Prince of Wales Rink

The historic Prince's Rink was a major center for skating, hockey, boxing, wrestling and other sports.

[1] On December 11, 1898, the foundation for the rink was laid near the old Newfoundland Railway terminus at Fort William on the west side of Factory Lane between Plymouth Road and Forest Road (sandwich between curling rink and Queen's College) on land previously owned by the Reid Newfoundland Railway.

[2] Robert G. Reid Sr. deeded the land in exchange for shares of equal value in the new rink management company.

[4] Prince George (the future King George V and Princess Mary (later Queen Mary) visited the arena on October 26, 1901, to hear 6,000 schoolchildren sing an anthem composed specifically for the royal tour of Newfoundland[5] and, echoing the visit of George's father, King Edward VII, in 1860, receive the gift of a nine-month old Newfoundland dog, to pass on to their then-seven year old son, Prince Edward (later King Edward VIII).

[6] The Arena Rink Company installed an ice-making plant shortly after taking ownership, to lengthen the hockey and skating season.

[7] At 7:20 pm fire broke out in the boiler room and very quickly the wooden structure was completely engulfed in flames.