The Herald News. See fire damaged and building already decaying. But the upper picture showed renovated.
Google Map. See the aerial view of the former rink before it was torn down. Weird roof design! Top showed front, the bottom showed back/beachside.
Courtesy of The Herald News. Uh oh, the fire... November 2017. And police investigate possible of a crime but it was not. Something to do with something electrical but the fire was quickly put out thanks to a perfect timing from a beach walker seeing and reporting the fire, quick arrival of fire department and stopped the fire very successful. Many rinks do burn real quick. But this one did more successfully.
Great job firefighters! And thank you for your services!
Great job firefighters! And thank you for your services!
Courtesy of Swansea, MA Committee. Truly sad day to see it was being demolished. Demolished just within few months after that November 2017 fire. Demolished on
Bluffs Recreation Center Ocean Grove Ave, Ocean Grove, Swansea, MA
Bluffs Roller Rink Ocean Grove Ave, Ocean Grove, Swansea, MA
Bluffs Roller Rink Ocean Grove Ave, Ocean Grove, Swansea, MA
Bluffs Recreation Center or known as Bluffs Roller Rink was a well known establishment on Ocean Grove in Swansea, Massachusetts. The beloved rink ran for a time along with Ballroom dancing and nearby at least three kiddie rides, bowling, and served fast food according to Billboard, April 13, 1957.
It opened in 1935 serving the same activities listed as what Billboard magazine said in 1957. It was happening place like many beachfront towns with skating rinks along the ocean from Maine to Texas on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Side and then again from California to Washington and I am sure Canada too. Ocean side and beach side are very common for most people who have the love of sea for swimming, recreation, and more. This place was a very small amusement area though. Not like other grand and Trolley Parks or early Amusement Parks Conversion from Trolley that I have worked on.
This rink building was for sure the longest to stay on compared to any other activities before it was closed and turn into a senior center and the demolished for new restrooms, change rooms, playground, and park activities in that immediate area.
This one story building sat on the beach with stilts holding up.
But just three years later, in 1938, it was damaged by a Category 3 (at landfall, was Cat 5 in ocean) hurricane-- The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. A 40 Billion USD damages hurricane. A year later, it was reopened after a year of repairs and rebuilt. That time, they reopened as bigger ballroom and better skating rink floor. It had bathhouse, game room (arcade), and candy and ice cream stands. It was a bigger venue.
By 1976, the then owner of the Bluffs as everyone called it, it was really went downhill sold the building to the town. It was not reopened till 1979 as a Ballroom Dancing and then it became Senior's Center.
Many seniors really tried to save the building despite the fact it was falling apart, leaky roof, needed repairs, and the fire of November 2017. The building was already partial condemned during 2000s according to the article in The Herald News that it was already falling apart. The fire of 2017 really puts the nail that closed the coffin.
Here is why -- in 2010, to renovating the Bluffs would cost about 4 Million USD, says the Facilities Committee. It would need to be made modern accessibility including handicapped accessible and meet flood mitigation requirements. So, they had to demolished which is cheaper.
The bathhouse already built and new playground. Beautiful bathhouse!
Original 1935 to 1938 building--
The Interior.
Only know that it was wood but nothing else I know of.
The Exterior.
They said it was smaller but I do not have size for it and specifically what they had inside. Outside it was perhaps pretty much similar appearance as the rebuild-- Wood Truss, wood walled Clubhouse-like building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Tuesday May 22, 2018 to make way for a new small bathhouse.
Type of Building: Wood Columns Truss Wood-Walled Clubhouse - like Building.
Roof: Hip.
Type of Bowling: N/A.
Lanes: N/A.
Rebuilt 1939 to demolish in May 2018 ---
The Interior.
Just that it had wood floor. Likely Maple. Both uses- Ballroom dancing and roller skating and other section bowling. I do not know what kind of bowling.
The Exterior.
It was a long one story Mix- U-Shaped roof design both Gable with Flat in middle. Making one end looks like M-shaped roof design. Wood built building that was rebuilt in 1938 -39 after the Great Hurricane of 1938 or known as The 1938 New England Hurricane. It damaged greatly to the rink and many other buildings nearby and even had a boat lifted onto the middle of the road nearby. But the rebuilt was bigger than the original which includes ballroom-roller skating rink floor area and bowling in the same complex. I do not know what kind of bowling it was.
It was simple wood structure building, yes, same old as it was original that has wood built. This time it was built bigger. Wood siding were White throughout the years but after the closure, the remodel even used Warm Light Gray aluminum siding that would be the modern rebuilt. The renovations really made the building look new as you can see in photos. But the wood, really falling apart. Even the inside. They even had a fire in 2017.
The surrounding area had 3 kiddie rides, and a bathhouse for swimmers to go swimming on the beach.
The rink was literally on beachfront.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1939. Demolished: Tuesday May 22, 2018 to make way for a new small bathhouse and small playground.
