old boys 21

As a fitting windup for the big week, there will be a parade that will be well worth the while. The old boys are asked to meet on the Market Square at 7:30 and there will be a march not too long. Every old boy is asked to come armed with confetti and every kind of musical instrument. This should be the greatest parade yet.

The hundreds of people who saw the Neilson Bloomer Girls play baseball against our own local ladies last week will be delighted to know that they’re coming back tomorrow afternoon and there will be a game at 2 o’clock on the Lacrosse Grounds that will get everybody excited. This will be one of the real events of Old Home Week and no one can afford to miss it.

The committee in charge of the arrangements for the Old Boy’s lacrosse game at the Lacrosse Grounds on Friday afternoon, immediately after the girls’ ball game, have secured the following old boys, who will endeavour to show the present day players and fans how the game should be played, and how they use to win championships without the aid of pads, gloves, etc. Dr. Collins, now of Buffalo, will be remembered as the great little home player that was taken to the hospital after the famous Brants of Paris-Athletic game of 1887. Frank and Rube Williams, Billy Elliott and Shootie Richardson will show the younger defence players how to stop a man without doing any damage to his limbs.

Tod and Jack Downey will show how to score a goal from centre field with one of their famous bullet shots. George Parke will give an exhibition of dodging a dozen players and scoring, while Frank McIlwain and Charlie Lowe will pass the ball like they use to in the old days. Andy Riddell and Frank Dixon will play the goals. What Ed Graves, Jim Chaplin and Jimmie Adie will do you will have to guess. However, a big afternoon’s sport is in sight. The committee wish to thank the management of the present day teams for any assistance they can offer in loaning suits, sticks, etc., for the afternoon. The following will play:- Dr. Collins, R. Williams, F. Williams, H. O’Loughlin, J. S. Carlisle, James Adie, E. C. Graves, J. D. Wright, John Notman, J. D. Chaplin, B. Fairfield, Geo. Parke, F. J. Graves, John Downey, W. J. Elliott, J. Richardson, C. McDonald, G. Swayze, G. F. Clayton, Wm. Kalls Sr., A. W. Marquis, J. N. Walker, F. Dixon, F. McIlwain, C. Lowe, Geo. Downey, J. M. Cameron, A. T. Riddell.

At 7:30 the great Calithumpian parade leaves the Market Square, going to Ontario street, St. Paul to Geneva to Church to Ontario and disbanding at Montebello Park.

Independent Rubber Company Drill Corps will give an exhibition drill at the Park.

The 19^th Regiment band concert in the Park, followed by the Community dance on Lake Street.

This afternoon’s big feature is the barbecue on the Lacrosse Grounds. Two oxen have been roasted whole and there will be “all you can eat and all you can drink” for all who attend. At this time of writing, it looks like a really big time for the crowds are going that way. There will be plenty of band music and a program of songs – a real old-time picnic with everybody out for fun.

They are having some discussion as to who is the oldest native lacrosse player in St. Catharines. Sheriff Henry O’Loughlin claims the proud title. He played with the Athletics when they were organized, but two years before that in 1875 he played with the St. Catharines Lacrosse Club and took part in the Caledonia games. Henry Blight the singer, Sheriff O’Loughlin says, played with the Athletics in 1877, as far as his recollection goes.

Undoubtedly the crowing feature of St. Catharines' Old Home Week from many standpoints, was the Old Boys' lacrosse game on Friday afternoon, when stellar exponents of Canada's national game in days gone by jumped into modern uniforms with latter-day sticks and equipment and played real lacrosse at a total disregard of lapse of years and absence of "condition." Some of these Old Boys had been without a stick in their hands for over 30 years. The above picture includes some old players and former club officers who did not compete in Friday's game. The uniforms show who provided this wonderful game:

On the ground - William Glintz (Niagara Falls), Richard Teather.

Second row (left to right) - Charles Beard, John Spencer (Port Colbourne), John H. Cameron, Ald. J. D. Wright, James Adie, Ezra Nadell (Brantford), Lieut.-Col. Burleigh, George Swayze (Rochester), George Clayton (Detroit), Richard Bell, W. J. Lee, W. J. Westwood.

Standing (left to right) - Capt. W. D. Graham, J. W. Bain, J. D. Chaplin, M. P., Geo. Whitten (Chicago), Reuben Williams, J. N. Walker, Frank J. McIlwain, Frank Williams, Harry Blight (Toronto), Dr. A. E. Collins (Buffalo), Samuel Biddle (Cleveland), Sheriff O'Loughlin, John Notman, Frank Dixon, George (Tod) Downey, George Parke, John Richardson, Andrew Riddell, Ald. E. C. Graves, Postmaster John S. Carlisle, A. H. Ellis.

St. Catharines Standard photo

There were times yesterday afternoon on the old corner lot when one felt as if he were transported back over a quarter of a century. Forms familiar in the old days cavorted about just as frisky and with the same avidity for the ball as ever.

It was the old boys lacrosse game and some of the competitors had not a stick in their hands for over thirty years. But let it be said right now for the benefit of those who missed the grand opportunity to see that wonderful performance, that it was far from a burlesque. In fact, there were times when league players of today could take a few pointers. Indeed some modern fans unhesitatingly had the temerity to say right out loud that a certain trio in yesterday’s condition could improve the defence of the senior team.

