Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Source: a blogger- Wayne on Babb's Beach.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Source: Babb's Skating Rink Facebook Fan Page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Beautiful black-n-white photo of original building. Date is unknown. Source: National Register of Historic Places.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. This clearly dated 1936. Noticed the ceiling was exposed compared to the next photo which was more updated in later years. Also they had a lot of cloth banners, valances, and sunburst paper pendants. Source: Babb's Skating Rink Facebook Fan Page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Updated appearance. Source: Babb's Skating Rink Facebook Fan Page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Noticed the stage in shell like but roman-style so that big bands and known musicians could play on stage for dancing and perhaps roller skating as well. The type of light pendants appeared to be from 1960s but not sure. Source: National Register of Historic Places.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Source: Babb's Beach Roller Rink Facebook Fan page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Source: Babb's Beach Roller Rink Facebook Fan page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Source: Babb's Beach Roller Rink Facebook Fan page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Source: Babb's Beach Roller Rink Facebook Fan page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. courtesy of Babb's Beach Roller Rink Facebook Fan page. Wow, those chairs were really interesting. metal frame and legs! That is awesome. Banner and funny money were interesting too. Especially about funny money. I have seen those for other businesses in the 1970s. Apparently that was... popular at the time. Sure miss those funny coupons or funny money. You noticed the curved shell thing in the wall, that was where the bands played (see photos way up) hence the seating for those who wanted to sit and watch band play and skaters skates or dancers danced. Source: Babb's Beach Roller Rink Facebook Fan page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. The community wanted to restore the old rink into a skating rink again and use as skating and dancing hall as part of the park that is owned by the town. Source: Babb's Beach Roller Rink Facebook Fan page.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. I believe this is the before renovation because of the color of siding. Source: Wikipedia.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. I see a pontoon in the lake. Nice boat you got there, boater! Yes, she mentioned in Facebook that it was her and her boat. Source: Babb's Beach Roller Rink Facebook Fan page
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT. Truly sad. Source: Hartford Courant Friday September 27, 1996.
Babbs Roller Skating Rink Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT
Babb's Beach Amusement Park Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT
Babb's Beach Amusement Park Congamond Lakes, 435 Babb's Road. West Suffield, CT
This unique rink was in West Suffield, Connecticut. This rink had been around for a long time and had much history to the rink. It goes back to the 19th Century! Babbs was part of the amusement park at West Suffield at the time.
It had its start in 1898 that the Babb Family founded and operated a summer lake resort on the lake, Lake Congamond. It was on the shores. That resort was called, Babb’s Beach Amusement Park (and Resort). It was a one of many late 19th Century Amusement parks, not a Trolley Park. One of first modern amusement park. Or more practically was a Steamboat Park.
The skating rink was originally opened along with the Babb's Beach Amusement Park in 1898. However, I read somewhere they had a fire and rebuilt the current roller rink in around 1930s but as a dance hall and well-known musicians and their big bands during 1930s and 40s as the Big Band Era of 1920s to 1940s played everywhere.
Later, in 1977, the Babb Family donated the approximately Seven (7) acre property to the Town of Suffield. Nelson Babb had a life-use and continued to operate the skating rink until 1996. Babb's Beach was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 21, 2006. In 2016, the Town made extensive improvements and officially reopened the park and beach to the public in 2017. Yay, finally a Skating rick is registered in as National Register of Historic Place. (See this also.. NRHP Application) good for them!
On October 31, 2003 the Town entered into a four-year lease with four extension periods with Citizens Restoring Congamond (CRC). CRC agreed to utilize its non-profit status to conduct fundraising and restore the 11,000 SF building as a roller skating rink. The Town received a $100,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant from the State of Connecticut to help with the restoration. Continued restoration of the rink building is contingent upon additional funding.
But in 2010, as they were restoring the former rink, Vandals damaged the building worth 5,000 USD (in 2010 adjustable for inflation). Vandals damaged the site where volunteers have spent a great number of hours rebuilding the structure in the hopes of reopening it to the public. I do not know the fate of the vandals such as being arrested, and pay for the damages. I sure hoped the police did arrest them-- fingerprints, foot prints, you name it. I am sure they were arrested. The cost of 5,000 Dollars damaged to 4 windows, 2 already installed, 2 sitting waiting to be installed, full gallon of paint was opened and spilled on the roller rink and piano that the committee was going to sell to raise funds because the cost of restoration was at 1 Million USD. They were able to only raise 250,000 USD at the time of the break-in and the damages. ONLY thing the criminals stole were first aid bandages! Clearly because the investigators and the volunteers found were blood on the broken windows. DNA can really catch you and puts you in jail or prison these days! Hopefully insurance did pay for it and had to redo the floor and piano by sanding down and redo them to its perfection. If you like o donate I am sure they still need money to raise, contact Babb's Beach link and go from there and ask where you can donate money to. I am sure it is ongoing.
