Sports History in Ottawa and the Valley




August 17, 2007:
Thanks to Marlene O'Neil for the following photograph. A few of the names still need to
be identified. Do you recognize any of the persons in the photo? This
championship team probably played its home games at Brantwood Park between Main
Street and the Rideau River.

Ottawa East Best Baseball Team 1910
1910 Baseball Team - Ottawa East
Hi there - above is the photo - have added some information to hopefully twig some descendant to maybe take a look and can identify this small window on the German community in Ottawa and their passion for baseball. The cardboard pressed frame is labeled on top in rather crude white lettering by hand - 1910 Rideau League Valley Champs - on the back it says Ottawa East Best Ball Team 1910. The names written at the bottom are: Alex Wolfe, Bill Shandler, Archie Graham, Fred Martz, Ernie Romhild, Frank Schroeder, Fred Wings, (Geo Noffre, sic, George Noffke), Gus Romhild, Robert Romhild, Fred Wing, Fred Romhild. Ernie Schroeder, Bill Romhild, John Shandler, Mascot - Henry Wings (sic Winges) -- Noted as written on bottom of frame. There are 16 names written on the farm but 19 persons in the photo to add to the confusion. 1 - Mascot Front Middle - this is Henry Winges (1899-1981) son of Charles Winges and Annie Elizabeth Romhild. Family were residents at 236 Main Street in 1911. Henry married Johanna Fabricius in 1923. Left to Right - Row 1 behind Mascot 2 - unknown but looks like a Romhild 3 - Gus Romhild (1885-1983) son of Charles and Caroline Romhild - her married Elsie Risto from Pembroke in 1909 and was living in Nepean in 1911. 4 - unknown but looks like Romhild 5 - unknown but has age it appears over many of the players Row 2 6 - unknown but resembles Romhild 7 - unknown 8 - unknown 9 - unknown but looks like Romhild 10 - unknown ROW 3 11 - 19 - all unknown. NAMES TO MATCH TO FACES -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT NAMES Gus Romhild had two brothers Fred 1893-1916) living on Glenora Ave who was killed in action in WW1 and Ernie (1889-1976) who was married to Olga Risto and also like Fred fought overseas in WW1. Other than Gus have never seen a picture of them so not sure who is who per his brothers. Robert Romhild (1891-1978) son of Wilhelm and Bertha Cornelius was living at 56 Evelyn Street, He married Emma Thom and a second marriage Violet Kerr Bill Romhild - would assume name is actually Wilhelm or William but have no record to date for this person but he is related as this is the only line of Romhild in Canada Fred Martz - found him in the 1901 census in Carleton Ott East - son of Henry and Pauline Frosch - his birth delayed birth registration by his mother (192?) indicates Frederick August Henrich Martz, December 27, 1887 and the family were living at 186 Main Street. Bill and John Shandler are obviously related - possibly bros but the spelling could be incorrect of surname. Schroeders - mostly they lived in Renfrew so hard to figure out who is who given the duplicates of the names in census Fred Winges (1888-1966) believed to be the brother of the mascot Henry Winges son of Charles Winge and Annie Romhild - he married Wilhelmina Nutsheke(?). Archie Graham and Alex Wolfe - still nothing tangible at this time. ... Marlene O'Neil E-Mail: oneilm@rogers.com
January 3, 2008:
Stittsville Hockey Team, 1927-28
1927 Stittsville Hockey Team
