History of the A's
Old Boys Picnics
On March 15, 1901, several St. Catharines citizens met at the Standard Hall to discuss the organization of an "Old Boys" club. At the meeting were W. B. Burgoyne (President of the St. Catharines Standard) and a number of old-time Athletics players such as Henry O' Loughlin, W. H. Brownlee, William Yielding and George Peterson. This meeting would lead to the formation of the first St. Catharines Old Boys Association on March 22nd of that year, and began a legacy that has continued to the present day.
The long tradition of the annual St. Catharines Lacrosse Old Boys Picnics are captured in these photos. A time for reminiscing, fellowship and on many occasions, an impromptu exhibition of some of the old skills with the gutted stick.
"The older we get, the better we were"
From 1921...
On the ground - William Glintz and Richard Teather
Second Row - Charles Beard, John Spencer, John H. Cameron, Ald. J. D. Wright, James Adie, Ezra Nadell, Lieut.-Col. Burleigh, George Swayze, George Clayton, Richard Bell, W. J. Lee, W. J. Westwood
Standing - Capt. W. D. Graham, J. W. Bain, J. D. Chaplin, M. P., Geo. Whitten, Reuben Williams, J. N. Walker, Frank J. McIlwain, Frank Williams, Harry Blight, Dr. A. E. Collins, Samuel Biddle, 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
From 1935...
Back Row (Left to Right) - R. Flynn, Art Herr, George Collins, Joe Immel, G. Day, Henny Day (Vice-Pres), F. Cornelius (Past Pres), Walter Westwood (Past Pres), Leo Purdy, Hedley Marriott, Clayton Glover.
Middle Row - Walter Kalls, Norm May, Charles Daley (Exec), Willie Hope (Exec), Mayor N. J. M. Lockhart, Art MacGlashan (Pres), C. Cornelius (Sec.-Treas), J. Cunningham, J. Wiley.
Front Row - W. Trapnell, R. Richards, William Switzer, R. Masterson, Tom "Tip" Teather (Past Pres), Harry MacGlashan.
photo courtesy of Bob Luey
From 1936...
Back Row (Left to Right) - T. Steele, Ed Carty, Herb Millar, Charlie Cornelius, Secretary-Tres; Pete Barnett, Tom Teather, Past-President; N. J. M. Lockhart, M.P.; Art Herr, G. Day, F. Cornelius, Past-President; Leo Purdy, Clayton Glover, Frank Gayder, Exec.
Middle Row - Harry MacGlashan, R. Flynn, Exec; William Hope, Exec; Mayor Walter J. Westwood, Past-President; Art MacGlashan, Past-President; George Kalls, Exec; Hedley Marriott, Ald. Charles Daley, George Collins.
Front Row - Henny Day, President; Eddie Masterson, Vice-President
photo courtesy of Nickerson Appliances
From 1945...
Top Row (Left to Right) - "Farmer" Brown, Art Gayder, Glen Ballen, Rex Stimers, Teddy Reeve, Hedley Marriott, Ed Romeiser, Al Coutie, Garn. Pickard, Clayt Glover, Eddie Sheehan, Tom Teather, "Nick" Purdy, Billy Hope, Eddie Sullivan.
Third Row - Jim Connell, G. Giblin, Charlie Cornelius, Fred Gayder, Perc Bennett, Art Herr, Billy Adams, Johnny Phipps, Henny Day, Eddie Masterson, Norm May, Eddie Carty, "Host" Stinson, Jim Sullivan, Pat Haffey, Paddy Brennan, Tim O' Rourke.
Second Row - Norm Harshaw, Eddie Longfellow, George Kalls, Pete Barnett, Harry Edmondstone, "Tod" Daley, Dinny McMullen, Mac Lockhart, Fred Waghorne, Bob Flynn, Hugh Patterson, Teddy Brown.
Front Row - Art Bennett, George Collins, Herb Millar, Tom Sullivan, Gord Thom, Bruce Leighton, Bill Walsh, Bun Gallagher, Jack Nichols, Frank Gayder, George Bennett, Walter Kalls.
St. Catharines Standard Photo
photo courtesy of Bob Luey
George Kalls is Declared an "All-Time Lacrosse Great"
The Niagara Falls Review
Monday August 12, 1946
ST. CATHARINES - (Special) - Field lacrosse returned with a vengeance here yesterday when St. Catharines and Toronto Lacrosse Old Boys staged their annual picnic at Stinson's Grove. The highly successful event was under the capable leadership of President Art Gayder of the St. Kitts Association, Past President Harry Edmondstone and their committee. The Toronto delegation, headed by Eddie Sullivan and arriving at the scene of festivities in a chartered bus, were guests of the homesters.
The game though crowded with burlesque Donnybrooks and protests, saw many former professional and amateur notables displaying flashes of their styles of yesteryear. Toronto All-Stars were declared winners over St. Kitts Homebrews by 4 to 3.
George Kalls, who left his vacation activities in Barrie to join the "Homebrews," was voted the greatest all-time star present.
A minute of silence was observed in memory of deceased members of the organization.
