First Clinton Arena Revisited
By: Richard L. Williams, Town of Kirkland and Village of Clinton Historian
This article originally appeared in the Waterville Times
Today’s Clinton Arena or the Edward Stanley Recreation Center, its official name, hums with activity from October to April each year. As we are nearly half-way in the current ice season, let’s take a look back at the beginnings of the indoor ice rink in 1948.
After using the outdoor rink on the Dey Chevy site since 1926 for high school and adult hockey games and public skating, Clinton boosters decided to build an indoor rink after World War II. In April 1948 a fund-raising drive was launched hoping to collect $90,000 which was the projected cost of the new arena.
The plans called for a enclosed rink 226' long by 108' wide by 50' high located between Kirkland Avenue and the former Clinton Canning Co. structures. One of these had recently opened then as the Clinton Bowling Center and is now the Academy of Performing & Creative Arts building off Taylor Avenue.
The ice sheet would be 200' by 85', and the new rink would seat 1250 people. It was to be the biggest aluminum covered structure in the northeast, basically a fir-girdered Quonset hut.
How did this private group of citizens raise $90,000? $100.00 non-interest bearing loan certificates were sold to various people, and a new Mercury car was raffled.
The first Clinton Arena opened in late fall of 1948 with natural ice as the ice-making machinery was not installed until the next year. The new Arena was dedicated on Sunday, February 13, 1949 with appropriate ceremonies before more than 2000 spectators.
In attendance at the ceremony was Clinton Mayor Fred Goering, Utica Mayor Boyd Golder, former Hamilton College athletic director and founder of hockey in Clinton Albert I. Prettyman, and St. James Rector Rev. Robert J. Parker who dedicated the rink in the interests of “clean sport and wholesome recreation.” A $25 prize went to the winner of the “name the team” contest. Winner was Willard J. Sauter who gave the name “Clinton Comets” to the adult team formed in 1928 as the Clinton Hockey Club. A hockey game between the Clinton Hockey Club and the Canadair Aces of Montreal was won 4-3 by the Aces. Due to the poor ice conditions 15 minute periods were played instead of 20 minute periods. Scoring for Clinton were Lew Burgwin, Dana Babcock, and Bud Crutchley. Referees for the game were Jim Sherman and Paul Hoff, and timers were Vincent Clark and James Benson. The Clinton team was coached by Bob Williams; Art Scoones was team captain.
The Arena held a professional wrestling match on September 11, 1953. At 7:30 the next morning fire quickly engulfed the building leaving it in ruins by noon.
*Photograph courtesy of the Clinton Historical Society