At the turn of the century (ca. 1900) Erindale residents used to play hockey or pleasure skate on the Credit River at the Erindale Dam. Picture source unknown
Schools tended to be a popular spot for skating rinks and in 1924 a skating rink was built north of the new Dixie Public School and skaters were charged $1.00 per year or 10 cents per skate.
Ernie Towers was the president and organizer of the Rinky Dinks, also known officially as The Dixie Athletic Club. At the suggestion of Leslie H. Pallett, they built a rink at the Dixie School and installed floodlights. This enabled the club to raise funds to establish recreational facilities for the school such as a ball diamond for summer sports.
Back Row: Mercer Garbutt, Vic Stanfield, Bert Stratton, James McInerney, Reg. Marshall, Ernie Towers, Peter Hickey, Percy Grice, Jim McCarthy, Bill Harrison. Front Row: Bob Scott, Bob Stanfield, Theo Guthrie, Art Stanfield, Lloyd Stanfield, Bill Gilmore, Andy Sherman. Photo-Burnhamthorpe Reunion.
In the mid 1930s, St. Lawrence Starch Company in Port Credit offered public skating on the playing fields located at the foot of Hurontario Street, just west of its plant. St. Lawrence, which was established in 1889 and became one of the region’s largest employers, was a private, independent Canadian business operated by the Gray Family.
In addition to flooding the playing fields, St. Lawrence also provided facilities for changing. And for the enjoyment of the skating public, many of whom travelled from miles around, St. Lawrence staff played amplified music for the skaters. The large skating area was also well lit. The rink, however, was only operated for a few years by St. Lawrence as the severe shortages of all goods brought on by WW11 made it impossible to maintain.
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