The lineups:
Toronto All-Stars - Al Coute, Norm Harshaw, "Silver" Bennett, Ed Sullivan, Jim Green, Ted Reeve, Duffy Braiden, Glen Bullen, Bob Gallagher, Jack McDonald, Ed Braiden, Gord Thom, Ted Timms, Jack Walsh, Jim McLean, Tim O'Rourke, Pete Barnett and Buck Johnson.
St. Kitts Homebrews - Ed Sheehan, George Parke, "Red" Millar, Frank Gayder, Hedley Marriott, Fred Stagg, Norm May, Nick Purdy, Tip Teather, Art Gayder, George Kalls, Bill Hope, Harry Edmondstone, George Hope, Pat Haffey, Jim Sullivan, Harry Bennett, Tod Daley and Leo Bradt.
Referee - Teddy Brown.
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And this sad postscript to the story...
GEORGE PARKE, OLDTIME LACROSSE GREAT, PASSES AT NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE
The Niagara Falls Review
Tuesday August 13, 1946
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE - George Parke, 66, a lacrosse great of other years who only last Sunday participated in a game at nearby St. Catharines between old-timers of the sport, collapsed and died yesterday at the home of his son here.
Mr. Parke, retired president of the Toronto-St. Catharines Transport Co., traveled to St. Catharines from Toronto for the game which features get-togethers known as the Old-Timers Lacrosse Picnics. After the picnic, he went to the home of his son, Don, a former Toronto Argonaut sculler who now heads the transport company, for a visit.
Mr. Parke was one of the stars of the great St. Catharines Athletics' teams of just before the First Great War. He scintillated at the home position for the A's from 1905 - 12. He was a past president of the Canadian Automotive Transportation Association.
And from Bill Gaynon's sports column in the Niagara Falls Review on Wednesday August 14, 1946...
It was never our good fortune to have known or seen George Parke in action on the lacrosse field, but Pat Haffey, who has watched all the greats of the gutted-stick game since the turn of the century, was personally acquainted with the former great, who died suddenly at Niagara-on-the-lake a few days ago, being a personal friend of the one-time star, and we've often heard P. J. rave over the great ability of the stout transport owner.
According to Patrick, George rated with the game's greatest, being a brilliant and colorful homefielder, who could also deliver in a big way on defence. Having starred in both the pro and amateur game with teams at Cornwall, St. Catharines and Toronto over a long stretch, Pat thinks no lacrosse hall of fame would be complete without a Parke plaque. Haffey also felt tickled that he attended last Sunday's lacrosse reunion at St. Catharines and chatted freely with the late George, and he says despite his long retirement the 66-year-old citizen was living with his lacrosse memories. George's passing will be mourned by the many who watched his playing exploits, and the sporting world loses another luminary through his departure.
OLD
BOYS HOLD
ANNUAL REUNION
DAY
The
St. Catharines Standard
Monday
August 9,
It
was “Old Timers Day” at the Grove on No. 8 highway on Sunday afternoon
as the Old Boys Lacrosse Association of Toronto and St. Catharines relived
memories of the field lacrosse days back as far as the late eighteen
hundreds and its doubtful if any of these games of the golden era of field
lacrosse escaped being played over by word of mouth on at least one
occasion during the afternoon.
Following
words of welcome by St. Catharines President James Sullivan, a parade of
the World Champs under the direction of Kingfish Billy Hope was held, led
by Tim O’Rourke on his sturdy white charger and followed by the team
personnel all garbed in brilliant headpieces to protect them from the
prying eyes of the opposition. In the annual game that followed the
erstwhile “champions” from St. Catharines were dethroned by the
visiting delegation who returned to the Queen City with the Gold Cup,
which will doubtless be kept in the innermost vaults of the city hall
until the return game in Toronto next year.
Although
the majority of the players had given up active participation thirty or
more years ago, it was plain to see just what made them idols of
professional and amateur lacrosse fans when in their prime. Such players
as George Kalls, the Sullivans, Gord Thom, Silver Bennett, daddy of them
all Paddy Brennen (star of the Montreal Shamrocks of the 1905 era and now
still one of the best on the field despite his 74 years), and many others,
displaying passing and shooting accuracy that was truly amazing. Referee
for the big game was Fred Waghorne Sr., probably the most efficient
official ever to blow a whistle in a field game. The heavy afternoon rain
put a halt to the game with Toronto declared the winner by 5 – 4.
Capt.
Ed. Sullivan of the Toronto team was the recipient of two trophies,
receiving the Gold Cup his team won in the lacrosse game from President
James Sullivan of St. Catharines and also winning the “Kingfish” Cup
which was presented by Billy Hope. Tim O’Rourke was voted the best
waterboy and received the corresponding trophy from Harry Edmonstone and
Rex Stimers of Radio Station CKTB presented Paddy Brennen with a cup as
the best coach of the day. Ed. Sullivan thanked the St. Catharines
organization for their hospitality and hoped that just as perfect a day
would be enjoyed next year when it is the Toronto organization’s turn to
act as host.
