They opened the rink with a flourish and style, Said they, "We will have all the crowd- after awhile." With Cairns at the gate to take in the cash, And Archie in the cafe to hand out the hash. While out on the ice could the Dawsons be seen, Escorting the young ladies who might be termed "green". Says Keough, "At last we have the ice smooth, And if it comes snow, we'll put up a roof." There came such a snowstorm it gave them a pain, But the wind blew the snow in, and then out again. Said the secretary, "Now we have money on hand, We'll send to the city and fetch out a band. For if we have music to help out the rink We'll get the whole countryside here, don't you think? Now that the skating has rightly begun The youth of this country ought to surely have fun." But now the rinks open, I'm afraid I'll be late, I'll put on my riggin' and go for a skate. The following year, 1926, Mr. Pooley and Mr. Lefurgey built a similar rink on the west side of the Crossroad on the site where Fred A. Leard later built the house now owned by Gerald Dixon . For three years this was a fun place for skating, hockey, and the yearly fancy dress carnival. Lights were installed in both rinks from the Ives Electric Light Plant. An enclosed skating rink was built in Victoria in 1928 by Howard Wood , a former North Tryon resident. This facility attracted all the surrounding communities and it was a great lark to go by horse and sleigh in those early years for the evening skate or hockey game. The rink operated yearly until the wear and tear on the building made it unsafe. The communities that had supported the Victoria rink formed a company and constructed an enclosed rink in the village of in 1953. Skating, hockey, broom ball, the fancy dress carnival, school ice sports, and figure skating continued to be offered at Crapaud . The Victoria rink was demolished in 1954. The summer months in the 1920s and the early 1930s saw the young men enjoying baseball on the diamond behind Chisholm's store. Other summer sports were horse shoes, pole vaulting, high jumping, and soft ball. A horse shoe pit at the end of the store provided hours of entertainment for the participants while they honed their debating skills. Boating, water skiing, and swimming became favorite summer sports when travel became easier. Every school child's summer activities included swimming lessons offered by the , and in 1977 the 119