A History of Curling in Owen Sound, Ontario & the Grey Granite Club
By Lance McCluskie
Our recreational sport of curling in Owen Sound has roots back to the year 1875. This date has been confirmed in a 1915 edition of the Owen Sound Sun, a local newspaper published twice weekly at that time.
Our Early Years
In those early years curling was played in church sheds, indoor and outdoor hockey and skating rinks, and the Pavilion and Coliseum. In 1893, two sheets of ice for curling were contained in the Boyd Street (5th Avenue East) Rink. The Grey Rink Company Limited established a six-sheet curling rink at 727 – 2nd Ave. East in 1915. This facility was “taken over” by the Department of National Defence in 1942 as an Armouries. In 1950 a group of local curling enthusiasts re-asserted ownership of this club. Refrigeration facilities provided artificial ice and in 1951 the Grey Granite Club came into being.
The Fire
An arsonist’s fire on April 29, 1972 destroyed the lounge facilities of the Club and it was re-built in its present-day configuration.

Later Years
A second Owen Sound curling facility was deemed necessary around 1961 and was eventually realized as the Blue Water Curling Club.
Owen Sound curlers have accomplished many successes over the years at the club, zone, regional and provincial levels. We are rich in crests, plaques and trophies and also in memories of our wonderful years.
Download the full history document, written by Lance McCluskie here.
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