Benson Park Roller Rink Benson Park, Shawnee, OK. Postcards from 1907. Source: Rootsweb.
Benson Park Roller Rink Benson Park, Shawnee, OK. Postcards from 1907. Source: Rootsweb.
Benson Park Roller Rink Benson Park, Shawnee, OK
This age old rink at the time, Benson Park Roller Rink was at Benson Park, Shawnee, Oklahoma. It was the main park for the residents of Shawnee in this new decade of the 20th Century. It was opened on 1 September 1907 including a roller rink, a roller coaster, natatorium (indoor pool), an amphitheater, and massive picnic areas.
The opening ceremony was a matinee during the day was given by the “Beggar Prince” Opera Company. Park patrons attended both the matinee and the night performances as they enjoyed the first show. Interurban cars were packed to the full capacity until midnight, carry people both ways which was located two miles south of Town of Shawnee. Several buildings, such as the boat house, dance hall, and café were not yet completed. However, they were ready before the season was over.
They had the Interurban cars, perhaps the trolley connecting the two towns and this park. So, sort of a Trolley Park.
When entering to the park from the trolley, there was a large rustic bridge was constructed across the lagoon. These rustic bridges were scattered throughout the park. Fountains were erected at different places in the park. It was more of a water fountains park if you want to say. Kind of reminds you of Cypress Gardens (ceased operations) but quite different than any trolley parks or even steamboat parks. Not even like a standard early 20th Century amusement park. Benson Park's theme focus were water fountains. Recreational/amusement including.
The park was full of water fountains as it was a theme in a 21.5 acres. Deka Development Company purchased the land from Thomas “Wildcat” Alford. It was sold on 17 July 1907. Deka Development Company which was owned by William E. Hyde and Russell H. Alexander. The cost for the purchase was for $3,190.50. The Shawnee Traction Company had dedicated $85,000 to the project. The park was named for C.J. Benson, a local banker and chairman of the Board of Shawnee-Tecumseh Traction Company. It would thrive for a quarter of a century as one of the main entertainment centers in the area.
The park thrived for at least 25 years. They ceased in 1932.
The Interior.
Must have been very rustic looking due to the nature of architecture of 1900s at the time. And very Earth-Tone. But also Craftsmen style were popular at the time. Since this is a park, they designated similar to what State Parks and Federal Parks buildings are styled after today. The floor and I am sure the buildings itself were all Maple. Perhaps all from local forests just immediately North.
The Exterior.
It was a Hip and Bonnet roof building built by the water lagoon where people can ride boats. the two story building was designed to have two different entertainment. Lower floor was a boathouse with a dock in the rear and upstairs, a roller rink. All wood built. Trusses and walls. Many postcards and photographs demonstrate a popular view of this more than any part of the park seen on the internet. It was a popular spot I believe because it was most beautiful part of the park.
Photographs were usually Black-and-White but by the judgement I see, it may have been Dark Forest Green walls similar to a State Park or Federal Forestry Park building would or may have been Dark Brown Stain walls and posts. Again, similar to the government owned parks buildings you see today.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, Finished Maple. Floor Layout: Likely Straight.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1907. Demolished: Yes but date is unknown. C.1932.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood Trusses Wood-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Hip with Bonnet.
Acres: 21.5 Acres.
Architect: N/A.
Contractor: N/A.
Interior Designer: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Duck Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Candlestick Bowling Lanes: None.
Pocket Billiard Tables: N/A.
Air Hockey Tables: N/A.
Foosball Table: N/A.
Basketball Speed: N/A.
Amusement Rides: Roller coaster.
Driving Range Slots: None.
Miniature Golf Course: None.
Arcade: (Number unknown)
Skee-Ball: N/A.
Fascination: None.
Restaurant: None.
Cocktail lounge: None.
Laser Tag: None.
Bounce Houses: None.
Bumper Cars: None.
Go-Kart: None.
Motel: None.
Swimming Pool: Natatorium (indoor pool)
Jungle Gym Playground: None.
Skate Park: None.
Theater (movie/stage): Amphitheater.
Dance Center: None.
Picnic Grove: Massive.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1 September 1907 to 1932.
Reason for Closure: Decline, maybe Depression caused many not want to go to the park.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also, photos/articles. Also send me any updates such as reopening, sold, name changes, or whatsoever occurred with this rink or any rinks. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at Rink-History©. Before you email, please state this rink name AND THE CITY AND STATE (or COUNTRY) so I can know where or what rink you are talking about. Thank you. We welcome both active and defunct rinks.
Sources:
Shawnee, OK History website
OK History website
News-Star - opening of the park
Postcards - Benson Park (Rootsweb)
Worth Point - postcard of BPRR
Amusement Parks - OK History;
Date of issue: 09 June 2021.
Updated: 28 June 2023.
For office use only: 2.
Worth to visit:
None.
DISCLAIMER:
International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© (formerly known as Dead-Rinks) and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. We do not endorse such illegal activities including breaking and entry of former rinks, malls, abandoned buildings, etc. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Dead Rinks is now International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© because many former names have become new names at the same rinks that are still active and due to much confusion, We have decided that International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© fits better for all rinks including defunct, closed, inactive, rebooted, and rinks that are still active today. For short on this site, it is International Roller Skating Rinks History© Bear with us as we change the entire site page by page each day. Thank you for understanding.
Second of all: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with different results between two (or more) sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former. Since we are rebooted to allow alive rinks, active rinks, we welcome those active rinks as well. It will be described.
