An indoor ice arena built for a city of skaters

There were many skating rinks scattered throughout Berlin historically, but in 1946-47, the Notre Dame Arena was built, replacing the Coulombe Rink located in the same area. The cost was $65,000, but about half of that was covered by donations, and the arena was governed by the Notre Dame Association, a separate entity, closely involved with the Catholic Church and created to help keep kids occupied and off the streets.

The new arena was completed in the late fall of 1947, and the first game was played in it in January 1948. That same year, Notre Dame High School won the New Hampshire State Hockey Championship and the Berlin Maroons won the New England Amateur Hockey Association Championship.