The team members are: Front Row, L to R: C. Cathcart, S. Bradley, W. Paul (goalie), H. Argue, W. Wilson Back Row, L to R: C. Rothwell, E. Bradley, R.A. Bradley, J. Vaughan (manager), C. Wilson, O. Rothwell This is the team which travelled to Carp, Richmond, etc. by horse-drawn sleigh. C. Wilson is Clarence Wilson. W. Wilson is my uncle, Wilbert Thomas Wilson (Uncle Wib). Only the first initial of the players is given on the picture. Can anyone fill in the first names of the other players? C. Cathcart may be Clifford Cathcart. ... Al ________________________ New March 21, 2008: (players names updated) Thanks to Robert Sample, Debbie Prince and Sid Bradley for the following names of hockey players in the above picture: The team members are: Front Row, L to R: Franklin Anthony "Clifford" Cathcart -10 April 1904 to 20 Aug 1937, Silas Christopher Bradley-October 15, 1898 to April 20, 1972 William Paul (goalie), Thomas 'Howard' Argue - October 01, 1906 to January 04, 1972, Wilbert Thomas 'Wib' Wilson December 19, 1903 - February 11, 1992 Back Row, L to R: C. Rothwell, Eldon Bradley, Richard A.(Gus) Bradley, J. Vaughan (manager), Clarence Bertram Wilson- March 10, 1902 to December 22, 1977, (brother to Wilbert), Osborne Rothwell
January 28, 2008: Hi folks - I am not sure if you have come across any references to Hugh Masson's plough or Hugh and Donald's participation in what might be Canada's 1st Hockey game Dec. 25, 1852 (beating McGill University's claim by more than 40 years...). I finally found a picture of the 1852 hockey medal and quotes from Hugh himself in a 1904 publication. The original medal was donated to the Bytown Museum along with other Masson [and Anderson] artefacts (but they are not on display and are held in the Museum's facilities at the "Diefenbunker"). I am not certain if your Borthwick family connections include 1898 Ottawa Mayor William Borthwick, but thought I would send along a photo of him. Cheers - Bruce Hurley (I believe that the text below is from Anson Gard's The Hub and the Spokes. ... Al) Bytown Shinnie Medal -- 1852 Here is a text version containing the surnames from the article above: (for the search engine)
Shinny
This is one of the oldest sports, and from which grew hockey. It is our "shinny on your own side" which we used to play on the "crick" down there by the old bridge. Again I run across of ex Mayor Bingham. No wonder he loves children so much. I find he was one of the boys himself. In shinny he was an expert, with a goodly following of many old Ottawans, in which I find the names of the late Alexander Lumsden, James Mulroney, Terrence O'Neill ("Trickey Terry"), John Bulger, James McLaughlin, Hugh Masson and many others, now gone.
Medal of 1852 - A find in Shinny
Months after writing the foregoing, while looking up data a la Bytown, I ran right into a real "find" in shinny. It was a silver medal given in 1852. Mr. Hugh Masson, the last one of those who played in the match between New Edinburgh and Ottawa, is the holder. "Who are the players?" was my first question on seeing the relic of 52 years ago. "Of the Ottawa twelve I remember but one name," said Mr. Masson, "as I was then a stranger, having just arrived. That one was James Peacock, the hatter. My friends being in New Edinburgh I played on their team. We were dressed in our Scotch costume, the Ottawas were 'plain clothes' men. Of our team I remember seven of the players: John Lumsden, father of Alex, D.M. Grant, Allen Cameron, Peter Fraser, William McDonald, my brother Donald and myself. It was Christmas Day. The game was refereed by Captain John McKinnon, son-in-law of the Hon. Thomas McKay. We beat two to one. The medal was passed on to me; I am the last; all the rest having gone on ahead. I wonder will we have any shinny there? ________________________________ also posted on January 28, 2008: History of the Ottawa Curling Club.
New February 14, 2008: Ottawa SenatorsOur local NHL hockey Team, the Ottawa Senators, are making a strong run for the Stanley Cup this year. Listen to the games live on the Team1200 Radio Station.
Ottawa Silver Seven Hockey Team, 1904-05
Stanley Cup Champions
Photo Source: The Ottawa Sports Book by Jim McAuley 1904-05 Ottawa Silver Seven Team
Names: Dave Finnie, Harvey Pulford, Alf Smith, Arthur Moore, Harry Westwick, M.H. McGilton (trainer), H.L. Gilmour and Frank McGee (nephew? of Darcy McGee)
E-mail Marlene O'Neil, Bruce Hurley and Al Lewis
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