2003 Inductees

1943-44 Berwick Mens Curling Team

This team made unequalled history in the winter of 1943-44 in three major curling events, even though no championship had been won. The "Father and Son Rink"(so dubbed by the bonspielers), skipped and mated by Howard (son) and Ern Margeson (father), respectively, together with their teammates Waldo Lovelace and Wayne Early on no less than three occasions came within an ace of bringing home the championship trophy.

In their first major event of the season the team was runner up for the Ralston Cup in the Western Counties bonspiel. Their next event was the Provincial Johnson Cup Championship in Truro where they received the J.D. MacKenzie Shield for runners-up in that event.

After winning the club championship the team entered the Provincial Championship being held at the Halifax Curling Club. Twenty of the most skilled rinks from all over Nova Scotia had assembled there. Berwick lost their first game to Kentville, then rallied to eliminate team after team. First it was Bridgewater, then Windsor, Dartmouth and finally a 12-10 extra end thriller over Yarmouth. They advanced to the final three where they lost to Halifax 11-6. Halifax then beat Sydney 14 to 7. In the format of the championship the Berwick team met Sydney for the runner up, and showing real form, they defeated the Cape Bretoners by a score of 10-5.

Owing to shortages of hotel accommodations many players slept in Pullman Railway Cars, at the CNR terminals. The last night the Pullman Cars had been withdrawn leaving players scratching for sleeping quarters in hotel lobbies and furnace rooms. As well as this inconvenience players carried their own curling stones in wooden boxes weighing 44 lbs. each.

Three major bonspiels, three runner up titles, an incredible accomplishment for these Berwick curlers.

Skip: Howard Margeson
Mate: E.W. (Ern) Margeson
Second: Waldo Lovelace
Lead: Wayne Earley

Inducted June 2003