Walking out of the woods at the Norwich Conservation Area on the east side of Norwich Dam, I was greeted to peals of laughter coming from children skating on the ice. With bonny temperatures on Sunday there was quite the crowd out on the two ice rinks. Make shift goal posts made from two sets of boots looked so cute I had to return to take pictures. Two families with their young children were skating, or being pushed around, on the large square shaped ice rink. On the other rink local youths were getting ready to play a friendly game of hockey.
Skaters on large ice rink.
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Getting ready to play hockey.
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Ed and Chris have been coming here for years with 5 year old Sadie but this was the first time out as a family for Janaart and Danielle with their three children Ethan 3, Madyson 9 and Connor 6. However, Janaart use to skate on the Norwich Dam as a child. To help Ethan, Janaart and Danielle brought a chair. Janaart reported that a man from the house next door came and left a skating aid. Tyler Zylstra has been coming to skate here his whole life. At 20 years old he was joined with his hockey buddies JJ Harden, Mike Reeves and others.
Danielle with her 3 year old son Ethan.
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Hockey buddies Tyler Zylstra, JJ Harden, Mike Reeves and two others.
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Two families out on the large ice rink. In questioning both groups who maintained the rinks every year they reported the man who lived in the house next door did. Twelve years residing in Norwich every year the ice has always been cleared with a few rinks and I assumed the County maintained them. To get answers I went to the house next door. Marty and Jenny Hahn were kind to let me in and answer my many questions. The Hahn's have resided in their house near the Norwich Dam for 16 years. Marty has maintained the ice rinks on the dam for 13 years. That is when Marty and Jenny first became grandparents. Now they have 4 grandchildren who all skate on the ice. A few years ago Marty bought two skating aids for a dollar as no one knew what they were. However, he saw them at the Norwich Arena. But now his 4 year old granddaughter skates unaided.
For 5 or 6 years Bert and Marian VanVliet have assisted Marty in maintaining the rinks. Bert and Marian made the large ice rink this year. Marian reported that they felt the need for two rinks for there is “always kids playing hockey but some who don’t.” She enjoys every minute helping as they have a teenager at home who uses the rink.
As soon as he sees kids wanting to skate Marty shovels the snow to make a rink. He leaves out a shovel, snow scoop and a goal post or two to be used. Someone made a bench 5 or 6 years ago which Marty brings in every spring and takes out every winter so skaters and hockey players alike can use it. Marty tries to keep the ice smooth as long as he can but once it gets soft the children walk on it to see if it's okay to skate on. "Walking on the ice when it is not completely frozen prevents the ice from being smooth which makes it impossible to maintain." Every year is different for Marian to assist with the ice maintenance due to work etc. “But if the kids want to skate they can help shovel too.”
Growing up in Norwich Marty did not skate at the dam. Al Munro, local jeweller (his store is where Paul Wood's real estate office is now) magician, town clown and movie producer, had a rink at his house then located at the corner of Cook and Elgin Streets. Aside from maintaining the ice rinks, Marty also cleans up garbage around the park, in the water as well as along the 4 kilometers of trails in the woods. He also ensures the garbage bins get emptied by calling the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (L.P.R.C.A.). Last year L.P.R.C.A. came out with chain saws to clear the trails.
It appears that Marty Hahn is the Keeper of the Dam and the trails at the Norwich Conservation Area. Hail to him and to Bert and Marian VanVliet for maintaining the ice rinks on the Norwich Dam to allow residents to continue to skate and play hockey.
Gallery of photos from the ice rinks on the Norwich Dam.
For 5 or 6 years Bert and Marian VanVliet have assisted Marty in maintaining the rinks. Bert and Marian made the large ice rink this year. Marian reported that they felt the need for two rinks for there is “always kids playing hockey but some who don’t.” She enjoys every minute helping as they have a teenager at home who uses the rink.
As soon as he sees kids wanting to skate Marty shovels the snow to make a rink. He leaves out a shovel, snow scoop and a goal post or two to be used. Someone made a bench 5 or 6 years ago which Marty brings in every spring and takes out every winter so skaters and hockey players alike can use it. Marty tries to keep the ice smooth as long as he can but once it gets soft the children walk on it to see if it's okay to skate on. "Walking on the ice when it is not completely frozen prevents the ice from being smooth which makes it impossible to maintain." Every year is different for Marian to assist with the ice maintenance due to work etc. “But if the kids want to skate they can help shovel too.”
Growing up in Norwich Marty did not skate at the dam. Al Munro, local jeweller (his store is where Paul Wood's real estate office is now) magician, town clown and movie producer, had a rink at his house then located at the corner of Cook and Elgin Streets. Aside from maintaining the ice rinks, Marty also cleans up garbage around the park, in the water as well as along the 4 kilometers of trails in the woods. He also ensures the garbage bins get emptied by calling the Long Point Region Conservation Authority (L.P.R.C.A.). Last year L.P.R.C.A. came out with chain saws to clear the trails.
It appears that Marty Hahn is the Keeper of the Dam and the trails at the Norwich Conservation Area. Hail to him and to Bert and Marian VanVliet for maintaining the ice rinks on the Norwich Dam to allow residents to continue to skate and play hockey.
Gallery of photos from the ice rinks on the Norwich Dam.
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