Wooden Curling Rocks, a Rink that Blew Away and Prizes

Curling began in Reston in 1897 according to a history in the December 17, 1964 issue of the Reston Recorder.  The history of the 4 Reston Rink  buildings can be found in a previous post here. The January 15, 1948 Reston Recorder is quoted below: 

Do you remember when the Reston curlers used wooden blocks instead of rocks? What they did in the days when curling first started in Reston, when the rink was situated on Railway Avenue, back before the turn of the present century. Tom Mutter was one who curled in those days and he is still at it. In mentioning these days, Tom stated that not only did they curl with wooden blocks, but the members of the club turned out and assisted in the manufacture of the blocks. They were made on a wood turning lathe, which was hand powered and each member of the club helped the club provide the power in turning the lathe. The blocks were about twice the size of our present day curling rocks and were made of cedar. They were hollowed out and lead was poured in the depression to give the blocks weight. Fitted with ordinary curling handles, the wooden blocks made acceptable curling instruments. One of the advantages was that a follow through shot could be made. With a fast rock and a square hint it was possible to end up on the ice even though the hit rock was in front of the house. Tom said we had more fun with the wooden blocks than we ever had with our present day curling stones.

Wooden curling rocks were used that first year until as guests at Pipestone, the men saw they had granite ones.  Not to be outdone, some individuals purchased their own the next winter at a cost of $18/pair. Apparently, the old wooden curling rocks are buried in the lot where the old rink was which is now a garden.  Careful when you are rototilling Kenny!

Private granite rocks were used and kept in locked wooden boxes between games until the 1930's when the curling club offered to have those rocks sharpened if the owners would agree to leave the locks off the boxes.  Apparently, the offer was accepted by many.  With the building of new facilities, club rocks were among the purchases and two different colours of handles were possible.  Interesting to think this was not needed previously!  The price of the new 1964 rocks was $94/pair. A quick google search tells me Scottish granite curling rocks can cost $700 each today. 

Thanks to Bonnie and Kay for this undated picture of the club at nearby village Ewart. 

The town of Ewart is the true definition of a railway town. Settlers were living in the area since the late1880’s - Eisner, McMunn, Nolan, Ryland, Zarn, Gudmundson and Stone to name a few. The settlers patronized the centers of Reston, Virden and Sinclair and mail delivery was in Bardal. Everything changed in 1905 with the building of the Reston-Wolseley railway line. Ewart was the first stop after Reston on the way northwest and soon stores selling groceries, meat, lumber, harness, gas and oil, a blacksmith, a post office and two elevators sprung up. Social needs were met with a hall for dances and the building was used for church services, meetings, quilting bees, whist drives, fowl and oyster suppers and so much more.  A curling and skating rink was at first a temporary winter structure which was disassembled come spring and the lumber reused. By the 30's, a permanent structure was in use. Curling brooms were wide like the ones in the picture until the 1950's according to this source.  By the 80's push brooms were taking over from corn brooms and have been covered with various materials since then. 

The summer of 1948 saw the end of the hall and also the rink in Ewart from what was described as a windstorm but may well have been a tornado. The townspeople pulled together and had a rink up and ready right after the new year arrived in 1949. 

Thanks so much to Dale for sharing this little prize list from the 1955 Reston Bonspiel with me!