Moving south, just across Saunders Street, are houses that sit on the site of Fredericton's first indoor skating rink. The rink’s gigantic round structure was built on the same plan as the Victoria Rink in Saint John. Fredericton citizens called it the Circular Rink. It opened with great fanfare on December 17, 1868. Crowds of skaters and spectators filled the rink. In the balcony the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment military band played the skating music. However, after this Regiment left town in May 1869, the rink began to struggle financially. By 1880 the roof was leaking so badly that skating had to stop. An American company leased the building to store 45 tons of hay. But, on April 9, 1881, just 13 years after that grand opening, a huge fire destroyed the whole rink.
Corner of Saunders Street and York Street, 2012, Near Site of Former Circular Rink
Fredericton Heritage Trust
Victoria Rink in Saint John (Model for Fredericton Circular Rink)
PANB George Taylor Fonds: P5-434