All Google Map. Bottom 2 you noticed they were painting the New Orange. They were taken in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Top is 2011 and the 2nd and 3rd photo was taken in 2013.
Left: The North Adams Transcript, Monday February 7, 1938. Huge fire destroyed the rink. Above: North Adams Transcript, Monday August 8, 1938. The owner, Jerry Manus died. Look at the eerie part of this. Both articles were published on a Monday and both was within a day apart within six months. Both article deals with losses. Jerry was 37. He died of heart disease. The obituary did even stated that the new rink was opened on North Street.
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Both courtesy of The Berkshire Eagle. On left - Friday October 23, 1942. On right above - Tuesday September 18, 1945. Note - the Grand opening seen on the right is actually Re-Grand Opening because they closed for either renovations or closed for a while. It is clearly renovation because of the rink floor was re-polished.
Bottom right -- Courtesy of Billboard October 17, 1953. Leo Doyle who owned all the rinks was looking for a job? Whatever happened to all of the rinks he owned and did not have to find a job. He bought jobs for himself and sold them all off. Really mysterious and strange. Since this long ago, we will never know why he sold them all and went looking for a skating job. Now, this time I am hearing the Unsolved Mysteries theme song.... |
Crystal Palace 37 Hancock Road (appx location), Pittsfield, MA
Crystal Palace 1249 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
Crystal Palace 1249 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
This place had much history and very strange history as well. Originally Crystal Palace was built in 1922 on Hancock Road at approximate street number 37 where there is parking lot presently because the rest of the park are full of grown trees. Freeman M. Miller opened it but ownership changed hands quickly as they go by. In 1938 when Freeman M. Miller who owned it and leased to Jerry Manus. Later Jerry Manus purchased it and he died of heart disease. E.R. Eyer and his wife purchased it in 1942 but in a year later, Leo Doyle bought it and operated till he sold it in 1946. That was the last time Crystal Palace operated. I strongly believed that it would have stayed open if Leo sold it to another rink operator or a potential operator who would want to keep rink operating.
However, it was not because Leo strangely sold the rink like he owned others and sold off one by one then he wanted to look for a management job at a rink according to Billboard Magazine. What? Did Leo lose money and had to sell off his business by selling assets of all of those rinks one by one? Did IRS go after him? Nothing mentioned about him.
In 1922, the 120 feet by 70 feet building was built by Pittsfield Boat Club. Likely the original plan was to built as a clubhouse for the boat club. But it became the Crystal Palace shortly after to focus on ballroom dancing and later, roller skating was added. The size is the building, not the rink, mind you because back then many rinks, restaurants, etc were small. I believe the rink itself was perhaps 55 feet by 100 feet. Who knows. Evidence would be appreciated.
In 1936, Jerry Manus purchased the Crystal Palace Ballroom that was on Hancock Road where the Pontoosic Lake Park is located. The park was smaller I believe. Anyway, two years later, on Sunday night March 6, 1938, there was a massive fire that totaled destroyed the building and the fire fighters knew they could not stop the fire so they focus on saving the Blue Anchor Club, another night club. The distance between the two were a tea garden which was very close to each other. So, the fire fighters saved that one by hosing down as others keep fighting to stop the fire but the whole building burned as like a raving fire through he roof. No wonder the police can see the fire from the North side of the lake. The Crystal Palace was on South side of the lake. It is about 3 miles long lake, roughly.
Sunday Morning at 12:28 AM, the telephone operator received the call and said it was a fire and the alarm went off in a minute later near the school in town was. Ironically, the new rink was built kitty corner where the old school used to be. Roughly there though.
The fire entirely destroyed the rink. The fire fighters arrived on scene 2 and half mile from the rink and by the time they arrived, it was the entire building burned and this is why they were able to decide to save the Blue Anchor Bar next door which was just merely a few feet away. Heat can warm up or sparks from the fire can burn next building down. Many great fires of several cities learned that lesson.
Jerrry Manus, after the fire, sold the burned property to another Miller-- Kelton Miller who then donated the land to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which is now part of Pontoosic Lake Park.
Anyway, because of that, likely it was wood built for the original compared to the new one just months later opened with brick walls. Jerry Manus reopened just months later but just before he died of heart disease or problem.
So, the next person who operated made it successful to operate until Leo Doyle who mysteriously bought the rink and sold it off. just two years after he bought it in 1936.
No information regarding after Leo Doyle sold the rink of what happened to the rink.
