James Wallace Conant
Encyclopedia
James Wallace Conant was an amusement manager who later became the manager of the Schenley Park Casino
, as well as the first manager of the Duquesne Gardens
, the first indoor ice rinks in the city of Pittsburgh. Conant is credited with bringing the sport of ice hockey
to Pittsburgh, since the indoor ice rinks lured many Canadian
players to the city. Over time several of the Canadian players were actually paid to play hockey first at the Casino, and later at the Gardens. He was also the founder of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
, the first hockey league to openly hire and trade players.
in 1862. At the age of 15 he moved with his mother to Pittsburgh. Upon arriving in the Steel City, he took a job as a steward on a river steamer, out of a love for the rivers. Throughout his twenties he worked in theater houses, located in the city's Hill District, a few downtown night clubs, and as a coordinator for a barge company with docks along the Mon Wharf
.
, a political boss
in Pittsburgh. Conant persuaded Magee that the city's proposed multi-purpose facility, the new Schenely Park Casino, could included an artificial ice rink. The idea of an artificial ice rink, allowed for the construction of the Casino to go forward. During this time, interest in ice hockey grew in Pittsburgh. Hockey exhibitions were scheduled for Friday nights after the public ice skating session. Many Canadians players flocked to Pittsburgh to use the artificial ice. The ice surface provided the Canadian players two months of play before they returned home to play in outdoor leagues back home. It was at this time that several players were openly paid to play in Pittsburgh.
However 19 months after its opening, the Casino burned to the ground. The cause of the blaze was determined to come from an ammonia
pipe in the icemaking department. The pipe began leaking and the gas mixed with grease and created an explosion resulting in a fire that consumed the equipment room in the rear of the Casino and spread to the ladies’ dressing room. The fire not only destroyed the Casino, it also left Conant without a job.
. There he used his knowledge of artificial ice surfaces to manage the New York Ice Palace. However he returned to Pittsburgh every summer to work at Kennywood Park as a catering manager. He also ran a refreshment stand in the summers at Schenley Park
on the site of old Casino.
Meanwhile the Christopher Magee received the political and financial support to open a new multi-purpose facility in Pittsburgh, the Duquesne Gardens. Magee then chose Conant to manage the Gardens, a job he held from 1899 until 1903. It was during this time, that Conant formally established the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League.
or New York and began exploring business opportunities in those cities. He left for a business trip to the Northeast on March 3, 1906. On March 14, Conant died under mysterious circumstances at the Navarra Hotel in New York.
Controversy soon surrounded his death, since two versions of death were published the day after. While the morning newspapers said it was sudden and natural, the afternoon papers suggested alcoholism and infidelity were the cause of his death. He checked into hotel under the name of "J.C. Wallace" with two women ("wife" and "friend of wife"). However his wife, Margaret, was in Pittsburgh when she was notified of his death by a Pittsburgh doctor who was said to be traveling with Conant in New York. The doctor signed the death certificate, listing cause of death as "heart attack". A New York doctor later disputed the account of Conant's doctor, stating, "I am not at all convinced that this man died of natural causes." Robbery and murder were also hinted. The Pittsburg Gazette
reported the body was moved to the Navarra and that some dispute took place in New York. His personal belongs, including $600 and a diamond stickpin, were missing.
He was buried at Allegheny Cemetery
on St. Patrick's Day.
Schenley Park Casino
The Schenley Park Casino was Pittsburgh’s first multi-purpose arena. The facility was considered the envy of the sports and entertainment world during the early 1890's, with amenities that were unsurpassed anywhere on the globe. It was built at the entrance to Schenley Park in Oakland near the...
, as well as the first manager of the Duquesne Gardens
Duquesne Gardens
Duquesne Gardens was the main sports arena located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA during the first half of the 20th century. It opened 3 years after a fire destroyed the city's prior sports arena, the Schenley Park Casino, in 1896. The arena was the first hockey rink to use glass above the dasher...
, the first indoor ice rinks in the city of Pittsburgh. Conant is credited with bringing the sport of ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
to Pittsburgh, since the indoor ice rinks lured many Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
players to the city. Over time several of the Canadian players were actually paid to play hockey first at the Casino, and later at the Gardens. He was also the founder of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League , was a semi-professional ice hockey league from the early 1900s. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the league was the pre-eminent ice hockey league at the time in the United States...