Type of Building: Wood Truss Wood Walled Clubhouse - like Building.
Roof: Mix- U-Shaped roof design both Gable with Flat in middle. Making one end looks like M-shaped roof design.
Acres: N/A. (On beach)
Type of Bowling: N/A.
Lanes: N/A.
Operated: 1935 to September 22, 1938, 1939 to 1976.
Reason for Closure: N/A. (Owner sold to town which town evidently shut down skating).
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Herald News - The Bluffs through the Years; The Herald News - Residents wanted building restored; Swansea, MA information site; The Swansea, MA site showing the demolishing of the old rink;
Mass Live - The Great New England Hurricane of 1938;
Date of issue: 6 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
It opened in 1935 serving the same activities listed as what Billboard magazine said in 1957. It was happening place like many beachfront towns with skating rinks along the ocean from Maine to Texas on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Side and then again from California to Washington and I am sure Canada too. Ocean side and beach side are very common for most people who have the love of sea for swimming, recreation, and more. This place was a very small amusement area though. Not like other grand and Trolley Parks or early Amusement Parks Conversion from Trolley that I have worked on.
This rink building was for sure the longest to stay on compared to any other activities before it was closed and turn into a senior center and the demolished for new restrooms, change rooms, playground, and park activities in that immediate area.
This one story building sat on the beach with stilts holding up.
But just three years later, in 1938, it was damaged by a Category 3 (at landfall, was Cat 5 in ocean) hurricane-- The Great New England Hurricane of 1938. A 40 Billion USD damages hurricane. A year later, it was reopened after a year of repairs and rebuilt. That time, they reopened as bigger ballroom and better skating rink floor. It had bathhouse, game room (arcade), and candy and ice cream stands. It was a bigger venue.
By 1976, the then owner of the Bluffs as everyone called it, it was really went downhill sold the building to the town. It was not reopened till 1979 as a Ballroom Dancing and then it became Senior's Center.
Many seniors really tried to save the building despite the fact it was falling apart, leaky roof, needed repairs, and the fire of November 2017. The building was already partial condemned during 2000s according to the article in The Herald News that it was already falling apart. The fire of 2017 really puts the nail that closed the coffin.
Here is why -- in 2010, to renovating the Bluffs would cost about 4 Million USD, says the Facilities Committee. It would need to be made modern accessibility including handicapped accessible and meet flood mitigation requirements. So, they had to demolished which is cheaper.
The bathhouse already built and new playground. Beautiful bathhouse!
Original 1935 to 1938 building--
The Interior.
Only know that it was wood but nothing else I know of.
The Exterior.
They said it was smaller but I do not have size for it and specifically what they had inside. Outside it was perhaps pretty much similar appearance as the rebuild-- Wood Truss, wood walled Clubhouse-like building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Tuesday May 22, 2018 to make way for a new small bathhouse.
Type of Building: Wood Columns Truss Wood-Walled Clubhouse - like Building.
Roof: Hip.
Type of Bowling: N/A.
Lanes: N/A.
Rebuilt 1939 to demolish in May 2018 ---
The Interior.
Just that it had wood floor. Likely Maple. Both uses- Ballroom dancing and roller skating and other section bowling. I do not know what kind of bowling.
The Exterior.
It was a long one story Mix- U-Shaped roof design both Gable with Flat in middle. Making one end looks like M-shaped roof design. Wood built building that was rebuilt in 1938 -39 after the Great Hurricane of 1938 or known as The 1938 New England Hurricane. It damaged greatly to the rink and many other buildings nearby and even had a boat lifted onto the middle of the road nearby. But the rebuilt was bigger than the original which includes ballroom-roller skating rink floor area and bowling in the same complex. I do not know what kind of bowling it was.
It was simple wood structure building, yes, same old as it was original that has wood built. This time it was built bigger. Wood siding were White throughout the years but after the closure, the remodel even used Warm Light Gray aluminum siding that would be the modern rebuilt. The renovations really made the building look new as you can see in photos. But the wood, really falling apart. Even the inside. They even had a fire in 2017.
The surrounding area had 3 kiddie rides, and a bathhouse for swimmers to go swimming on the beach.
The rink was literally on beachfront.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1939. Demolished: Tuesday May 22, 2018 to make way for a new small bathhouse and small playground.
Type of Building: Wood Truss Wood Walled Clubhouse - like Building.
Roof: Mix- U-Shaped roof design both Gable with Flat in middle. Making one end looks like M-shaped roof design.
Acres: N/A. (On beach)
Type of Bowling: N/A.
Lanes: N/A.
Operated: 1935 to September 22, 1938, 1939 to 1976.
Reason for Closure: N/A. (Owner sold to town which town evidently shut down skating).
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Herald News - The Bluffs through the Years; The Herald News - Residents wanted building restored; Swansea, MA information site; The Swansea, MA site showing the demolishing of the old rink;
Mass Live - The Great New England Hurricane of 1938;
Date of issue: 6 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.