Stanley, Edward W., Recreation Center
Also known as: Clinton Arena
Why it's listed
Clinton's ice arena at 36 Kirkland Avenue is a two-story concrete block building with an arched aluminum roof carried on Douglas fir trusswork modeled on a Pennsylvania truss. An entrance block holds the ticket area, locker rooms, offices and a second-floor display space, while the rink block seats 2,200. It was built in 1953 on the foundations of a 1948 arena that burned. Volunteers helped clear the site, residents voted 387 to 0 to rebuild, and the new arena opened 62 days after construction was authorized. Frank P. Cartwright drew the engineering plans and H.R. Beebe Company was the contractor. The arena is considered locally significant because it became the center of Clinton's identity as a hockey town. It has hosted youth and high school hockey, the Clinton Comets, figure skating shows and concerts, and it functions much like a community center. It remains in use as a sports facility today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the arena is locally significant for its role in twentieth-century social and recreational life in Clinton, which is known as a hockey town. It hosted hockey, figure skating and community events, and was rebuilt quickly after a fire with donated labor, money and materials. Its function is compared to a town hall or community center.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10000029, listed February 17, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 36 Kirkland Ave., Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Oneida County |
| Listed | February 17, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000029 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1954 |
| Architect / builder | H.R. Beebe Company (contractor); Frank P. Cartwright (engineer) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a sports facility and community venue; the form lists both historic and current function as sports facility. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 43.05561, -75.37636 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10000029.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5134061
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.