This was only a little history of the bad side but the town never gave up and restored once again to its former glory and it is now restored and reopened as of 2017 for skaters to come to skate there. It is a beautiful Mansard roof and skirt roof building. Very unique looking and beautifully restored to its former glory since 1930s. Likely the rebuilt in 1930s was a copy of the 1890s. This is a MUST visit for skaters to see this and a rarity for modern 20th Century skaters to see an old 1930s building based on 1890s skating! Please check out their website at.. Babb's Beach.
From what I see about the rink by observation on those photos, it is a beautiful building and looks new! That is because it is fully restored to what it was in the past. Very beautiful place. One of the highest marks I would say if I am there. Well, when I get there and evaluate. With this, already scored high when I do the Alive Rink evaluation because it has awesome appearance. And beautiful wood floor..
Most of you are out of towners so you would have to pay 20 Dollars to pay for admission to the park which includes the Skating Rink. It did not say about skate rental so when you get there, find out because their website does not say anything about rentals.
The history with this amusement park and skating rink began with Curtis Babb who then passed down to Nelson Whittaker Babb Sr. whose son, Nelson Whittaker Babb Jr. inherited the business. It was family run for three main generation. Curtis purchased the property which eventually became Babb's Beach Amusement Park and Resort. Curtis and then his Son Nelson Sr. were transporting their customers which eventually function like a Trolley Park would do where Trollies ended their run at the park. But with the Babbs, it was steamboat. It was a Steamboat park.
Nelson Sr evidently inherited the park and then passed down to Nelson Jr with the same way. But in 1977 the family donated to the town as Nelson Jr. kept operating the rink till 1996.
Before that, in 1985 that Nelson Babb Jr. married Nancy in Mid November but in 1989, they were heading for divorce. It is tragic to hear people divorce after those 4 short years. Even shorter than 4 years especially at their age. A murderer murdered Nancy Babb on February 23, 1989 and went on a spree including kidnapping a woman to enter her store she just closed and demanded for money. He was already out on parole but because of the nature of crime, he had to be restored to his original sentence for the 1971 murder seven more years and top of that life sentence for the murder of the former rink owner's wife who was in processing of a divorce.
Nelson Jr. only suffered a minor injury caused by the same man, Raymond C. Ludden. The State wanted him for death penalty but due to some legal reasons that prevented them to sentence him to death such as drug uses and mental health disorder.
Nancy Babb was a volunteer in the prison to help teach prisoners reading and writing so they can be reformed out of prison to be more productive. This is how Raymond knew his victim. Prayers goes out to all of the family and friends and skaters of Babbs Roller Rink.
One thing I checked is the website to the park. It is not available! It is down for some reason.
The building was originally a horse barn that Nelson Babb Senior designed the rink himself and converted to a historic rink.
The rink closed actually in June 1996 but was sparsely used as rink till 2006.
There is a lot of history related to this rink so please do read more about it not just Wikipedia but read this here--
National Register of Historical Places.
The Interior.
It is very simple design with Maple wood floor, exposed Steel-Truss roof support, exposed natural wood ceiling, it does appear high making the feel more room and because of how those trusses look. It is mansard style.
Currently with White and Blue stripe wrapped around, it does make it feel more spaced area to skate. Also it appeared to be long because of the way the exterior looks to me.
It can hold 3,000 dancers on any night. Slightly less for roller rink. But the rink was small itself as well. at 48-1/2'- x 124' or 6,014 Square Feet. That would be slightly bigger than half of a NHL rink.
The Exterior.
Beautifully restored long building with Mansard roof Steel Truss support makes the building looks long and unique in its design. Already National Register of Historical Sites. One of first skating rinks registered I believe. Unless anyone else was first. The one in State of Washington, the Portland's Oak Park Skating Rink is the oldest continuing operating rink (the oldest burned down in c. 2017 or 18 in upstate NY). The other known is the Purcellville Skating Rink / Bush Tabernacle). The Bush Tabernacle is registered. It has two different hues of green. The upper part apparently look like Forest Green as the lower half looks like Olive Green. Perfect colors for the building to compliment with the park all greens.
Original 1890s to 1930s:
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Early 1930s.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: Replaced.
Updated 1930s to 2006 and 2017 to present:
The Stats:
Rink Size: 48-1/2'- x 124' (6,014 SF) . Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: FAN.
Building Size: 11,000 SF. Built: N/A. Demolished: Rebuilt from original in 1932, little damages by hurricane in 1955, after closed, rink was in disrepair, renovated in 2010 to 2017 (with redo in 2010 due to vandals damaged to rink).
