Robert “Butch” Johnson (left) and Harold “Hardy” Henry place coins at centre ice before the Southampton Coliseum floor pour June 13.
In a Town of Saugeen Shores submission, last month saw 30 truckloads of concrete poured on the Southampton Coliseum floor as part of the arena renovation project.
During the pour June 13, two previous long-time Coliseum employees met at centre ice to each place a coin to be buried under the concrete. Harold Henry, locally known as “Hardy,” placed a coin from Southampton’s 125th anniversary and Robert “Butch” Johnson placed a Saugeen Shores Pumpkinfest coin from the year 2000. The men had worked at the Coliseum for 30 plus years each, with many fond memories from their time at the facility.
Both recalled when the arena was rebuilt in the 1970s, including the final winter before the new facility opened. That winter the ice pad and boards remained for the 1976-77 ice season and players played outside on the original pad but without a roof.
As former Southampton Recreation Director recalls, “It was the snowiest winter ever.”
The floor pour is part of the Town’s Coliseum Floor Replacement construction project, which is anticipated to last until the end of August 2019.