It was therefore quite natural that the announcer got it wrong with the bleachers when at the conclusion of the battle of the giants he shouted through the megaphone that on the day following “a real lacrosse match” would take place. “What do you call this?” resounded in a big chorus, and the announcer rushed in acknowledge that he had “put his foot in it,” very deeply.

There were players of varied vintages distributed on either side comprising the two picked teams, the Reds and the Blues. There was Postmaster John R. Carlisle (formerly known as “Zip”), Sheriff O’ Loughlin, and Jimmy Adie of the latter seventies and early eighties; Dr. Arthur Collins, Ald. E. C. Graves, Jack Cameron, Dick Teather, W. W. Burleigh, A. T. Riddell of the eighties; Tod Downey, who played from the early nineties up to about twelve years ago, F. J. McIlwain with nearly the same record; J. D. Wright who about the same time was cavorting about in a Mount Forest uniform, along with Frank and Reub. Williams, whose records date back so far that they have been lost. Sprinkled among these veterans were players of more modern production who nevertheless, are old boys and have been out of the game for some time.

A stranger, from the quality of the national game that was dished up, would never guess the condition under which the match was played.

Geo. Parke galloped all over the field feeding the home in his old familiar way with the same burst of speed that he use to unfold after weeks of hard training seventeen years ago.

Jimmy Adie forgot the lapse of time as soon as he found himself running in knickerbockers, tackled the biggest ones as well as the small ones in keeping with his policy developed forty years ago on the old fair grounds where the Crocker-Wheeler factory now stands.

Ald. Graves tossed civic finance to the winds for the time being and put the same energy that has built up half the north end and brought factories to the Garden City into getting the ball. And he frequently got it.

Frank and Reub. Williams did not evidence a particle of difference in style and speed and footwork than they did 28 years since and were just as stick-wise and crafty as when they played their last league game nineteen years ago. The opposing home worked just as effectively outside but it was the same old story, when the Williams Brothers and Richardson played – the other fellows did not get in.

And regarding Richardson, the old fans heaved a sigh of regret when they saw him work his old-time blocking tactics and quick recovery of the ball. The remark was heard here and there over the bleachers with shakes of the head: “We’re not turning out players of that type and caliber any more.”

There was class, style and efficiency in that defense regardless of lack of condition and the lapse of years. Frank Dixon appeared inspired by the performance of old boys in front of him and hit out the same pace that he developed in 1900 on the island when he was put between the flags as a forlorn hope against Brantford and so began the day he has been known in the lacrosse world as a goal tender.

On the other end Andy Riddell was using his eye to excellent advantage. Although the greater number of goals did get past, he stopped a lot.

There are not many people in St. Catharines who will remember Col. Burleigh as a lacrosse player, but they know it today. The way he checked McIlwain caused the old time fire to burn in Mac’s pep generator and for a while he worked as assiduously as in the old days when he was expected to do the work of three home men and never faltered. Mac scored the second goal.

When Mac collaborated with the veteran Tod Downey, it was a reminder of those halcyon days. Tod’s long arm was everywhere, and he notched the prize of the day, a free aeroplane ride by scoring the first goal. Downey’s enthusiasm when he was in possession or after the ball blinded him to his lack of condition.

In the last game Dr. Collins played in 1885, he was severely injured. His return to form after 37 years was next to marvelous. He figured in the scoring of his team and earned the hearty plaudits of the older old boys, who were reminded of his stellar performances of four decades ago, since which time he has become a successful physician of Buffalo.

Ald. J. D. Wright worked just as hard on the field as he does in committee rooms, and what committee of activity is he not on? And his work was not without effect. It was his rush and a pass to Ezra Nadell that notched his team’s second goal and he and Dick Teather had an active part in the first that went to Glintz’s credit.

And there would have been others had not the sticks of the Williams Brothers and Richardson got in the way.

Three periods of ten minutes were played, the score standing 6 to 2 in favour of the Blues.

BLUES	Position	REDS
Frank Dixon	goal	Andy Riddell
Frank Williams	point	James Adie
Ald. E. C. Graves	cover point	W. W. Burleigh
Rueben Williams	defense	Jno. M. Cameron
John Richardson	defense	Fred Clayton
John S. Carlisle	defense	Dick Teather
"Tod" Downey	centre	Ald. J. D. Wright
George Parke	home field	Richard Bell
Frank J. McIlwain	home field	George Swayze
Dr. A. E. Collins	outside home	Ezra Nadell
Sheriff O'Loughlin	inside home	William Glintz

Prior to the game, photos were taken of the players and several of the more notable were introduced to the spectators by Jos. Hodgins. Messrs. Jno. S. Carlisle, Henry O’Loughlin, James Adie, John Spencer and Henry Blight (now of Toronto) were introduced to the crowd as the gentlemen who had established lacrosse in St. Catharines. With them, James Mitchell, Henry Wells and the late H. D. King and James Douglas organized the Athletic lacrosse club.

"Another reminder of the old boys' lacrosse match on Friday July 22nd showing three active participants in that game who in the 'seventies' were prominent in the organization and establishment of Canada's national game in St. Catharines. From left to right in uniform they are: Postmaster John S. Carlisle, James Adie and Sheriff O'Loughlin. Standing in the rear is Mr. H. M. Blight, now of Toronto, who was also identified in the early lacrosse organization before those at present playing on the league teams saw the light of day"

The St. Catharines Standard, Saturday July 30, 1921

Photos courtesy of Nickerson Appliances, St. Catharines