Playing a parents/kids game with my sons in 2010
March 6 2011 marked the 60th anniversary of this Grand Old city landmark. Opened in 1951, the Fort William Garden's has hosted numerous memorable events. For myself I cannot think of a building in Thunder Bay that hold's so many memories. Through the year's,I've attended numerous hockey games,junior,senior, exhibition,and my son's minor hockey games. The Westfort Hurricane's, Fort William Canadian's, Port Arthur Marr's were the first game's I recall attending with kids being warned to keep their noses away from the board's. The Fort William Beaver's vs Port Arthur Bearcat's in their final year's. Thunder Bay Oldtimer's vs Montreal Canadian Oldtimer's circa 1970, Frank Selke Sr was here with the team. The Thunder Bay Vulcan's (featuring Bill Goldthorpe aka Ogie Oglethorpe in Slap Shot) whipping the OHA Jr team's in exhibition game's, Thunder Bay Twins being the dominant Sr hockey team in Canada. I recall attending the Christmas show in the 60's with "George the Porter" & "Suzy Snowflake", attending a Rodeo with my Dad sitting on the west side. Numerous version's of the annual Shrine Circus I attended as well as the Sportsman Show,World of Wheel's Car shows, Roller Skating, etc. Of course concerts were attended ,my first I believe was Lighthouse in 1974. I saw The Bee Gee's,The Stampeders ,Sha Na Na ,Dr Hook, Alabama ,Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Burton Cummings, and The Guess Who in 2000 (the last time FWG was sold out). When Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) played the Fort William Gardens in June 1975 I had my "Day in Rock & Roll",working on the "Local Crew" helping set up the show. We started unloading the trucks around 11am working continuously right up to show time at 8 pm. Then it was security duty backstage after during the show,a unique experience. I took my parents to the Bob Hope show in Sept 1978, made even more memorable as Mom passed away that November. For the past four winters, my son's have played at the Fort William Gardens in the Northwood Hockey League. Remember how rare it was to get to skate there?
Through the years many big names played in the Fort William Gardens,Liberace,The Bee Gee's,Lighthouse, The Who, Hermans Hermits, The Everly Brothers, AC/DC ,Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Willie Nelson and so many other's. Adding to the list of big name performers at FWG. Bryan Adams returns in May 2012, And John Mellencamp makes a trip to the Gardens June 26/2012 Senior,Junior,NHL Exhibition games featuring Minnesota North Stars,Winnipeg Jets & Calgary Flames. Allan Cup Victories of Thunder Bay Twins,travelling European teams,"All Kids Night" with the Sr Beavers vs the Bearcats,and so much more I recall attending there. While its days are getting numbered, memories at Fort William Gardens will live forever.
Through the years many big names played in the Fort William Gardens,Liberace,The Bee Gee's,Lighthouse, The Who, Hermans Hermits, The Everly Brothers, AC/DC ,Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Willie Nelson and so many other's. Adding to the list of big name performers at FWG. Bryan Adams returns in May 2012, And John Mellencamp makes a trip to the Gardens June 26/2012 Senior,Junior,NHL Exhibition games featuring Minnesota North Stars,Winnipeg Jets & Calgary Flames. Allan Cup Victories of Thunder Bay Twins,travelling European teams,"All Kids Night" with the Sr Beavers vs the Bearcats,and so much more I recall attending there. While its days are getting numbered, memories at Fort William Gardens will live forever.
Dave Nicholson has put together a page chronicling all the events at the gardens. http://my.tbaytel.net/pafwinfo/FWG.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment