Old Sites

-FIELD LACROSSE SITES-
A	City Fairgrounds - s.w. corner of Catherine St & Russell Ave - home of the Athletics from 1877 to 1882.
B	The Lacrosse Grounds - Catherine & Maple St - home of the Athletics from 1883 to 1922 - "the old corner lot"
C	The Alerts Grounds - the city league "Alerts" played in a former gravel-pit in the early 1900's (later Lightning Fastener site)
D	Walkinshaw Park - some "Shamrock" field lacrosse in the 1920's - field was donated to city by S. Max Walkinshaw in 1923 (see article below)
E	Connaught School - home field of the "east-end Alerts" in city league action of the late 20's to early 30's.
F	Thomas Street Park - later City Sports Park, today Alex MacKenzie Sports Park - home of the senior Athletics from mid-1922 to 1929 and city league action into the early 30's
G	The Olives Grounds - the city league "Olives" played at a park on Niagara St adjacent to the 3rd Welland Canal in early 1900's

-BOX LACROSSE SITES-
H	The Lacrosse Stadium - later called the Haig Bowl - 1st version in 1932 - Sr. A's home from '33 - '52, part of '54, and '60 to '66 - demolished for an arena in '73
I	Lakeside Park - lacrosse box near the beach erected in 1932 - home of the intermediate (Sr. "B") Port Dalhousie Lakesides in '32 & '33 (some field lacrosse was played at the park at the turn of the century)
J	Alymer Bowl - later Lions Bowl or simply "Port Bowl" - built in 1945 on land of a former canning factory - home for Jr. A team in late 60's
K	The Collegiate - home box of the city league Athletics in the early 1930's (also some city league A's field played at the school)
L	Walkinshaw Park - home for an intermediate team (Senior "B") for part of the 1932 season
M	Lincoln Park - built in 1939, it was the home box of the city league Shamrocks - cannibalized for firewood in winter by some citizens
N	Bartlett Park - built in 1939, it was the home box of the city league "east-end Alerts"
O	Townline Road - box erected in early-mid 1930's - little known - Jimmy McMahon recalled to me his playing there as a youngster
P	Valleyview Park - box erected in 1945 to support Merritton minor lacrosse (see article below)
Q	Garden City Arena - later Jack Gatecliff Arena - built in 1938 - home of Sr. A's in '53 to '57 & '99 to '01- Golden Hawks in '69
R	Bill Burgoyne Arena - built in 1973 - home of Sr. A's in 1984 and '02 to '05 - long-time home of the Jr. Athletics

An important event in the sporting world was the opening last evening of the new sports field on the Western Hill, made possible through the public-spirited generosity of S. Max Walkinshaw, who placed the property under the administration of the Board of Parks Management to provide as adequate playing field for the young people of the Hill district. The event was marked by the presence of Mr. Walkinshaw, Mayor Jacob Smith, practically all the city aldermen, Trustee A. H. Trapnell of the Board of Education, and E. C. Graves, M. L. A.-elect.

In formally opening the grounds, Mayor Smith said he esteemed it a very great honor to have the privilege of attending the opening of the Walkinshaw property as a public play ground. He was sure it had been needed on the Western Hill for a long time and the present development of the property was a tribute to the public spirit of Mr. Walkinshaw, who had the welfare of his home town at heart.

Trustee A. H. Trapnell spoke briefly on the development of lacrosse in the city, urging clean sport at all times. E. C. Graves, the provincial member-elect, did not speak.

In the opening game, the East End Alerts defeated the West St. Kitts juniors by a score of 4 to 3, in the City Lacrosse league. The winning goal was scored in the dying moments of the game when Chuck Stuart went around L. Cunningham and put the ball past Jewess.

The game was very fast and mostly clean throughout. It would be better, though, if some of the young players would learn to hold their tempers more than they do at present. However, on the whole, the game was very good. It was at least close.

The Alerts opened the scoring in the first quarter, but it was soon tied up when the Westerners ran in the odd goal. The score at half time was 1 - 1.

In the third quarter, the Alerts scored two goals and when the quarter was over, the score was 3 to 1. The West St. Kitts, however, came right back in the final session and with two nice goals tied up the score again. It was then that Chuck Stuart got away, with only a few moments to go, and scored what proved to be the winning goal.

