R.I.P. Jackson Skating Rink

Razing Jackson Skating Rink 11-22-2015When I photographed the building that had been the Jackson Skating Rink in 2010, it had already morphed into another use. On a drive to Marble Hill a few weeks ago, I saw that the rink was no more. (Check out the link to learn some interesting things about the history of the rink going back to the early 1950s.)

I don’t think I ever skated there, but Brothers Mark and David did.

I was confused

Razing Jackson Skating Rink 11-22-2015In fact, I posted some pictures of kids skating back in the 60s and thought they might have been taken inside the Hanover Skating Rink. Several readers said I was wrong, and some others thought it was the MaryAnn Rink. After a lot of give-and take, Fred Lynch provided proof that it must have been the Jackson rink by the process of elimination.

Follow this link to weigh in (it also lists a bunch of other skating-related posts).

Floor no more

Razing Jackson Skating Rink 11-22-2015

All of us who grew up hearing our wooden wheels click across wooden floors like this one find modern rinks strangely silent.

You have to wonder how many beginner bottoms bounced off those boards.

Hanover Skating Rink?

Hanover Skating Rink c 1966I’m going to stick my neck out here and say this was some kind of special even at Hanover Skating Rink. I’m tentative because I don’t remember all those windows. On the other hand, all of my skating was done on Friday nights when it would have been dark outside and the windows wouldn’t have been apparent.

The sleeve says the photos were taken in 1966 but I couldn’t find a story to go with them.

LANDMARK ALERT!

After I hit the PUBLISH button, I noticed that this is the 1000th post I’ve made to the Cape blog. That’s about 987 more than I thought I’d do. I guess I can take a nap now. I guess it’s appropriate to point out that Amazon link at the top left of the page. Think of me when you shop online. There’s a DONATE button, too, but I hate to ask for bucks. Just do your shopping through the link.

OK, It’s not Hanover.

Some folks (see comments) speculated that the rink might have been the Maryann, but Fred Lynch found a Frony  photo that eliminated that. Then, he dug some more and found a “mystery photo” that showed Hanover with a tall rounded ceiling in keeping with its Quonset hut past. Click on the links in his comments to see the photos. (You might have to press Ctrl-F5 to refresh your browser to see them)

Other skating stories

Hanover Skating Rink c 1966

 Hanover photo gallery

Click on any photo to maker it larger, then click on the left or right side of the image to move through the gallery. Let me know if I guessed wrong and this ISN’T Hanover.