There's a sign for the Rec Complex at the corner of Father David Bauer Drive -- just past the Clay & Glass Gallery on Erb. Before you get to the complex itself, you'll pass by a few other notable, if not beautiful, sights.
To the left, you see what is today a bit of an industrial eyesore, but which for much of the 20th century was the site of some of the city's major businesses.
Charles Mueller's cooperage -- at one time Canada's largest producer of barrels and kegs (and, as you might expect, a supplier to Seagram) -- moved here in early part of the century. It was sold in 1920 and became Canada Barrels and Kegs Ltd., and later Canbar.
The dilapidated remains of the Globe Furniture Company can also been seen to the left. Globe manufactured school, church, and theatre furniture and wood carvings. It operated from 1906 until the early 1950s. The City of Waterloo bought the factory in 1985 and is in the process of dismantling / demolishing it.
To the right, the big "bubble" with the brick facade is what remains of the Waterloo Memorial Arena. It opened in February 1947 and was constructed at an estimated cost of $128,000. The city's previous arena had been torn down in 1921, and Waterloo went more than 45 years without a hockey arena. The Memorial Arena was never quite up to engineering standards and was finally condemned and demolished in 1987.
Moving from the old to the new, you come to the Waterloo Recreation Complex -- the city's premier public ice arena and swimming facility (pictured, at top). It opened in 1993 and has hosted the Scott Tournament of Hearts (Canadian women's curling championship) and various hockey tournaments and concerts. The pool (the "Swimplex") admits over a quarter-million swimmers each year.
This page was generated entirely byWeb Gallery Mate without human editors.
This page was generated entirely by
Web Gallery Mate without human editors.
