History of Dryden Memorial Arena
Early in the 1900's, rink houses and a sheet of ice existed on Whyte Avenue. A plan for a covered ice surface was secured in the 1920's. This plan was met with considerable opposition as it was considered beyond the Town's capabilities at the time. The Depression prevented any progress towards the realization of a covered rink and prompted the closing of the outdoor rink on Whyte Avenue. Throughout this time there was little or no skating or hockey in town other than on playgrounds and the lakes.
In 1941 a memorial Trust was set up and a campaign began for a covered ice surface. In 1947 R.C.A.F. hangers went on sale in Brandon. A representative body was sent to Brandon to investigate the possibility of purchasing a hanger for use as an arena building. One was purchased and twenty flat cars and box cars were required to haul the mass framework to Dryden. Foundations were laid and the first trusses erected in the fall of 1947 and completed in 1948 at a total cost of $90,000.00.
On March 30, 1978, a fire destroyed the arena and adjoining curling rink. Fundraising began in April 1978 and in June 1979 Arena #1 was open to the public.
New Arena (arena #1) opened July 9, 1979 at a total cost of $1,600,000.00. It includes an ice surface measuring 85' x 200' seating 1000 people, 8 dressing rooms and 3 ice compressors.
Arena #2 opened in March of 1988 at a total cost of $1,250,000.00. The ice surface measures 85' x 180', the arena does not have permanent seating, and has 4 inter-locked dressing rooms.
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