Memories of the “Old Barn”

In this second part of the two part series on the Old Barn, I present to you a collection of memories from former players, staff and fans.  To begin, I will share my fond memories.  One of the biggest things that I missed when the Giant Center opened was the live organ music.  To me, that was something very nostalgic about the Old Barn.  It really enhanced the feel of the building.  Many people talk about ‘old school hockey’. I don’t think you can get much more old school than an organ playing repeated bars of “Charge!” to get the crowed going. If you ever had the chance to sit there, you will also remember how steep it was.  Your feet were just about on the shoulders of the person in front of you.  On the other hand, it gave you a fantastic view of the game.  

I was at the very last regular season Bears game played in the building, and I still have my tickets.  When the Giant center opened, I was at the first game there.  On that night, they handed out posters depicting the Old Barn and Giant Center.  I now have that poster framed with my tickets from the last Old Barn game and the first Giant Center game: memories that will last a lifetime.

While researching this story, I came across a video story about the Old Barn’s last game.  It takes you through the history of the building and some memories from various people. I was able to get comments from a couple of those people and you will find them after the video. The video is about ten minutes long and well worth every second of that time.

I had the opportunity to ask John Paddock, current Assistant GM of the Philadelphia Flyers and former Calder Cup winning coach of the Bears, about what his fondest memories were of the Old Barn.  Paddock told me over the phone that of course one of his best memories of his time in Hershey was winning the Calder Cup, but that wasn’t won in the Old Barn.  His best memory of his time in the building was the fans.  “You could get seven or eight thousand people in there and they were so loud.  Because of the way the building was made, they were right on top of you”. It’s the intimacy of the building that he remembers most, and he’s right. They don’t make them like this anymore and likely never will.

I’m not sure what the future holds for this building. Eventually progress will win, and the building will be gone. After that all we will have is our memories of it’s greatness. Maybe you weren’t fortunate enough to see a Bears game in the arena. Instead, go watch the local college team play a game. You could even rent the ice and put together a pick up game. Either way you need to experience this building and its history while you still can. Make your own memories. The people I talked to for this story have some good ones to share. Enjoy what it is that makes the Old Barn special to them. I also encourage you to leave your own memories in the comments.

Mike McHugh, Captain of the 1996-1997 Calder Cup winning team.

For me the fondest memory of the Old Barn was the triple overtime game 6 win against the Philadelphia Phantoms in the 1997 Calder Cup playoffs.  I think it would have been tough to find two teams in any sport that year that hated each other more, and if we lost game 6 then we would have been eliminated. There was so much energy in the arena.  The fans were on their feet the entire game urging us on. As the game went on, I would come off the ice after each shift in the 2nd and then 3rd overtime. It was hard to sit down on the bench without cramping up, but the Old Barn was rocking.  It was so sweet to see Blair Atchenym bury the OT winner. After we jumped on Atch to celebrate the winner, I remember looking up at the big clock and it was after 1:00 AM and nobody had left the arena. Awesome memory!

John Walton, Director of Broadcasting for the Washington Capitals and, of course, former voice of the Bears

Mine would only be from as a visitor with Cincinnati. I remember the Ducks never winning much in there, but how great the fans were around the visiting radio area. Little did they know I’d be the home guy one day, but they always were great to talk to. The view of the game was second to none, once you made it to the tiny platform that you had to work with. Hersheypark Arena is a true hockey treasure.

Kim Payne, former Off Ice Official among other positions with the Bears

One of the most popular Hershey Bears during the 1960’s was defenseman Barry Ashbee who played 8 seasons for the chocolate and white. He later was a standout for the Philadelphia Flyers but his career was cut short by an eye injury and he became an assistant coach. He tragically died of leukemia in 1977.

He was also involved with one of the most bizarre incidents ever to occur during an Arena hockey game.

During the 1965-66 hockey season, Ashbee was marred in a slump and fans started harassing him. One in particular, who sat in the Lower Mezzanine, resorted to calling Barry some derogatory names. After one such chorus, Ashbee was at wit’s end and had enough of the verbal abuse. He quickly exited the bench, and with sparks flying, he “skated” up the steps after the detracting spectator. Bob Payne, the Bears radio play-by-play man, was sitting in the Press Box as #2 quickly flashed by asked: “Where you going Barry?” “I’m going to get that son-of-a-bitch” he angrily replied.

Fortunately, Ashbee was restrained by Coach Frank Mathers, Trainer Scotty Alexander and others and cooler heads eventually prevailed. Suffice to say that fan didn’t abuse Big Barry any more while he wore a Bears uniform.

In the infamous words of Rodney Dangerfield: “I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out!”

On Aug. 16, 1977, HERCO officials and Elvis Presley’s manager, Col. Tom Parker, verbally finalized a deal for The King of Rock ‘n Roll to play the arena. The contract would be signed, a promotional announcement distributed and tickets would shortly go on sale. “Elvis the Pelvis” would certainly be the most popular performer to ever appear at the venue and it would be the biggest concert in the arena’s then 41-year history. Later that same night, the news would be broadcast nationwide – Elvis Aaron Presley had died at Graceland in Memphis of a prescription drug overdose. He was 42.

Fans:
Allison Peters

My Dad, John Peters is an Off-Ice Official. We’d head to grampa’s house to pick him up before the game, Dad would go into the Employee Entrance and Grampa and I would go inside to sit in our seats. Our first seats were behind the goalie (which neither end had nets at the time) so Grampa and I would wrap our jackets around our arms and lift them up to guard our face in case a puck would come up during pre-game practice or during the actual game. Grampa always had some type of snack in his pocket – mostly pretzels. We’d get 50/50 tickets every game. I can’t remember winning any of the raffles, but after they’d call the numbers, we’d rip the tickets into shreds and throw it in the air once the Bears scored (I’m sure the ushers appreciated that.) And the organ. That was his favorite.

Tyler Smyers

I would normally come to Hershey (from NJ) on my birthday to see a game. One year I saw the Bears play the Philadelphia Phantoms (late 90’s) and down on the far end of the ice there was a big blood brawl started by Scott Parker (My favorite player at the time and RIVALRY). [Tyler had the chance to meet Parker] I had braces at the time and I just had them tighted/changed. I said to my parents “I don’t know why you are putting me through all this. When I get older I want to play in the NHL. What player has teeth?” My parents explained this story to Parker after a game and he said to me with a hug and big smile “that’s right kid let the NHL pick up and pay for your teeth”

Seth Lennon

The old barn was simply unreal. The defining moment was the first ever meeting between the Bears and the Phantoms during the AHL/NHL preseason double headers they used to have. The hitting was some of the most intense that I had ever seen and guys were brawling left and right…despite the fact that it was a pre-season game. Even Brian Boucher (in his first professional game ever) got into it going one on one with Petr Franek. That was one thing I could never ever forget.

James Niles

1. The last regular season game. I believe they packed 8,100 in there. I remember my dad telling me about in 1980 when they got 8,300+ in there so it was neat to see the Barn flourishing one last time. You could feel the building shake – unforgettable.

2. Last summer when I took a full tour of the building (locker rooms included) for my program article. Walking down narrow, winding staircases was incredible. And achieving a personal dream of walking down the Bears’ tunnel to the ice gave me chills thinking of all the people who did it before me.