3&mk Mumbzv {TOjjree Interest in building a new open air rink prompted the first public meeting to be held in Stanley Bridge on April 6, 1950. All present favoured the building of a new rink. The first Board of Directors included: President David Bell Vice-President Lea Reid Sec'y Treas. Buddy MacEwen Directors Don MacKay , James Hiscott , D.B. Reid Nelson Henry, D.C. MacKay. Elmer Fyfe About one-half acre of land owned by John Fyfe and adjacent to the Stanley Bridge School property was leased free of charge to the Stanley Bridge Rink Co. Among other things the lease said that no games or sports would be played on this property on Sunday. If this property was no longer used as a rink facility, it was to be returned to the John Fyfe property. The Board decided to erect a building suitable for a rink house 60' x 20' with 8' cedar posts. The people of the District were canvassed for donations and of the 46 donors most gave lumber. Others gave cash. Work commenced in October, 1950. James Hiscott had the contract to build the rink house. Electricity was produced by a generator powered by a gas engine which sup¬ plied power for the lights and sound system. The League was called the Farmers' Hockey League. It consisted of teams from Breadalbane , Cavendish, Graham's Road and Stanley Bridge . Referees were paid $5.00 per game. The rink was operated for three years only (1951-1953) because the winters were so mild. Many times they only had two weeks of weather suitable for making ice. D.B. Reid was the first caretaker, followed by Joe Blanchard then by Alban Reid . Besides flooding the rink, the caretakers opened the rink for the school children between 12:00-3:00 P.M. The admission was 0.30 cents for a hockey game and 0.15 for skating. In 1954 the Farmers' League moved to Kensington where there was a closed-in rink with nat¬ ural ice. The Stanley Bridge Rink Company donated the trophy for this League. In 1953 the trophy was won by Graham's Road Monarchs and from 1954-1957 by the Springfield Royals. The Breadalbane / Springfield teams were coached by Fenton Mayne for the years they played in the Farmers' League. The trophy was surrendered to this team. A former member of the team, who now lives in Ontario has it as part of his personal collection. At the beginning of the next hockey season the Sterling Women 's Institute members donated another trophy for the new season. This was kept on display for a number of years in the K.R. MacKay Store before it was permanently displayed at the rink exhibit area. Unfortunately, this beautiful trophy was lost when the Kensington Rink burned in 1973. The main income for the rink was taken from the dances which were held from May to December. Music during this era was supplied by Charlie Munro , Rollie MacKenzie, George Weatherbie , the Doiron Bros , and Arnold MacRae . These dances ran successfully until 1957. The Women 's Institute members operated the canteen. One of their duties was to serve lunches to the musicians during intermission. The rink did not receive any funds from the canteen dur¬ ing those years. Annual Meetings were held until May, 1962. It was moved at the final meeting to give the Sterling Women 's Institute members complete control of the building, money and equipment. 215