Hambly Arena
Encyclopedia
The Hambly Arena, originally known as the Oshawa Arena, opened in 1930 and was built in large part to the contributions of Colonel R.S. McLaughlin
. It was the first brick facade and steel support structure for ice hockey
in Oshawa, Ontario
, Canada
. The main tenant for its existence was the Oshawa Generals
.
Shortly after training camp in the 1953-54 season, the arena would suffer the same demise as its predecessor, the Bradley Arena (1908-1928). The Hambly Arena burned to the ground on the morning of September 15, 1953.
It was the end of an era for the Oshawa Generals
who had won three Memorial Cup
Championships in 1939, 1940 and 1944, as well as seven consecutive Ontario championships from 1937 through 1944.
All that remained of the building was the brick facade and many steel beams twisted like pretzels. Officials of the Oshawa
Fire Department
estimated the loss as about $350,000, only partially covered by insurance
.
Also destroyed in the fire were the team's equipment, uniforms and many other historical artifacts. It is estimated that 200 pairs of skates were lost, valued between $45 and $60 each.
The site of the arena is currently occupied by Ontario Motor Sales, at the corner of Bond Street West and Arena Street.
43°53′52"N 78°52′12"W
Samuel McLaughlin
Colonel Robert Samuel McLaughlin, CC, ED, CD was an influential Canadian businessman and philanthropist. He started the McLaughlin Motor Car Co...
. It was the first brick facade and steel support structure for ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
in Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The main tenant for its existence was the Oshawa Generals
Oshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
.
Shortly after training camp in the 1953-54 season, the arena would suffer the same demise as its predecessor, the Bradley Arena (1908-1928). The Hambly Arena burned to the ground on the morning of September 15, 1953.
It was the end of an era for the Oshawa Generals
Oshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
who had won three Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
Championships in 1939, 1940 and 1944, as well as seven consecutive Ontario championships from 1937 through 1944.
All that remained of the building was the brick facade and many steel beams twisted like pretzels. Officials of the Oshawa
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
Fire Department
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
estimated the loss as about $350,000, only partially covered by insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
.
Also destroyed in the fire were the team's equipment, uniforms and many other historical artifacts. It is estimated that 200 pairs of skates were lost, valued between $45 and $60 each.
The site of the arena is currently occupied by Ontario Motor Sales, at the corner of Bond Street West and Arena Street.
External links
- Hambly Arena profile - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
- More Photos of the Fire - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
43°53′52"N 78°52′12"W