The Meiklejohn

The “Meiklejohn Trophy” was first played for in 1912 and was won by the Fergus Curling Club team consisting of (left to right) T. J. Hamilton, J. B. Bayne, John Graham, and skip John Mennie.

From its’ beginning, The Meiklejohn Bonspiel was always the highlight of the Harriston Curling Club’s season. Teams came from all across Ontario by train and brought their own curling stones to compete with. Ward’s Livery Service would deliver the stones to the “Palace Rink” from the train station. The competitions ran over a six day period so the competitors booked room and board at the local hotels for $1.00 per day’s stay.

The curling competitions continued day and night for bonspiel games were all twelve (12) ends long. Hotel staff might have to waken curlers at 3:00 A.M., feed them and send them on their way to the rink. There was no club house at the “Palace Rink” so curlers would return to the hotels between games to swap their stories.

This magnificent trophy remains a focal point at the Harriston Curling Club as well as one of the oldest – longest played bonspiels in Canada. The trophy was donated by the John Meiklejohn Family in 1912.