Centre Acadien, Université Sainte-Anne

The Little Brook Parish Hall (The Roller Skating Rink) – In Little Brook, Digby County, there stands a nondescript building well back from the main road; what is not obvious to the casual observer is the history associated with this building.

The building, originally located much closer to Route 1, first saw the light of day as the parish hall for the Sainte-Marie (Church Point) Parish. In those very early days, in addition to providing a venue for various parish activities, the grounds were teeming once a year with folks attending the annual Agricultural Exhibition, which sponsored events typical of such an occasion: displays, competitions, the sale of vegetables, livestock exhibitions.

The building itself was multi-functional. Inside the Parish Hall or “la Hall du Prêtre” (the Priest’s Hall), as it was known by locals, a number of activities were carried out, including movies, as there were no local movie theatres. But perhaps the most popular activity, still fondly remembered by a whole generation, was roller skating.

As a roller skating rink, it became the place for young people to meet. Extremely popular were the young male students from Collège Sainte-Anne, many of whom were from Québec and the Magdelen Islands, some of them marrying girls from the area and settling in Clare.

Not only was the roller skating rink a meeting place for the youth of Clare, but it expanded the theatrical tradition of the area by mounting spectacular shows. Shown here is a photo taken at the first “Rollercade at the Little Brook Roller Skating Club,” which presented six shows over five days. Each show was a full-scale production with sixteen numbers, with props and full costumes (e.g., Nautical Moments, Cinderella, the Gay Nineties).

At some point before the 1960s, the building was relocated to its current spot, set back a greater distance from the main road. The venue, which had been owned by the local Eudist congregation, was purchased by Louis and Virginia Gaudet and the building became a bowling alley and pool hall, continuing its life as a fun venue for residents of all ages in Clare.

Topic: Sports and Leisure

Date: [ca. 1952]

Reference: Université Sainte-Anne Collection Centre Acadien Series D, photo 284

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