Meeting called to build new rink – in 1871
Modern city issues not much different than yesteryear
Looking through some old copies of the then three Peterborough newspapers, the Examiner, Times and Review I was struck by the similarities of the realities and concerns of life today and those of nearly 150 years ago.
When former Peterborough resident Sandford Fleming (he was knighted in 1897) was explaining his time zone concepts and outlaw Billy the Kid was terrorizing the Western U.S. (he was killed by Pat Garrett in 1881), local athletes were taking up a new sport.
The Examiner of April 3, 1879 headlined an article, The Walking Match in the Drill Shed.
Local interest in long distance walking was born the summer before when renowned distance walker J.D. Henderson competed in Peterborough. The next year the town had its first walking event.
Called a go-as-you-please event, it was sponsored by the cricket, football (soccer) and boating clubs in the town.
A 16-lap to the mile track was laid out in the Drill Hall on Murray St., where the Armouries is today. It was roped off and covered with sawdust.
Some of the town’s top athletes signed up to compete. Lacrosse, cricket and soccer players were in the 22-man field.
As the newspaper article stated, “the contestants, neatly dressed in athletic costumes, presented a fine appearance when the signal to start was given by G.C. Rogers Esq. at 4:15 p.m.”
An area was set aside for spectators and the Fire Department Band played according to the article “lively airs in their usual style.”
Some contestants started out running, others in a brisk walk but only one, J. Corkery used the accepted heal and toe method of distance walking.
Contestants started dropping out after two and a half hours. When the six hours ended at 10:15 p.m. only 10 contestants were still on the track. M. Spencely was declared the winner covering 34 miles and six laps in the six hours. The heel-and toe man, J. Corkery walked 29 miles, 10 laps in the six hours.
For those watching men walk in circles indoors was not to their liking, there were always the outdoor games put on by the local lacrosse club. Besides the team’s normal competitions with other opponents, every few weeks they competed among themselves on the Cricket Pitch across the Otonabee River in Ashburnham.
The Peterborough Times reported on an event in June 1880. The story said a large crowd was in attendance to watch the players run a quarter-mile race competing for the Lebrun medal.
After a brief intra-squad game of lacrosse, they had the long throwing event. Players threw the lacrosse ball 75 yards at the net. Each participant had three attempts.
For the more active participants were the picnics. In 1873 the Peterborough Review reported on the Young Irishmen’s Picnic held at Captain Wallis’s
Grove on Dominion Day.
Athletic events included the running long jump with the winner receiving a meerschaum pipe worth $5.50. The winner of the “putting of the heavy stone” received a box of cigars. The longest throw of the cricket ball netted the winner a $1 and the winner of the jig dance received a bride cake worth $5.
And finally in 1871, an E.C. Hill wrote a letter to the editor of the Review. He was calling for a meeting of those interested in building an outdoor rink in the coming winter. He had plans for a 174-foot long and 53-foot wide natural ice rink with ladies and gents rooms and saloon for tea and coffee.
Nearly a century and a half later, the circle has been completed as Peterborough citizens are again looking for support for a new rink and entertainment centre.