Page 121 A New Golden Era “The Porcupine Camp” Page 1 19 meeting girls when the foor was installed in the main arena for roller skating. Saturday night wrestling shows with the biggest names in the game were popular and Gene Autry and other super stars of Hollywood and the re - cord world packed the stands. Bickell had all these activiti es, and many others, in mind when he told the crowd at the curling rink dedica - tion that he wanted children to make the fullest use of the building and its equipment. If it could contribute to strong, healthy bodies and active, clean minds, he would “reckon” that the money put into it was well spent. Several dozen future National Hock - ey League players skated on the ice of the arena, just as many fgure skating champions took their frst halting steps on the main ice surface before graduat ing to the private prac - tice rink. Most children in The Porcupine cheered for the T oronto Maple Leafs and since Bickell had strong connec - tions to the tea m, he brought the team and the magic of the NHL to the Mac. The team was split into Whites and Blues for exhibition games in Schu - macher and in Kirkland Lake. The seating capacity of the Mac are - na was 1,850 and standing room in - creased that fgure to 2,000 but the three exhibitio n games at the Mac, Oct. 27, 28 and 29, 1939 saw the legal limit exceeded, according to reports at the time. The T oronto sweaters sold out in T im - mins long before Christmas but the few local Montreal Canadiens fans got to publicly support their team. Throughout its days the McIntyre has hosted provincial, national and inter - national events ranging from hockey , fgure skating, curling, conventions, concerts, the BIG Event Northern Mines Expo, exhibitions and shows. T imes change, the McIntyre Mine closed in 1988 and most of the park and all its faci lities were destroyed during a failed ef fort to extra ct gold from the mine tailings used to fll in the lake upon which the park was build. The Schumacher Lions service club, which now uses the former bowl - ing alley space for its meetings, has undertaken the rehabilitation of the reminder of the park as a long-term project. The basketball and badminton courts are now a ballroom where weddings and banquets are held but the build - ing remains a central part of being a “Schumacherite.” The city now owns the building and the park and it has spent mill ions to upgrade and modernize the Mac, guaranteeing many warm memories for future generations. Bickell says ‘MAC’ money well spent