The Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-02-28, Page 47NETT
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IT HAS BEEN OUR PLEASURE TO BE PART OF
THE PROGRESS IN GODERICH FOR OVER THE
PAST 33 YEARS
YOUR AUTHORIZED FULL
LINE DEALER FOR
(PHILIPS • MAGNAVOX
• PANASONIC •
CUSTOM SOUND TECHNICS
STEREO AND HI-FI
EQUIPMENT
-EL!RWand WILLA RIVETT, MIKE RIVETT and DAVE GERMAN
34. SHOPPERS SQUARE, GODERICH
Panasonic
just slightly -ahead -of oui-- time --
524-9432
Page E1
the: Goderich Community Centre was renovated twig
1
The Goderich Arena
underwent a myriad of
changes during the ,1970s
from minor renovations
to major reconstruction
programs:,
The Arena was built in
1949 and served the needs
of the communityfor
several years.
In 1970 the town council
approved a major
renovation scheme for
`The arena. Council took
out $175,000 in debentures
to cover costs of the
renovations that included:
new seating, boards and a
---me zanin a --area.-Th e�cos t:'
of the debenture was 9
per cent over 10 years.
Reflinghaus Con-
struction was awarded
Ihe---contra ct—and-the--for-the complex.
newly renovated arena
was opened to the public
on November 15 with
official opening
ceremonies.
In the summer of 1913
council was again forced
into sortie 'renovations as
new plastic boards were
installed along the ice
surface at a cost of $1,700.
The plastic boards were
expected to last for 10
years.
During the early 70s
there was great interest
generated by th'e
possibility of building a
recreation complex in
Goderich. A complex
committe ,was formed
and came forth with
plans and possible sites
One of the most
favorable sites for the
complex was on the race
track beside the existing
arena. It was favorable
because a new ice surface
could be located beside
the present facilities. The
complex was also to
include health rooms,
community facilities, an
indoor pool and tennis
and squash facilities.
The complex proposal
more or less dissipated
after the committee had
spent two years in
preparation and council
balked on making a firm
decision.
Then in 1976 the
complex was shelved for
good when the Goderich
Are na=waslurced-to close
its doorsto the public.
On June 10 the
Goflerich Recreation'
Board was forced to close
the arena "because the
trusses were deficient in
their bolted. connections
and therefore were ,•,a.
hazard..
Arenas across the
province,suffered a
similar fate and plans for
recon'Rtruction were
hastily,attended to.
C.C. Parker and
Associates of London did
a study of the arena` and
found that a number of
joints were overstressed
and exceeded the
National Building Code
standards. „They claimed
that the arena structure
-was not adequate when -it
Grandstand was completed despite problems
There's music in
ma form here
Goderich is fortunate to
have music in many
forms. There are choirs
like the Teen Tones, the
Harbouraires and the
Craigallen Singers. There
are several different high
school bands and the
Laketown Band.
In July of 1974 the
„ Goderich Lions Club
officially gave a new
$22,000 bandshell at
Harbor Park to the town
and many people have
enjoyed outdoor concerts
there ever since.
This year a Band
Booster Club was formed
through the high school
music program to help
promote music in the
community.
Grandstand...
•frompage 29
$5,000 for a new fence at.
the softball diamond and
$2,000 for hub rail im-
prove ments.
The work was com-
pleted in .the spring and
the new grandstand was
ready for racing in the
summer of 1979. Also the
soccer field got new lights
as well as the hardball
diamond.
-It was--proud-moment
for the Sports committee
and the Goderich Trot-
ting Association when
they held the Ron Feagan
Memorial Pace on
August 11 and dedicated
the grandstand in his
name.
Ron-Feagan, one of the
best harness drivers in
the world and a goderich
native had died in
January 1979.
Members of his family
were present for the
dedication ceremonies.
The grandstand is now
the home of the Goderich -
Recreation department
and also contains a
community meeting
room.
was built in 194».
The Recreation Board
faced a few alternatives.
They cotfld either :.rein -
,force the existing roof or
replace the roof
Reinforcement. of . the
existing roof was
estimated: to „cost_
$130,000. , The money
would have to be raised
by the public with some
assistance through
government grants.
A fund raising cam-
paign was immediately
set up in town and the
'• Goderich Lions Club
kicked off The campaign
with a pledge of $20,000
over three years while
the rotary Club promised
a $ 5,000 donation.
Council -Iter agreed
that a new steel truss roof
was the best alternative.
The cost was estimated at
$225,000 with the town's
share amounting to
$113,000. But council then
agreed to raise $130,000
while the campaign was
fresh so that extra needed
work could be completed
at the same time as the
roof.
On July 8, 1976. the
arena roof fund had
reached $50,000 in
pledges and a door to
door canvass by 125
volunteers netted $15,000
in personal donations.
Doug Fisher and Chris
Cavanaugh spearheaded
the fund-raising efforts
and organized the 125'
volunteers who can-
vassed the town in a four-
day doorto door cam-
paign.
Since work was going_to
be done the recreation
board decidedto com-
plete other projects at the
arena. They considered
creating new office
space, a board room, a
community room and an
expanded auditorium at
an additional cost of
$84,000.
That would be ac-
comodated with a two-
storey addition to the
front of the arena
measuring 19 by 108 feet.
Tile addition would
provide office space for
the recreation depart-
ment, a board room and
a community room-.
With' the additions
planned the public's
share of the debt rose to
$157.000. "
Council approved the
two-storey addition that
would also include plans.
to 'increase the con-
cession area in the main
lobby., '
Fund raisers were also
planning a sports
'celebrity dinner at the
same time to raise
necessary funds for the
project. Jim Banks and
Larry Jeffrey were
looking after the dinner.
In September of 1976
abandoned previous
plans considered and
opted for a steel trussed
roof that would span the
entire arena and cover
existing dressing rooms.
The cost was estimated at
$250,000
Plans were finalized for
the arena in early 1977
and the estimated cost of
the project was $460,548.,
The contract was let
and work continued ,on
through the winter
months.
While the Goderich
Arena was being
reconstructed, minor
hockey and figure skaters
were forced to seek
alternate ice time in
Clinton, Vanastra and
any other area arena that
could be booked.
It was a.difficult winter
for arena users but the
arena was finally com-
!Dieted in time for Young
Canada Week in March.
There were official
opening ceremonies held
in the newly renovated
arena that sported anew
steel trussed roof and
featured a mezani-ne
above the seating area.
The reaction to the
Turn to page 30