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Mixed, Mansard, Hip skirt, Extend Gable.
Acres: 7 Acres.
NRHP reference: No. 06000591.
Added to NRHP: July 12, 2006.
Operated: 1898 (NRHP) to 1930, c. 1932 to June 1996 with continuation till 2006, and 2017 to present.
Reason for Closure: Replaced1930s, June 30, 1996 (2006) was when Nelson Jr. had numerous of fire safety violations so he retired and gave the town the rink, and the present version is reopened. Electrical repairs at 30,000 USD.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Babb's Beach website
Vandalism hits the rink 2010
Journal Inquirer - Investigators investigate rink damages in 2010
Babb's Beach - A view by a blogger
Wikipedia; National Register of Historic Place (Web);
National Register of Historic Place (PDF)
NRHP Application (PDF)
Murder of Nancy Babbs
Babb's Beach - another view of same awesome beach
Wikipedia
Facebook - Babb's Beach fan group
Hartford Courant - Friday September 27, 1996
Email - 20 April 2022.
Facebook - Babb's Roller Skating Rink
Worth to visit:
YES!
Date of Issue: 2020.
Updated: 20 April 2022.
For Office Only: 15.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
It had its start in 1898 that the Babb Family founded and operated a summer lake resort on the lake, Lake Congamond. It was on the shores. That resort was called, Babb’s Beach Amusement Park (and Resort). It was a one of many late 19th Century Amusement parks, not a Trolley Park. One of first modern amusement park. Or more practically was a Steamboat Park.
The skating rink was originally opened along with the Babb's Beach Amusement Park in 1898. However, I read somewhere they had a fire and rebuilt the current roller rink in around 1930s but as a dance hall and well-known musicians and their big bands during 1930s and 40s as the Big Band Era of 1920s to 1940s played everywhere.
Later, in 1977, the Babb Family donated the approximately Seven (7) acre property to the Town of Suffield. Nelson Babb had a life-use and continued to operate the skating rink until 1996. Babb's Beach was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 21, 2006. In 2016, the Town made extensive improvements and officially reopened the park and beach to the public in 2017. Yay, finally a Skating rick is registered in as National Register of Historic Place. (See this also.. NRHP Application) good for them!
On October 31, 2003 the Town entered into a four-year lease with four extension periods with Citizens Restoring Congamond (CRC). CRC agreed to utilize its non-profit status to conduct fundraising and restore the 11,000 SF building as a roller skating rink. The Town received a $100,000 Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) grant from the State of Connecticut to help with the restoration. Continued restoration of the rink building is contingent upon additional funding.
But in 2010, as they were restoring the former rink, Vandals damaged the building worth 5,000 USD (in 2010 adjustable for inflation). Vandals damaged the site where volunteers have spent a great number of hours rebuilding the structure in the hopes of reopening it to the public. I do not know the fate of the vandals such as being arrested, and pay for the damages. I sure hoped the police did arrest them-- fingerprints, foot prints, you name it. I am sure they were arrested. The cost of 5,000 Dollars damaged to 4 windows, 2 already installed, 2 sitting waiting to be installed, full gallon of paint was opened and spilled on the roller rink and piano that the committee was going to sell to raise funds because the cost of restoration was at 1 Million USD. They were able to only raise 250,000 USD at the time of the break-in and the damages. ONLY thing the criminals stole were first aid bandages! Clearly because the investigators and the volunteers found were blood on the broken windows. DNA can really catch you and puts you in jail or prison these days! Hopefully insurance did pay for it and had to redo the floor and piano by sanding down and redo them to its perfection. If you like o donate I am sure they still need money to raise, contact Babb's Beach link and go from there and ask where you can donate money to. I am sure it is ongoing.
This was only a little history of the bad side but the town never gave up and restored once again to its former glory and it is now restored and reopened as of 2017 for skaters to come to skate there. It is a beautiful Mansard roof and skirt roof building. Very unique looking and beautifully restored to its former glory since 1930s. Likely the rebuilt in 1930s was a copy of the 1890s. This is a MUST visit for skaters to see this and a rarity for modern 20th Century skaters to see an old 1930s building based on 1890s skating! Please check out their website at.. Babb's Beach.
From what I see about the rink by observation on those photos, it is a beautiful building and looks new! That is because it is fully restored to what it was in the past. Very beautiful place. One of the highest marks I would say if I am there. Well, when I get there and evaluate. With this, already scored high when I do the Alive Rink evaluation because it has awesome appearance. And beautiful wood floor..
Most of you are out of towners so you would have to pay 20 Dollars to pay for admission to the park which includes the Skating Rink. It did not say about skate rental so when you get there, find out because their website does not say anything about rentals.
