By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277
With the Amesbury Maples organization coming up on the 100th anniversary of its inception in 1924, plans to honor the many who wore the Kelly Green and White throughout the team’s history are underway. I had the pleasure of meeting with the Amesbury City Archivist Meghan Fahey this week at the library to hear what the city has planned for the upcoming festivities.
While Meghan and I discussed several options to help honor the Maples organization for the 100th celebration, one thing that became apparent in this meeting was we need a lot of help. Megan talked about gathering items from the Maples back in the day to borrow for display at a location later to be named. Fahey also mentioned that if there are any insecurities about lending precious family items, the library will ensure their safety wherever the items are housed for display.
What Items Are We Looking For?
We’re looking for old game-used hockey sticks used during Maples games, Maples jerseys, Maples player skates, Maples pictures, Maples paintings, Maples awards, and anything that’s Maples or hockey history in our community would be considered and greatly appreciated.
I’m also working on getting the Amesbury Maples recognized at the United States Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota. If anyone donates items for the 100th-anniversary display and would like to move any items to be shrined in the state of Minnesota, please let me know.
Amesbury Maples 100th Anniversary Outdoor Game
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove at the annual Caiden’s Crusaders Childhood Cancer Awareness fundraiser at Game Time on Haverhill Road (Rt. 110). Mayor Gove and I discussed the idea of an outdoor hockey game to honor so many Maples players who wore the Kelly Green and White jerseys in the past. The Mayor was very interested in this project and gave me the approval to measure an area in town and see if the grade is workable for this outdoor game idea.
Mayor Gove recommended the open area at the bottom of Water Street just before the bridge headed to the old Bartley Machine building, as seen in the image below. This will be our focus of land to go and take a look at and get some measurements to see if a full-size hockey rink can accommodate. I also shared two images of what could be purchased for this outdoor event from the great folks at EZ-Ice.com.
As you can see in the images above, courtesy of EZ-Ice.com, this particular hockey rink isn’t cheap. This plastic board set-up can be assembled easily and broken down to be stored for future winter recreation use for years to come. This project could also be made of wood and a plastic liner if a cheaper route is needed to build this ice rink structure.
No matter what method we decide on with this hockey rink project for the Amesbury Maples 100th-year anniversary, it’s going to take a fundraising effort to make it possible. I will be starting a Go-Fund-Me account for individuals and Amesbury businesses to donate. Businesses that donate will have the option for advertising opportunities for this event and will be in different donation tiers.
This project will need a decent amount of volunteers to make happen, so if anyone is interested in starting an Amesbury Maples 100th Anniversary outdoor game committee, please send me an email to blackngoldproductionsllc@gmail.com. We’re also open to other ideas you might have for an outdoor game or possibly another Amesbury city location where these festivities can be held if one location won’t accommodate a hockey rink. Please let us know and get involved!!
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