Postcard courtesy of ?? Information was lost.
Courtesy of Syracuse Standard, Thursday May 14, 1885.
Courtesy of Syracuse Newspapers, The Post Standard, February 28, 1955. Front page.
Courtesy of the Syracuse Post Standard. March 2, 1955. Demolishing the landmark building with a wrecking ball.
Courtesy of Onondaga Historical Association.
Alhambra Roller Skating Rink James Street and Pearl Street, Syracuse, NY
This roller rink was perhaps Syracuse, New York's first. They had been around in 19th Century at Clinton Square where the Syracuse Newspapers building is located. It was quite different kind of rink. Stylish with several stories. Perhaps they were offices of other businesses but the rink was on one of those floors. Only source I can find was a post card and it failed to clearly what it was. It appeared to be Edwardian in style which brings to late 19th Century just before the turn of the century.
They had a fire twice. The second time, it was done for and the owners decided not to rebuilt. It was close to the time anyhow that the Federal Government and New York State took over as they drew their plans for a new Interstates. Both 81 and 690 where both highways meet in the intersection very close to where the rink was. The second fire was really massive that it was enough to burn down entirely. Unable to preserve as historic as they wanted to. It was enough to be a historic building.
The Fire --
The fire first was spotted by Syracuse detectives who noticed smoke were coming out of the west side wall of the rink at 2 a.m. They alerted the 50 patrons who were still inside the Supper Club to depart the building quickly as they activated the fire alarm.
TWENTY fire departments including 12 engines and four truck companies and fire equipment were send to Alhambra to fight the fire. The fire departments were Solvay, Liverpool, East Syracuse and Mattydale (and I am sure the city itself too and many more) fought the fierce fire for more than six hours. Finally they stopped the fire. Several firefighters were overcome by smoke and one somehow managed to escape serious injury after being knocked over by falling debris.
About 2,000 spectators stopped to see the fire were going home from nightclubs. Other spectators watched the action from the rooftops from neighboring buildings. Because of the size of the building and the out of control fire for six hours, this is why they stayed up to watch it burned.
They believed that the fire had been caused by arson after another minor fire had been intentionally set three hours before at an apartment house at North State Street, but they had no evidence.
In 1955, the Alhambra was home to the Supper Club, Syracuse Plastic Molders, Crawford Door Sales, Syracuse, Inc, the Jack Mancini Tobacco Company, Poodle’s Restaurant and the Adams Floor Company.
Both this rink and Criterion Roller Rink were practically neighbors on the same street. Just merely 3 to 4 blocks from each other!
Alhambra was nicknamed as "Syracuse's Madison Square Garden." Several rinks in the Northeast US were nicknamed as "Madison Square Garden" as their dreams to name their own city's rinks. This question rises.. Did the real Madison Square Garden ever have a roller rink? Good question. Did they?
From the Syracuse Post Standard --
“Those were the days when roller skating knew no age limit and the Alhambra was the city’s skating palace. The days of great voices and personalities, both in the theater and in politics; of gracious living in mansions shaded by majestic trees moving up the hill on James Street, of cotillions and balls of a magnificence that has not been matched since, The days when the manly sport of boxing was for gentlemen only, as no lady ever attended.”
Needs more information and any early photographs would be helpful. Thank you!
The original from 1884 to 1899 -
The Interior.
Wooden floor. Unknown.
The Exterior.
The original is unknown and was burned in 1899.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Likely wood (both rinks) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1884 Demolished: First one - 1899 by fire.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Walled Forum/Basillican style Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
The replacement building--
The Interior.
Likely they had the rink on main floor upstairs, not on ground level because they are many steps to reach the ground floor. Quite up the stairs.
The Exterior.
It was on a corner and it was very grandiose building with styles. It was likely on upper floors as you can see with stairs. Likely that was where the rink located. What a workout walking the stairs up and reach that floor. Good warm up before skating! It appeared to be Edwardian in design.
The original replacement because of the fire, it was built in 1900.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Likely wood (both rinks) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1900 Demolished: Feb. 27, 1955 by fire.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Walled Forum/Basillican style building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1884 to 1899 [fire] and from 1900 to Feb. 27, 1955.