Line-ups
of the teams were as follows:
Toronto:
goal, Mclean; point, Harshaw; cover point, E. Sullivan; 1st
defence, Thom; 2nd defence, Haskins; 3rd defence,
O’Rourke; centre, S. Bennett; 3rd home, J. Sullivan; 2nd
home, Starling; 1st home, Gallagher; outside home, Johnson;
inside home, Brennen; alternates, C. Pherrill, Fecteau, A. Pherrill,
Braden, Green, Dowling, Brown, Coulter, Davis, Sanderson, Deniord.
St.
Catharines: goal, F. Gayder; point, Purdy; cover point, Sheehan; 1st
defence, Pickard; 2nd defence, Masterson; 3rd
defence, Patterson; centre, Millar; 3rd home, Edmonstone; 2nd
home, Barnett; 1st home, Buller; outside home, Steele; inside
home, G. Kalls; alternates, Teather, Walsh, A. Bennett, P. Bennett, Carty,
A. Gayder, W. Kalls, Bradt, Adams.
Other guests present included President Fred Conradi of senior Athletics; Rex Stimers of CKTB; Rudy Pilous of Buffalo Hockey Club; Jim Lomore of Queensway Hotel; Alex McKenzie, supervisor of City Sports Park; Bill Fitzgerald, George Hope and Frank Sullivan, all sons of field lacrosse greats; Bill Demars of Senior A’s; Bill Burch, N. Y. Americans hockey star of other years; Walker Stevenson, Pres. of the Toronto Lacrosse Association; Jack Gatecliff of The Standard.
BOXLA OLDBOYS GROUP THRIVE BY EXPANDING MEMBERSHIP
THROUGH THE SPORTS GATE
by Jack Gatecliff
The St. Catharines Standard
Wednesday May 2, 1984
When you consider that the last St. Catharines team to win a Canadian senior lacrosse championship played here in 1946 and the last national junior title was in 1950, it's remarkable that the Lacrosse Oldboys Association reunions become larger year, after year, after year. Mind you lacrosse has always been strong here and there is a comeback in the higher level with the junior "A" Athletics playing their second season and the senior team returning after 15 years.
There are several reasons for the continued success of the organization which has met annually for more than 30 years and twice-yearly for the better part of 20. First of all there have been enthusiastic executive members - people like Bill DeMars, Jim Lomore, Roy Morton, Tony D'Amico, Joe McNulty, Doug Cove, Pat Smith, George Hope, Hugh MacLean - and I'd better stop there because I'll miss people anyway.
DeMars, nicknamed "Tickets," has been an organizer since he played with and later trained lacrosse teams in the 1930's through the 60's. He has been the guy with the push for the group longer than most remember, including the spring sit-down dinner last weekend at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and the fall horseshoes, hotdogs and beer Sunday at the Masterson Farm on Mountain Road. But there are other reasons besides the gentlemen mentioned above.
There are former players there, such as Art Fleury, who played most of his lacrosse in the field era plus a couple of summers of box. Then there are the senior Athletics of the big years - 1938 to 1946 - during which St. Catharines won the Mann Cup five times and the Ontario title seven of those nine years. But they don't live in the past. The Association is not limited to players or supporters of that era and this spring donated $1,000 to help set up the new senior club.
Every year younger people attend the reunions, keeping them alive. Even the older men talk as much about the current Stanley Cup playoffs as their years of long ago in lacrosse. The latest reunion brought out a scattering of still-active players in their 20's and early 30's and from every decade into the 80-year-olds.
The opponents make regular trips here for the occasion too. Joe Murphy and Blaine McDonald, who played with strong Mimico teams in the 1930's and 1940's never miss, the Thompsons of Brampton and Fergus, former Toronto Maple Leaf (International Baseball League) owner Bob Hunter checks in from Toronto, Lefty Jordan who played for and later operated Hamilton teams, and those are just for starters. Former Athletics, such as Stu Scott, Ralph Speck and Gord Moore, who live out of town, are there regularly and in recent years those not connected with lacrosse have been represented.
Among the 130 at the dinner were many who majored in other sports such as Don Storin, Hank and Gig Betts, Chic Mann, and Hal Crooker who played hockey and lacrosse attended his first-ever spring reunion although he has lived in St. Catharines all his life. A great night and getting better every year.
Art Fleury, mentioned earlier, Jimmy Thomson who played hockey and lacrosse, and George Coles who was with the early Mann Cup teams here were all given life memberships at the lacrosse dinner...Mr. Fleury is still active in the St. Catharines Cribbage League.
As usual one of the features was Tommy Garriock introducing everyone in the room. His memory for faces and names is incredible...Bob Hunter recalled that he played lacrosse with the Toronto Seafleas, an offshoot of the junior hockey team and it was coached by a fellow named Harold Ballard...Punch Imlach had promised to attend (he was an outstanding lacrosse and hockey player) but had to pass up the evening here as he is writing a Stanley Cup column for a Toronto newspaper.
Related Reading: OLD BOYS' GAME WAS FEATURE OF 1921 "OLD HOME WEEK"
