Henry Calcutt
Henry Calcutt was involved in virtually every Peterborough sporting activity in the last half of the 19th century. He was a prominent local cricketeer in the 1860’s who believed in “the intrinsic value of sports in character building”. He was president of the Peterborough Turf Club in 1863 and Peterborough Baseball Club in 1885; first president of both the Peterborough Lacrosse Club in 1867 and “Tuque Bleu” Snowshoe Club in 1874; and an executive member of the local cycling and football clubs as well. In 1870 Calcutt, a successful Ashburnham brewer, converted property from his flax mill to an indoor curling and skating rink in what is now James Stephenson Park. Fifteen years later he would go on to build the first local baseball park in its present “Riverside Park” location. Ever the entrepreneur, he offered home delivery of kegs of ale; built a resort “Idyll Wild” at the mouth of the Otonabee and Rice Lake; and a fleet of river steamers to ferry holiday throngs to his resort. He would organize regattas and tournaments of various sporting events and provide silver trophies, fine dining and of course a drink of ale. He died in 1913
Year Inducted:
1988
Status:
Deceased
Henry Calcutt was involved in virtually every Peterborough sporting activity in the last half of the 19th century. He was a prominent local cricketeer in the 1860’s who believed in “the intrinsic value of sports in character building”. He was president of the Peterborough Turf Club in 1863 and Peterborough Baseball Club in 1885; first president of both the Peterborough Lacrosse Club in 1867 and “Tuque Bleu” Snowshoe Club in 1874; and an executive member of the local cycling and football clubs as well. In 1870 Calcutt, a successful Ashburnham brewer, converted property from his flax mill to an indoor curling and skating rink in what is now James Stephenson Park. Fifteen years later he would go on to build the first local baseball park in its present “Riverside Park” location. Ever the entrepreneur, he offered home delivery of kegs of ale; built a resort “Idyll Wild” at the mouth of the Otonabee and Rice Lake; and a fleet of river steamers to ferry holiday throngs to his resort. He would organize regattas and tournaments of various sporting events and provide silver trophies, fine dining and of course a drink of ale. He died in 1913