History of Sport

History of the Pitt Meadows Athletic Association

At a meeting held on January 28th, 1938 a provisional board of directors was appointed to arrange the formation of the Pitt Meadows Athletic Association with the object of having a park and playground. Those on the committee were Hugh Campbell, W.J. Park, J.S. McCabe, Jack Prevost, W.T. McArthur and George McMyn. Stan Sharpe was the secretary. By-laws containing 49 clauses were drawn up and the organization was duly registered under the “Societies Act”.

The first elected officers were: President H. Campbell, Vice President W.J. Park, Secretary Stan Sharpe, Treasurer Harry Anderson, Directors Jack Prevost, G. McMyn, J.K. Austring.

Land adjoining the hall property was purchased from F.V. Harris at $200 per acre. The Pitt Meadows Council gave a grant of $300 with certain instructions to the association. A small portion of the property was already cleared and a lacrosse box was built for about $140 – for lacrosse was the then popular game; $253 was paid for equipment; $500 was a down payment on the property, and the P.M.A.A. was well on its way.

By the fall basketball and badminton were started. The clearing of the land was undertaken and the alder wood from the operation sold. G.S. McMyn appealed to the council for a withdrawal of taxes but was unsuccessful and reported that he must visit the council at a later date to further the matter. A series of dances were carried on to raise money but they were not always profitable.

A lease was taken on the right of way from Western Canada Power Company.

In 1939 Mr. W.J. Park became president, and George McMyn, the manager of the lacrosse team. The first bleachers were built. In 1940 Jack Prevost became President and continued until 1960. The Farmers Institute purchased grass seed for the park and Saturday night dances were started. Profits for the year showed $1.49. The year had been a lot of work and little to show.

In 1941 Norval Brown became secretary and James Anderson, treasurer. Norval Brown left the district in June 1941. No annual meeting was held until June 25, 1942, and there was not a quorum, meetings lapsed until May 28, 1943.

Meanwhile, Geo. McMyn had loaned $50 to complete the payments on the park and this was returned, with many thanks, as a dance had paid off. The deed was to be obtained and registered. Wm. Routley was thanked for a football he had given the club. He had previously given lacrosse sweaters. The club won the B.C. Lacrosse Provincial Intermediate championship in 1940. The meetings lapsed because of the war.

In 1944 more work was done on the park, it was ploughed and levelled. Seats for baseball were put in. Baseball shoes were purchased.

In 1945 20 members were present at the annual meeting. Wm. Routley was given life membership. New directors were Ted Ming and Hugh Trerise. Danny Sharpe became secretary and James Anderson continued as treasurer only.

In 1945 a more substantial grant was requested from the council. Badminton, basketball, baseball and softball flourished. A membership drive was held. The $70 balance from Miss Pitt Meadows Day festivities was received, to be used for further development of children’s recreation. A P.A. system was installed in the hall, the cost being shared by the Women’s Institute and the Farmers’ Institute, the total cost being $320. Assets, at the annual meeting in January 1946, were $1,781.36 so the year had been profitable. The primary object for the year to be the hard surfacing of the lacrosse box, with a view to playing tennis and roller skating in conjunction with lacrosse.

Ted Sharpe was secretary for 1946. Boxing gloves were bought for the school. Hoffmann was to build three swings and three teeter-totters with new pipe. Roy Lehman was to attend the baseball convention at Mission. Baseball equipment was purchased. Wild Duck Inn donated $250 to the baseball club. $125 was granted to the redecorating of the hall. J.D. Prevost purchased pipe for swings as Hoffmann had been unable to get it. A banquet for baseball players was held at Wild Duck Inn. Basketball sweaters were purchased and all baseball equipment was to be collected and dry-cleaned.

In January 1947, although the club had 62 members, only 20 attended the annual meeting. O. Austring and J. Sharpe were the new directors. Hugh Trerise was placed in charge of a concentrated drive for new members. Danny Sharpe was to assist him. The lacrosse box was dismantled. The Gun Club joined the P.M.A.A. in Saturday Night dances. Orchestra getting 60% and clubs 40%. Radio Mountaineers was the orchestra. In May, Frank Caws became secretary as Ted Sharpe had become too busy to look after the affairs of the association. Construction of a back-stop, bleachers and swings had been accomplished.

The large sign near the highway had again been erected thanks to J.K. Austring of Alouette Peat Products. A basketball banquet was held at the hall, catered by local women. Softball for girls and junior baseball were sponsored. Junior baseball received uniforms. Ball games for the season showed a balance of $164.50 and thanks were tendered to Ted Ming for all his work during the season. Thanks to B.A. Paint, there was a baseball scoreboard. Twenty-five dollars was the fee for the Fraser Valley Basketball League. The New Year’s Even dance showed a profit of $550.16 shared by P.M.A.A. and Women’s Institute.

Local road signs were made for the erection in the district as well as highway signs. Mr. W.J. Park was made a life member at the annual meetings in 1948 when 70 members attended. The financial statement showed a bank balance of $1,589.51. Hugh Trerise resigned from the directorate and Doug McMyn and Harris White were new directors. At this meeting, there was a resolution to sponsor a Good Citizen Award, chosen by the committee from all organizations.

In 1949 J.D. Prevost continued as president; Dick Koopman, vice president and F. Caws as secretary-treasurer. A park fence was built. The annual sports banquet was held with 93 people attending. Ted Ming became P.M.A.A. representative to the newly authorized Hall Committee. After the 1948 flood on July 3 a dance was held by the P.M.A.A. and Gun Club, which netted $115, this sum being given to the Hall Committee for reconditioning the auditorium floor which had been damaged by hob-nailed boots during its use in the flood period.

In 1949 under brushing and the erection of seat and tables in the park was carried out. Officers remained the same. Members were 57, but the year of 1948 had poor weather and a flood so it showed an over-expenditure of $231.39 although total assets were $2,340.40.

During his years as secretary-treasurer Frank Caws had accepted no payment for his work, and to show the club’s appreciation of his efforts he was first given a pen and pencil set and later a radio.

Through all the years the P.M.A.A. gave regularly and generously to Miss Pitt Meadows Day, children’s Hallowe’en and Christmas treats, the Red Cross, the Cancer Fund, and at times the March of Dimes. In February 1963, $75 was donated to the Frank Caws memorial organ. They likely gave to other things not mentioned, as the minutes from 1950 until February 1962 seem to have disappeared. Twenty-five dollars to the sidewalk is referred to in ratepayers’ minutes.

Although the building of the swimming pool and wading pool is not actually mentioned in the minutes, by the amounts of money paid out to Gilley Bros. and other firms and what would appear to be labour, it would indicate that it was built as the minutes say “it was decided to finish the work around the swimming pool”.

In 1962 Sam Gonyou was president; Harry Seed, vice President; Mary Seed Secretary-Treasurer. Discussion on turning the park over to the Council was held and a resolution was passed to that effect which was carried out. Mary Seed was thanked for all her supervision of the swimming pool. She reported that 25 students had passed the Red Cross test. A Babe Ruth team had been sponsored. Since 1962 presidents have been John Schafer and Daniel R. Sharpe. Secretaries have been T. Clayton and Meryl MacGregor. Membership in 1964 was 35, and in 1965 was 41. There has been a discussion to disband the association since 1963.

The society was still active in the early 1990s.