Ice skating has deep roots in Bradford, dating back to the town’s infancy.
While it had been enjoyed for centuries prior, ice skating reached new levels of popularity in the 19th century thanks to Britain’s Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The royal couple were the influencers of the day, and when it got out that they enjoyed ice skating, the public embraced the sport as never before. This was true as much in Canada as in Britain, and certainly in Bradford, where early residents skated on farm ponds and upon the Holland River.
Skating was proving so popular in Bradford that, sometime in the early 1880s, a dedicated skating rink was built in town. It was little more than an artificial skating surface with wooden seating and a pavilion for shelter, but it was more convenient than visiting a pond and far safer than skating on the Holland River. The location of the rink isn’t known, but it was referenced in a December 1885 edition of the Bradford Witness, which read: “The skating rink has opened for the season on Saturday night. The ice was in very good condition and the skaters enjoyed the first skate immensely. The Village Band was present and by their music added no little help to the pleasure of the evening.”
This rink burned in 1894, and for a time there was no attempt to replace it. People returned to skating on natural ice surfaces.
Finally, in 1910, Thompson Fisher decided to fill the void by opening another formal skating rink in Bradford. The location chosen was a parcel of land on the southeast corner of Moore and John streets.
It was an open-air rink, but surprisingly sophisticated. The large ice surface was surrounded by poured curbs to contain the water as it froze. There were separate men’s and ladies’ change rooms, toilets, and a café for warm drinks and light meals. The entrance fee (15 cents) was paid at a ticket booth. There was plenty of bench seating for spectators, which was particularly useful as the rink was used for curling and ice hockey as much as for leisure skating. Skating was accompanied by live music. Bands played from a viewing platform. Alternatively, someone would take a seat behind the organ to play background tunes.
A large water tank collected water over the summer for use in making ice.
But Fisher wasn’t a resident of Bradford. Though born in Bond Head, he resided in Barrie, where he operated a successful insurance company. So, he needed someone to run the skating rink on his behalf. He hired Fred McKay and Bethel Sawyer to run day-to-day operations.
The skating rink proved extremely popular and profitable. It became the place to socialize and find entertainment during the winter.
During the summer, the unflooded rink was used to host lacrosse games and horse shows.
The rink’s appeal endured for decades and was still going strong when Fisher died in 1944. His rink didn’t long survive him. By 1956, it was gone, being usurped by Bradford’s first arena with artificial ice.