The history with this amusement park and skating rink began with Curtis Babb who then passed down to Nelson Whittaker Babb Sr. whose son, Nelson Whittaker Babb Jr. inherited the business. It was family run for three main generation. Curtis purchased the property which eventually became Babb's Beach Amusement Park and Resort. Curtis and then his Son Nelson Sr. were transporting their customers which eventually function like a Trolley Park would do where Trollies ended their run at the park. But with the Babbs, it was steamboat. It was a Steamboat park.
Nelson Sr evidently inherited the park and then passed down to Nelson Jr with the same way. But in 1977 the family donated to the town as Nelson Jr. kept operating the rink till 1996.
Before that, in 1985 that Nelson Babb Jr. married Nancy in Mid November but in 1989, they were heading for divorce. It is tragic to hear people divorce after those 4 short years. Even shorter than 4 years especially at their age. A murderer murdered Nancy Babb on February 23, 1989 and went on a spree including kidnapping a woman to enter her store she just closed and demanded for money. He was already out on parole but because of the nature of crime, he had to be restored to his original sentence for the 1971 murder seven more years and top of that life sentence for the murder of the former rink owner's wife who was in processing of a divorce.
Nelson Jr. only suffered a minor injury caused by the same man, Raymond C. Ludden. The State wanted him for death penalty but due to some legal reasons that prevented them to sentence him to death such as drug uses and mental health disorder.
Nancy Babb was a volunteer in the prison to help teach prisoners reading and writing so they can be reformed out of prison to be more productive. This is how Raymond knew his victim. Prayers goes out to all of the family and friends and skaters of Babbs Roller Rink.
One thing I checked is the website to the park. It is not available! It is down for some reason.
The building was originally a horse barn that Nelson Babb Senior designed the rink himself and converted to a historic rink.
The rink closed actually in June 1996 but was sparsely used as rink till 2006.
There is a lot of history related to this rink so please do read more about it not just Wikipedia but read this here--
National Register of Historical Places.
The Interior.
It is very simple design with Maple wood floor, exposed Steel-Truss roof support, exposed natural wood ceiling, it does appear high making the feel more room and because of how those trusses look. It is mansard style.
Currently with White and Blue stripe wrapped around, it does make it feel more spaced area to skate. Also it appeared to be long because of the way the exterior looks to me.
It can hold 3,000 dancers on any night. Slightly less for roller rink. But the rink was small itself as well. at 48-1/2'- x 124' or 6,014 Square Feet. That would be slightly bigger than half of a NHL rink.
The Exterior.
Beautifully restored long building with Mansard roof Steel Truss support makes the building looks long and unique in its design. Already National Register of Historical Sites. One of first skating rinks registered I believe. Unless anyone else was first. The one in State of Washington, the Portland's Oak Park Skating Rink is the oldest continuing operating rink (the oldest burned down in c. 2017 or 18 in upstate NY). The other known is the Purcellville Skating Rink / Bush Tabernacle). The Bush Tabernacle is registered. It has two different hues of green. The upper part apparently look like Forest Green as the lower half looks like Olive Green. Perfect colors for the building to compliment with the park all greens.
Original 1890s to 1930s:
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Early 1930s.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: Replaced.
Updated 1930s to 2006 and 2017 to present:
The Stats:
Rink Size: 48-1/2'- x 124' (6,014 SF) . Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: FAN.
Building Size: 11,000 SF. Built: N/A. Demolished: Rebuilt from original in 1932, little damages by hurricane in 1955, after closed, rink was in disrepair, renovated in 2010 to 2017 (with redo in 2010 due to vandals damaged to rink).
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Mixed, Mansard, Hip skirt, Extend Gable.
Acres: 7 Acres.
NRHP reference: No. 06000591.
Added to NRHP: July 12, 2006.
Operated: 1898 (NRHP) to 1930, c. 1932 to June 1996 with continuation till 2006, and 2017 to present.
Reason for Closure: Replaced1930s, June 30, 1996 (2006) was when Nelson Jr. had numerous of fire safety violations so he retired and gave the town the rink, and the present version is reopened. Electrical repairs at 30,000 USD.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Babb's Beach website
Vandalism hits the rink 2010
Journal Inquirer - Investigators investigate rink damages in 2010
Babb's Beach - A view by a blogger
Wikipedia; National Register of Historic Place (Web);
National Register of Historic Place (PDF)
NRHP Application (PDF)
Murder of Nancy Babbs
Babb's Beach - another view of same awesome beach
Wikipedia
Facebook - Babb's Beach fan group
Hartford Courant - Friday September 27, 1996
Email - 20 April 2022.
Facebook - Babb's Roller Skating Rink
Worth to visit:
YES!
Date of Issue: 2020.
Updated: 20 April 2022.
For Office Only: 15.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.