Name/Title
Lakeview Casino Dance Hall Grimsby Beach 1923Entry/Object ID
P2008-01-07-116Description
In August 1920, the Lakeview Casino dance hall opened and was a big hit! Located at the lake at the foot of Park Road, the building was constructed on the lake embankment, part of it extending over the shoreline. Built of reinforced concrete, it was 66 feet wide and 168 feet long, had a very high ceiling and was well ventilated on all sides. On the lake side, large doors opened to a balcony.
On opening day, a crowd of 822 visitors joined in the dancing to Codey's 5-piece orchestra. The 5,000 sq. ft. dance floor could accomodate up to 250 couples dancing at a time. Owners of the building were Mr's Stevens and Johnson.
Hosting large bands and orchestras, it operated through the dance craze of the 1920s into the depression years to 1936. The depression caused financial difficulties and other large dance halls in Hamilton and Toronto drew clients away. By the late 1930s the structure was in disrepair, with some of the lakeside portion reported to have fallen into the lake around 1938.
Stephens closed it when an agreement could not be reached on reducing taxes. He began to dismantle it as a means of avoiding any taxes, but the Township put it up for a tax sale. The Beach community hoped to acquire and convert it to a community center but that did not materialize.
The lakeside portion was partially dismantled in 1943; in 1947 the remaining structure was acquired and converted to a manufacturing plant for Pittsburg Water Heater Co. The plant subsequently burnt in 1951 as the result of arson and was not rebuilt; the Water Heater plant relocated to temporary facilities on Elizabeth St.Context
Lakeview Casino Dance Hall Grimsby Beach 1923Collection
Grimsby ParkLocation
* Untyped Location
black filing cabinet