In all the games played between these two teams this season, the score has been very close, never more than one or two goals separating them at the end of eighty minutes. So it is altogether likely that the game scheduled for Friday evening at the Thomas street grounds will be a close and snappy affair. According to all the dope it should be one of the best.

West St. Kitts - Jewess, Cunningham, Haslem, Doucette, H. Sheehan, McLaren, McQuade, Corne, O'Brien, A. Sheehan, Comrie.

Alerts - Louden, Luby, Martin, Rymer, Wagstaffe, O' Malley, Thom, Lounsbury, Stuart, Towne, Lawrence and McPherson.

MERRITTON, July 6 - Over 350 parents and children, last night, witnessed the opening lacrosse ceremonies at the Valleyview Park, when Mayor F. O. Leeson threw in the opening ball to Les Skipper, chairman of the town Playgrounds Committee and Dan Millar, chairman of the Lion's Club Boys and Girls Committee. The new park was constructed by the Playgrounds Committee and will be used as a lacrosse bowl and in the winter as a skating rink.

The official opening of the park marked the occasion of the first game of box lacrosse in the history of the town. The last time lacrosse was played in Merritton was over 40 years ago, and was field lacrosse.

Mayor Leeson, in a statement to The Standard, said that this newly constructed bowl is to be the first in a long line of community planned parks for the benefit of the younger generation. The children are already enjoying this lot, although it has just been completed. In the future the town hopes to add many more grounds for the sporting activities of the youth of the community.

In the first game to be played on the new lot, the Mounties, sponsored by the Merritton Lions Club, brought honor to the town by defeating its adversary from Port Dalhousie, the Lakesides. This was not only the first game to be played in this bowl, but the first game of the season for the Mounties.

The small boys, almost small enough to run between the legs of the Lakesides, played excellent lacrosse. Almost every member of the team was shorter than the Lakesides, but they emerged with a score of three to one.

In the first quarter the game seemed to be quite equal, although Lakesides were slightly more aggressive. The second quarter brought fire upon the scene with red-headed Ray Jackson appearing from nowhere to the scene of the action. This little chap took the offensive, was beaten off, and came back for more, time and time again. In the second quarter, he was knocked down and it appeared the Mounties would lose a good player for the duration of the game. But after a few minutes rest, the red-head was back full of his usual vim and vigor, and scrapping like a wildcat with a pack of dogs.

The third quarter was the time for action on the part of Lakesides, and young Cadot came through to tie Spagn's goal of the second, with a net ball. But Lakesides' flurry was of no avail, for W. McVicar and Ray Jackson came through with a point each, just before the time-up whistle.

Mountie lineup: Rutherford, Spagn, Haldane, H. McVicar, W. McVicar, Bates, McNaughton, Turner, Jackson, Lorenzo, and Wiley.

Lakesides' lineup: Moore, Mitchell, Buck, Howard, Davies, Seburn, D. Dyke, Cadot, Daniels, J. Humphries, Gabriel, Conrads, Albon and Carr.

The Merritton Lions Club is doing a noteworthy job on looking after local interests. The boys and girls of the district are kept happy because of the Boys and Girls Committee of the Club.

One of the major interest of the committee is the young growing boys up to the age of 15 years. The club decided that the boys from 10 to 15 years needed something to keep themselves busy, which they would enjoy. So the club gathered some 84 young boys together to form lacrosse teams. Four teams were formed, sticks and sweaters were purchased by the Lions Club for the teams and practices got underway.

In no time at all the boys became adapted to the game, and with coaching by three volunteers, Winston Millar, Elmer Kelly and Reg Saunders, team playing progressed.

The four teams, Adanacs, Terriers, Tigers and Mounties, were entered in the St. Catharines Minor-Bantam Lacrosse League, along with eight other teams from the city and Port Dalhousie.

At present, the teams are making a good showing alongside of the other teams, who have been playing for a number of years. Besides being entered in the city league, the teams are also in a league by themselves. The four teams are playing against each other, in their own league, and are enjoying it every minute.

The boys could be seen for many weeks after they were given sweaters, playing on the streets, in back yards and in open fields, getting used to their sticks and making better players.

Not only does this practice make better players of the boys, but also makes better citizens of tomorrow. They learn sportsmanship and develop mind and body in these games. They are the men of tomorrow and the Lions Club believes in making better men for the community of the future.