The Sunderland Memorial Arena 1948-2009 – 20 Park St
The Brock Memorial Community Center arena was built in 1948 at a cost of $20,000. It had a large ice surface and seating capacity for 1,400 people. This was a project organized by the members of the Sunderland Legion Branch, number 140. Stanley Miller, James A. Anderson and Dr. T. McLennan were key members who organized this project.
Prior to this new facility, skating took place at an outdoor rink at the Agricultural Building in the fairgrounds. In 1957, major damage occurred to the recreational center in Sunderland when a hurricane swept through town. Artificial ice was installed in 1965, and a major front addition was added in 1971 with washrooms, change rooms, a snack bar and a large social room on the second floor for receptions and dances.
Because of safety concerns, the north end of the rink was torn down and rebuilt in 1976. Recently, in 2002, money was received from a Super Bill Grant initiative, and an elevator and accessible washroom were added to the building. The Sunderland Harvester has won several hockey championships through the years in this arena. Now it is an important site for fundraisers, concerts, dances, fair events and sport activities.
2. Saint Andrews United Church – 10 Church St N
3. Sunderland Town Hall – 120 River St
4. Dr. Joseph Henry Oliver Home – 128 River St
5. St. Mary’s Anglican Church – 134 River St
6. Dr. James McDermott Home – 160 River St
7. The Fogg House – 198 River St
8. The Blacksmith Shop – 135 River St
9. The Nipissing House Hotel – 123 River St
10. Stop 4 Variety – 111 River St
11. The Old Drug Store – 108 River St
12. The Gigantic Hand Saw, Guardian Pharmacy – 103 River St
13. Flindell’s Fresh Mart – 97 River St
14. The Beall Block – 93 River St
15. The Harness Shop – 89 River St
16. Taylor’s Store – 85 River St
17. The William Doble Home – 32 Albert St
18. The Sunderland Presbyterian Church – 5 Albert St
19. Doyle’s General Store – 3 Albert St
20. The McDermott Block – 1 Albert Street S
21. The Sunderland Telephone Company. – 63 River St
22. James Doble Home – 3 Cedar St S
23. William Nassau Doble Home – 12 River St
24. Thomas Welsh Home – 20 River St
25. Robert Doble Home – 48 River St
26. The Bank – River Street (CIBC) – 74 River St
27. The Brock House Hotel – 82 River St
28. The Hardware Store – 92 River St
29. The Early Undertaker – 96 River St
30. The Printing Shop – 98 River St
31. The Magic Door – 100 River St
32. The Sunderland Legion – 104 River St
33. 108 River Street – 108 River Street
34. Freeze Creamery – 5 Church St N
35. The Sunderland Memorial Arena 1948-2009 – 20 Park St