Reason for Closure: Feb. 27, 1955 major fire, owner decided not to rebuilt (it was 2nd major fire).
Wanted: Information regarding Information regarding building size, rink size, who owned it, photos of interior. And dates!
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Sources: Postcard. Fulton History, Syracuse Newspapers - Alhambra fire;
Updated: 27 January 2021, 21 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
They had a fire twice. The second time, it was done for and the owners decided not to rebuilt. It was close to the time anyhow that the Federal Government and New York State took over as they drew their plans for a new Interstates. Both 81 and 690 where both highways meet in the intersection very close to where the rink was. The second fire was really massive that it was enough to burn down entirely. Unable to preserve as historic as they wanted to. It was enough to be a historic building.
The Fire --
The fire first was spotted by Syracuse detectives who noticed smoke were coming out of the west side wall of the rink at 2 a.m. They alerted the 50 patrons who were still inside the Supper Club to depart the building quickly as they activated the fire alarm.
TWENTY fire departments including 12 engines and four truck companies and fire equipment were send to Alhambra to fight the fire. The fire departments were Solvay, Liverpool, East Syracuse and Mattydale (and I am sure the city itself too and many more) fought the fierce fire for more than six hours. Finally they stopped the fire. Several firefighters were overcome by smoke and one somehow managed to escape serious injury after being knocked over by falling debris.
About 2,000 spectators stopped to see the fire were going home from nightclubs. Other spectators watched the action from the rooftops from neighboring buildings. Because of the size of the building and the out of control fire for six hours, this is why they stayed up to watch it burned.
They believed that the fire had been caused by arson after another minor fire had been intentionally set three hours before at an apartment house at North State Street, but they had no evidence.
In 1955, the Alhambra was home to the Supper Club, Syracuse Plastic Molders, Crawford Door Sales, Syracuse, Inc, the Jack Mancini Tobacco Company, Poodle’s Restaurant and the Adams Floor Company.
Both this rink and Criterion Roller Rink were practically neighbors on the same street. Just merely 3 to 4 blocks from each other!
Alhambra was nicknamed as "Syracuse's Madison Square Garden." Several rinks in the Northeast US were nicknamed as "Madison Square Garden" as their dreams to name their own city's rinks. This question rises.. Did the real Madison Square Garden ever have a roller rink? Good question. Did they?
From the Syracuse Post Standard --
“Those were the days when roller skating knew no age limit and the Alhambra was the city’s skating palace. The days of great voices and personalities, both in the theater and in politics; of gracious living in mansions shaded by majestic trees moving up the hill on James Street, of cotillions and balls of a magnificence that has not been matched since, The days when the manly sport of boxing was for gentlemen only, as no lady ever attended.”
Needs more information and any early photographs would be helpful. Thank you!
The original from 1884 to 1899 -
The Interior.
Wooden floor. Unknown.
The Exterior.
The original is unknown and was burned in 1899.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Likely wood (both rinks) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1884 Demolished: First one - 1899 by fire.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Walled Forum/Basillican style Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
The replacement building--
The Interior.
Likely they had the rink on main floor upstairs, not on ground level because they are many steps to reach the ground floor. Quite up the stairs.
The Exterior.
It was on a corner and it was very grandiose building with styles. It was likely on upper floors as you can see with stairs. Likely that was where the rink located. What a workout walking the stairs up and reach that floor. Good warm up before skating! It appeared to be Edwardian in design.
The original replacement because of the fire, it was built in 1900.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Likely wood (both rinks) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1900 Demolished: Feb. 27, 1955 by fire.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Truss Cinderblock Walled Forum/Basillican style building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1884 to 1899 [fire] and from 1900 to Feb. 27, 1955.
Reason for Closure: Feb. 27, 1955 major fire, owner decided not to rebuilt (it was 2nd major fire).
Wanted: Information regarding Information regarding building size, rink size, who owned it, photos of interior. And dates!
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Sources: Postcard. Fulton History, Syracuse Newspapers - Alhambra fire;
Updated: 27 January 2021, 21 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.