Community Centre

Groveton was too small to have a proper community centre, yet it had a community. The school house had to host community events, especially in winter, such as the occasional Crokinole parties and euchre tournaments. These events were fun for adults and kids without alcohol, of course, with some food, of course, and cost free, for sure.

Euchre is a card game whereby two sets of partners play to a total of ten points using a partial deck of cards. It is a great social game, because you can chat and joke as you play, and not be gravely serious and attentive as in bridge. Winning partners go on to play other teams until one pair win, but everyone has a great time along the way, except the ones who hate to lose.

Crokinole seems to a distinctly Canadian game using a circular board and checkers that are shot into the middle with the greatest of dexterity and delicacy. Two people can play or four can play partners. We used to have Crokinole tournaments in the school house with every household bringing its best waxed board. As with Euchre, there is a continual stream of repartee as the game progresses.

It is a little known fact that there is a World Crokinole Championship. It takes place in Tavistock, Ontario early in June every year. They have a web site at http://www.worldcrokinole.com/ from which I took the photo of last year’s singles event.