, the first hockey league to openly hire and trade players.
Early life
Conant was born in Portsmouth, OhioPortsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:...
in 1862. At the age of 15 he moved with his mother to Pittsburgh. Upon arriving in the Steel City, he took a job as a steward on a river steamer, out of a love for the rivers. Throughout his twenties he worked in theater houses, located in the city's Hill District, a few downtown night clubs, and as a coordinator for a barge company with docks along the Mon Wharf
Three Rivers Park
Three Rivers Park is an urban waterfront park along the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The park, under development since 2000, is intended to be a landmark that will join Frick Park, Schenley Park, Highland Park, Riverview Park, and Grand View Scenic Byway Park...
.
Schenley Park Casino
At the age of 36, Conant's reputation in the amusements industry caught the attention of Christopher MageeChristopher Magee
Christopher Lyman Magee was a powerful political boss in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Along with William Flinn , his political partner, the two ran the Republican Party machine that controlled the city for the last twenty years of the 19th century.-Early life:He was born in Pittsburgh...
, a political boss
Political machine
A political machine is a political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses , who receive rewards for their efforts...
in Pittsburgh. Conant persuaded Magee that the city's proposed multi-purpose facility, the new Schenely Park Casino, could included an artificial ice rink. The idea of an artificial ice rink, allowed for the construction of the Casino to go forward. During this time, interest in ice hockey grew in Pittsburgh. Hockey exhibitions were scheduled for Friday nights after the public ice skating session. Many Canadians players flocked to Pittsburgh to use the artificial ice. The ice surface provided the Canadian players two months of play before they returned home to play in outdoor leagues back home. It was at this time that several players were openly paid to play in Pittsburgh.
However 19 months after its opening, the Casino burned to the ground. The cause of the blaze was determined to come from an ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
pipe in the icemaking department. The pipe began leaking and the gas mixed with grease and created an explosion resulting in a fire that consumed the equipment room in the rear of the Casino and spread to the ladies’ dressing room. The fire not only destroyed the Casino, it also left Conant without a job.
Duquesne Gardens
Coanant spent the next three winters in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. There he used his knowledge of artificial ice surfaces to manage the New York Ice Palace. However he returned to Pittsburgh every summer to work at Kennywood Park as a catering manager. He also ran a refreshment stand in the summers at Schenley Park
Schenley Park
Schenley Park is a large municipal park located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between the neighborhoods of Oakland, Greenfield, and Squirrel Hill. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district...
on the site of old Casino.
Meanwhile the Christopher Magee received the political and financial support to open a new multi-purpose facility in Pittsburgh, the Duquesne Gardens. Magee then chose Conant to manage the Gardens, a job he held from 1899 until 1903. It was during this time, that Conant formally established the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League.
Death
Conant then managed the Farmer's Bank Building, but that job only lasted nine months, after which he worked as a manager of a restaurant until September 1905. Conant had hoped to move his wife and mother to either BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
or New York and began exploring business opportunities in those cities. He left for a business trip to the Northeast on March 3, 1906. On March 14, Conant died under mysterious circumstances at the Navarra Hotel in New York.
Controversy soon surrounded his death, since two versions of death were published the day after. While the morning newspapers said it was sudden and natural, the afternoon papers suggested alcoholism and infidelity were the cause of his death. He checked into hotel under the name of "J.C. Wallace" with two women ("wife" and "friend of wife"). However his wife, Margaret, was in Pittsburgh when she was notified of his death by a Pittsburgh doctor who was said to be traveling with Conant in New York. The doctor signed the death certificate, listing cause of death as "heart attack". A New York doctor later disputed the account of Conant's doctor, stating, "I am not at all convinced that this man died of natural causes." Robbery and murder were also hinted. The Pittsburg Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
reported the body was moved to the Navarra and that some dispute took place in New York. His personal belongs, including $600 and a diamond stickpin, were missing.
He was buried at Allegheny Cemetery
Allegheny Cemetery
Allegheny Cemetery is one of the largest and oldest burial grounds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.It is a nonsectarian, wooded hillside park located at 4734 Butler Street in the Lawrenceville neighborhood and bounded by Bloomfield, Garfield, and Stanton Heights...
on St. Patrick's Day.