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Sports:

In the early days, around 1920, and following this date, Chalk River saw many good hardball players. The Tennants, Fields, and Keans played not only locally but travelled out of town and competed in some pretty tough competitions. Again, the C.P.R. came through and for using its name, transportation was supplied. Playing under the management of Con Dover were Jack Taylor, Jack Mussell, Tommy Donnelly Jr., Bill Leach, Percy Kean, and sons Kieth and Sid, and Billy McCarthy. We are proud to say that Billy and Percy have played ball past their fiftieth birthdays.

The Ladies softball team dates back to 1925 with players like Bell Fields (Mrs Kean), Norena McCarthy (Mrs Ben Leeder), The Kean Girls, and others whse names at this time the writer regretfully can not remember, played pretty stiff competition. In later years , familiar names such as Jean Taylor, Alda McCarthy, Nellie Donnelly , Alita Gutzman and Margaret Cook , under the direction of Con Dover supplied much entertainment with their art of playing softball.

In 1930 Chalk River also had a girls hockey team so you can easily see that girls hockey is not all that new. The late Mr Con Dover and the late Mr Russell Pouliotte, who was married to one of the Harper girls, were in charge of the team.

Much appreciation should be extended to Mr Con Dover, in recognition of his time and money spent on sports in this village, as well as to his brother Harry and his sisters who were also very active.

In the late 1920's and early 1930's , a well organized hockey team played on the open air rink under conditions that were not as good as today. The boys had a bit of a shack for a change room near the present ball bleachers. Lights and water were supplied by the C.P.R and most of the labour was volunteered. Hawley's horses and scraper removed the large snowfalls, otherwise it was done by men's muscles. In the middle of the 1930's, Mr Kieth Kellett voluntarily took over the management and had a larger wooden structure built at the end of the rink. Some part time help was hired. Later this building was replaced by a two-room cement block building. In 1957 the existing building was erected. Until Mr Kellett's retirement from the C.P.R., for many years he managed the affairs under many trying conditions.

A few of the village's old time hockey players still live in Chalk River and the surrounding area today (1979). The McKay Brothers, Clarence and Harold, Luke McCarthy, now living in Petawawa , Basil Fields in Deep River and some of the Tennant boys living elsewhere were as renowned locally in their time as Guy Lafleur is today (1979). Monty McCarthy, Harold Selkirk, Gerald Gunning and Harry Dover, now deceased, were also considered to be very good players in their day. Occasionally, when transportation was available the team would venture to other communities, even as far as Mattawa in search of worthy competition.

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In the late 1920's and early 1930's , a well organized hockey team played on the open air rink under conditions that were not as good as today. The boys had a bit of a shack for a change room near the present ball bleachers. Lights and water were supplied by the C.P.R and most of the labour was volunteered. Hawley's horses and scraper removed the large snowfalls, otherwise it was done by men's muscles. In the middle of the 1930's, Mr Kieth Kellett voluntarily took over the management and had a larger wooden structure built at the end of the rink. Some part time help was hired. Later this building was replaced by a two-room cement block building. In 1957 the existing building was erected. Until Mr Kellett's retirement from the C.P.R., for many years he managed the affairs under many trying conditions.

A few of the village's old time hockey players still live in Chalk River and the surrounding area today (1979). The McKay Brothers, Clarence and Harold, Luke McCarthy, now living in Petawawa , Basil Fields in Deep River and some of the Tennant boys living elsewhere were as renowned locally in their time as Guy Lafleur is today (1979). Monty McCarthy, Harold Selkirk, Gerald Gunning and Harry Dover, now deceased, were also considered to be very good players in their day. Occasionally, when transportation was available the team would venture to other communities, even as far as Mattawa in search of worthy competition.

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Early Hockey in Chalk River
1900
Chalk River, Ontario, Canada


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Early Hockey in Chalk River, believed to be about 1900.

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Chalk River Rink
1960
Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


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In the late 1920's and early 1930's , a well organized hockey team played on the open air rink under conditions that were not as good as today. The boys had a bit of a shack for a change room near the present ball bleachers. Lights and water were supplied by the C.P.R and most of the labour was volunteered. Hawley's horses and scraper removed the large snowfalls, otherwise it was done by men's muscles. In the middle of the 1930's, Mr Kieth Kellett voluntarily took over the management and had a larger wooden structure built at the end of the rink. Some part time help was hired. Later this building was replaced by a two-room cement block building. In 1957 the existing building was erected. Until Mr Kellett's retirement from the C.P.R., for many years he managed the affairs under many trying conditions.

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Chalk River Ladies Hockey team
1930
Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


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In 1930 Chalk River also had a girls hockey team so you can easily see that girls hockey is not all that new. The late Mr Con Dover and the late Mr Russell Pouliotte, who was married to one of the Harper girls, were in charge of the team.

Much appreciation should be extended to Mr Con Dover, in recognition of his time and money spent on sports in this village, as well as to his brother Harry and his sisters who were also very active.

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'Lindy' Erva McKay
1930
Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
AUDIO ATTACHMENT


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Erva McKay, Goal tender of the women's hockey team here, about 1925

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Chalk River Ladies Softball Team
1931
Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


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The Ladies softball team dates back to 1925 with players like Bell Fields (Mrs Kean), Norena McCarthy (Mrs Ben Leeder), The Kean Girls, and others whose names at this time the writer regretfully can not remember, played pretty stiff competition. In later years , familiar names such as Jean Taylor, Alda McCarthy, Nellie Donnelly , Alita Gutzman and Margaret Cook , under the direction of Con Dover supplied much entertainment with their art of playing softball.

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Chalk River Ladies Softball Team
1947
Chalk River, Ontario, Canada
TEXT ATTACHMENT


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Chalk River Ladies Softball 1946-47, Renfrew County Champions, and Eastern Ontario Softball Semi-finalists.1946-47.