. McLaughlin. was on hand to officiate Jan. 9, 1930 as 3400. fans poured into the 3678-capa- city rink to see the Toronto Sea Fleas, led by NHL superstar- to-be Harry Watson defeat the Oshawa Seniors 6-3. SMALL AMOUNT | The cost of the Arena at that time was only $130,000, a small amount compared to its value in death of $350,000 and smaller still compared to the $1 million structure that is now replacing it. When it was built, the Osh- awa Arena owned the largest ice surface in the country -- 85 feet by 194 feet. Aside from the building itself, an untotalled loss was incurred by the teams that played there. The Generals had just moved and/in with 60 youngsters seeking berths on the squad. LOST ALL They lost everything, right down to the last roll of tape, and the boys themselves lost valuable skates and padding. The Truckmen also lost all, as did the Minor League teams. Albert Hambly, the manager and superintendent was 50 stricken that he was forced into a sickbed under a doctor's care. Offers of help came from all over the country. Whitby, Bow- manville and Port Perry all offered facilities. The Maple Leaf Gardens promised the Generals Saturday afternoons and practice time. The newly- built Scarboro Arena did the same. From as far away as St. Catharines, Rudy Pilous sent word that the Generals could have access to equipment used by the TeePees. The inferno on Bond street was the second similar setback for sports in Oshawa in less than a quarter of a century. In 1928, on a June morning, the oki ice palace, Bradley's Rink also bowed to the flames. MANY STAGED Many sports exhibitions were staged as the Auditorium Fund skyrocketed during their stretch drive in 1963. Local and out-of- town teams turned proceeds over to the Fund. One of the games was the first pro soccer game in Oshawa in 33 years. THE OSHAWA TIMES, Thursday, December 10, 1964 CIViC AUDITORIUM HAS SEATING CAPACITY FOR 3,500 RECEIVED CHEQUE The biggest celebration of the Target Day Celebrations occur- red when E. H. Walker, Presi- dent of General Motors of Can- ada Ltd. handed a cheque to Terry Kelly for $250,000 and pushed the fund-raising drive over the $1 million mark. Qur GENERAL TIRE Congratulations We are proud to be o part of a community whose far-sightedness and determination made this enviable recreational and cultural centre a reality. GENERAL TIRE of OSHAWA __ A Division of Genero! Tire & Rubber Compony of Conode 534 RITSON RD. SOUTH 728-6221 quet for the Mann Cup Cham- 'project . .- TO THE PEOPLE OF OSHAWA AND DISTRICT ON COMPLETION OF THE : CIVIC AUDITORIUM EATON'S is ones to have participated in the furnishing of this fine an integral part of a growing community. EATON'S OF CANADA CONTRACT SALES SERVICE FROM COAST TO COAST