As for “For Office Only” is for my reasoning and private legal reason for that.
Any music associated with any YouTube or any other videos provided on International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© are not the property of International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group and/or International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© therefore we do not own the rights to the music.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved become property of International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Disclaimer.
© Copyrighted by International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation©, an International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 17. Deut. 32:7.
The opening ceremony was a matinee during the day was given by the “Beggar Prince” Opera Company. Park patrons attended both the matinee and the night performances as they enjoyed the first show. Interurban cars were packed to the full capacity until midnight, carry people both ways which was located two miles south of Town of Shawnee. Several buildings, such as the boat house, dance hall, and café were not yet completed. However, they were ready before the season was over.
They had the Interurban cars, perhaps the trolley connecting the two towns and this park. So, sort of a Trolley Park.
When entering to the park from the trolley, there was a large rustic bridge was constructed across the lagoon. These rustic bridges were scattered throughout the park. Fountains were erected at different places in the park. It was more of a water fountains park if you want to say. Kind of reminds you of Cypress Gardens (ceased operations) but quite different than any trolley parks or even steamboat parks. Not even like a standard early 20th Century amusement park. Benson Park's theme focus were water fountains. Recreational/amusement including.
The park was full of water fountains as it was a theme in a 21.5 acres. Deka Development Company purchased the land from Thomas “Wildcat” Alford. It was sold on 17 July 1907. Deka Development Company which was owned by William E. Hyde and Russell H. Alexander. The cost for the purchase was for $3,190.50. The Shawnee Traction Company had dedicated $85,000 to the project. The park was named for C.J. Benson, a local banker and chairman of the Board of Shawnee-Tecumseh Traction Company. It would thrive for a quarter of a century as one of the main entertainment centers in the area.
The park thrived for at least 25 years. They ceased in 1932.
The Interior.
Must have been very rustic looking due to the nature of architecture of 1900s at the time. And very Earth-Tone. But also Craftsmen style were popular at the time. Since this is a park, they designated similar to what State Parks and Federal Parks buildings are styled after today. The floor and I am sure the buildings itself were all Maple. Perhaps all from local forests just immediately North.
The Exterior.
It was a Hip and Bonnet roof building built by the water lagoon where people can ride boats. the two story building was designed to have two different entertainment. Lower floor was a boathouse with a dock in the rear and upstairs, a roller rink. All wood built. Trusses and walls. Many postcards and photographs demonstrate a popular view of this more than any part of the park seen on the internet. It was a popular spot I believe because it was most beautiful part of the park.
Photographs were usually Black-and-White but by the judgement I see, it may have been Dark Forest Green walls similar to a State Park or Federal Forestry Park building would or may have been Dark Brown Stain walls and posts. Again, similar to the government owned parks buildings you see today.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, Finished Maple. Floor Layout: Likely Straight.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1907. Demolished: Yes but date is unknown. C.1932.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood Trusses Wood-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Hip with Bonnet.
Acres: 21.5 Acres.
Architect: N/A.
Contractor: N/A.
Interior Designer: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Duck Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Candlestick Bowling Lanes: None.
Pocket Billiard Tables: N/A.
Air Hockey Tables: N/A.
Foosball Table: N/A.
Basketball Speed: N/A.
Amusement Rides: Roller coaster.
Driving Range Slots: None.
Miniature Golf Course: None.
Arcade: (Number unknown)
Skee-Ball: N/A.
Fascination: None.
Restaurant: None.
Cocktail lounge: None.
Laser Tag: None.
Bounce Houses: None.
Bumper Cars: None.
Go-Kart: None.
Motel: None.
Swimming Pool: Natatorium (indoor pool)
Jungle Gym Playground: None.
Skate Park: None.
Theater (movie/stage): Amphitheater.
Dance Center: None.
Picnic Grove: Massive.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1 September 1907 to 1932.
Reason for Closure: Decline, maybe Depression caused many not want to go to the park.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also, photos/articles. Also send me any updates such as reopening, sold, name changes, or whatsoever occurred with this rink or any rinks. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at Rink-History©. Before you email, please state this rink name AND THE CITY AND STATE (or COUNTRY) so I can know where or what rink you are talking about. Thank you. We welcome both active and defunct rinks.
Sources:
Shawnee, OK History website
OK History website
News-Star - opening of the park
Postcards - Benson Park (Rootsweb)
Worth Point - postcard of BPRR
Amusement Parks - OK History;
Date of issue: 09 June 2021.
Updated: 28 June 2023.
For office use only: 2.
Worth to visit:
None.
DISCLAIMER:
International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© (formerly known as Dead-Rinks) and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. We do not endorse such illegal activities including breaking and entry of former rinks, malls, abandoned buildings, etc. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Dead Rinks is now International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© because many former names have become new names at the same rinks that are still active and due to much confusion, We have decided that International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© fits better for all rinks including defunct, closed, inactive, rebooted, and rinks that are still active today. For short on this site, it is International Roller Skating Rinks History© Bear with us as we change the entire site page by page each day. Thank you for understanding.
Second of all: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with different results between two (or more) sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former. Since we are rebooted to allow alive rinks, active rinks, we welcome those active rinks as well. It will be described.
As for “For Office Only” is for my reasoning and private legal reason for that.
Any music associated with any YouTube or any other videos provided on International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© are not the property of International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group and/or International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© therefore we do not own the rights to the music.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved become property of International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Disclaimer.
© Copyrighted by International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation©, an International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 17. Deut. 32:7.