The number 100 has had a significant and varied life. NFLers cover 100. It is percentage’s goal; 100 provides the template for history, e.
g. 1900s; metrics revolves around it; 100 symbolizes energy to numerologists. And whenever something’s age reaches 100, there is usually a fuss with parties, fireworks, media excitement, perhaps a book.
Alas, no one made a fuss at 80 Schneider Ave. this recent Aug. 7 when one of my favourite Kitchener buildings turned 100.
On Aug. 7, 1924, the brand new Victoria Park pavilion hosted a huge celebration — a Grand Opening for a structure that had been sorely missed! But 100 years later ..
. yawn! The first pavilion, erected in 1902, was burnt down in 1916: for eight years the park had no picnic shelter, no dance hall and no meeting place. Following that Aug.
7 party, it did ...
for a century (from Latin, centum = 100). A Victoria Park neighbor, Ruth Otterbein of Water Street, kept a close camera eye on the pavilion’s construction in summer 1924. This is the original west end.
Not many public buildings survive 100 years providing much the same function ...
the pavilion has. Although impossible to list a century of pavilion activities, let’s try. Taken 20 years after the opening view, a Kitchener Daily Record photo from almost the same spot shows how the maturing landscape helped the pavilion nestle into the environment.
Dancing? Music? Theatre? The floor has bounced to pounding feet; the rafters have rung with melodies; hands have ache.
