Warren Curling Club's History
On
November 12, 1924 a meeting was held
in the school to organize a curling
club in Warren. R.J. Munroe, who
was also elected President, chaired
the meeting. The first Secretary
was M. Stewart. The first executive
consisted of B. Doak, W Manchester.
L. Thompson, J.C. Cassels and H.J.
Riddell. The Ice Committee was
composed of G. Boyd, W. McCrimmon
and R.J. Hunter. The first patron
was J.T. Boyd and the first chaplain
Rev. Meech. Membership for the
first season was $10.00.
The
Agricultural Hall built in 1914, was
the building used and twenty feet
had to be added to the north end to
have sufficient length. L. Thompson
was appointed to purchase a lighting
plant. The curling rink had a
generator plant, so good lighting
was enjoyed. When the winds blew,
little drifts of snow had to be
swept off the ice, as you followed a
rock down. To make good curling
ice, water was hauled from the
Assiniboine River and also from
Winnipeg. Allen Green was the milk
truck driver. After emptying the
cans at the dairy, he would fill up
the clean cans with hot water and
haul it to the rink. The ice was
flooded and re-flooded. The
waiting room had a potbellied wood
stove at first, later it was changed
to an oil heater. Curling rocks
were individually owned so there was
a difference in size, weight and
action.
The
first skips (Men’s league) in the
new club were G. Boyd, L. Thompson,
H. Riddell, W. Manchester, G.
Hamilton, M. Schott and W. McCrimmon.
The first caretaker hired was W.
McCrimmon and G. Harrison as
assistant. The Caretaker’s wage was
$35.00 per month.
Warren Curling Club became a member
of the Manitoba Curling Association
and R.J. Munroe and G. Boyd were the
first delegates to represent the
club. A new cup was donated to the
club – The Sheas Cup.
The
Warren Ladies curling began on New
Year’s Day 1925. Twenty four women
made up the six rinks and each
member paid a fee of 15 cents for
the winter’s curling. Saturday
afternoon was the chosen time of
play. A trophy donated by Dr.
Walter Manchester in 1925 had
fourteen shields bearing winners
names. It was retired in 1939. In
1974 Darlene and Greg Jones
presented the Jones Memorial Trophy
for the first time. The trophy was
in memory of their mothers Wilda and
Lil, who were tragically killed in a
car accident. First winners were:
Joy Lillies (skip), Terry McCowan,
Eileen Procter and Marjorie
Hamilton.
The
last year the old curling rink was
used was the 1964/65 season. There
was no men’s curling in 1966 or
1967. A new wooden structured
curling rink, with an artificial ice
plant was built in 1968. The new
facility was completely insulated
and heated, with three sheets of ice
and a one level waiting room with
washrooms. It attached to the
skating rink complex.
|