By the way, more mysterious thing connecting to the rink. This time, about Leo Doyle and his employment and business record. In 1946, Leo owned: Leo Doyle's Skating Rink in New Britain, Connecticut which opened in August 1942, Skaterina in Worchester, Massachusetts, Crystal Palace in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and sold it in 1946, Rialto rink in Springfield, Massachusetts which he sold in 1948, and Webster Square Arena in Worchester, MA. He sold it in 1953 -- the final rink he sold it off. The same year he sold off the last rink, he posted a wanted ad for a job in a well known publication- Billboard! What made him to sell off pretty quickly? It clearly showed he may not have a very good entrepreneurship operating a roller rink or a series of rinks. Unless he was doing what many investment firms do-- equality investments. Buy then run it to ground and sell for a profit OR successfully and sell it for a profit. But I do not think that is the case because Leo was looking for a job. Did his investment depleted? We do not know. He was looking for a job within the skating industry clearly means he may had passion on roller skating. Well, we do not know why. Anyone know anything about this guy, Leo Doyle I am speaking of?
The service station which was built in 1960 was a gas station and mechanic garage. But ever since it has been a garage to repair cars, trucks, etc. The whole property is together. It was sold on November 9, 2016 for merely 100,000 USD. Real cheap including the warehouse! Wow! How could any of us miss that to bring back the rink for that price! Oh man! Anyone has a machine that I can go back in time? Hahaha.
Original Crystal Palace --
The Interior.
Very much wood built and structure. It was wood floor. Perhaps Maple wood but not sure.
The Exterior.
The original building was built on the shores of what is now part of Pontoosic Lake Park. There is no available photos of the rink in original look before the fire. So, this remains a mystery unless anyone inform me what the place was like. Because of the fire, and the article of Jerry's death, it explained clearly without words, it was entirely wood built.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 120' x 70'. Built: 1922. Demolished: Sunday February 6, 1938. Fire.
Type of Building: Wood built building.
Roof: N/A.
Acres: N/A. (Now absorbed as a park)
Final Crystal Palace --
The Interior.
The interior had a wood floor. Likely Maple floor with 65 feet by 135 feet and it was a Log style layout. It had a lot of window exposure for lights in this simple Red-Brick bricks building. The white paint you see in photos were painted after the rink closed for sure and then recently painted a nice shade of Orange covering it. I prefer staying with Red-Brick color which is natural color of bricks or common. This was bigger than the original.
The Exterior.
Red-Brick bricks building at the time which eventually painted in Dirty White color then since 2017, Orange is the new color. It became a gas station which later became a mechanic where they fix cars, trucks, RVs, etc. That place has 2200 Square Feet (two stories) and it is on the same property where the rink was. The addition of the station was built in 1960. But it is fenced around that corner building and cutting off from the old rink building. It does appear not being in use according to the photos however, the painting over in 2017 shows it is part of the new owner who bought the whole complex and painted entire place. the Crystal Palace building AND mechanic garage in same color. Looks like the new owner is perhaps using it for parts stored away, engines, etc.
The original property in the second location had parking lot where the mechanic garage is now and more on the back as well as parking on the side of the building.
It is still standing and it does have Arched-Curved roof all repaired into Steel or Aluminum roof material. Still brick building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 65' x 135'. Floor: Wood. Floor Layout: LOG.
Building Size: Likely 80' x 155' (we do not know). Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing. Looked "abandoned."
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Arched-Curved.
Acres: 0.2427 Acre (10,572 SF.)
Operated:
Crystal Palace at Hancock: 1922 to Sunday February 6, 1938. Fire.
Crystal Palace at North Street: Fall 1938/August 1942* to c.1948
*I received two conflicting on date of re-opening of 1938 or 1942.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Crystal Palace at Hancock: Sunday February 6, 1938 Fire.
Crystal Palace at North Street: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open (both)/closed (2nd), why closed (2nd location), size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Berkshire Eagle - mentioned Crystal Palace; Realty Trac - related to service station only;
Billboard Magazine October 17, 1953 - Leo Doyle was looking for a job; The Berkshire Eagle - Friday October 23, 1942., Tuesday September 18, 1945; The North Adams Transcript, Monday February 7, 1938 - Huge fire destroyed the rink. The North Adams Transcript, Monday August 8, 1938 - The owner, Jerry Manus obitaruy;
Date of issue: 04 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
However, it was not because Leo strangely sold the rink like he owned others and sold off one by one then he wanted to look for a management job at a rink according to Billboard Magazine. What? Did Leo lose money and had to sell off his business by selling assets of all of those rinks one by one? Did IRS go after him? Nothing mentioned about him.
In 1922, the 120 feet by 70 feet building was built by Pittsfield Boat Club. Likely the original plan was to built as a clubhouse for the boat club. But it became the Crystal Palace shortly after to focus on ballroom dancing and later, roller skating was added. The size is the building, not the rink, mind you because back then many rinks, restaurants, etc were small. I believe the rink itself was perhaps 55 feet by 100 feet. Who knows. Evidence would be appreciated.
In 1936, Jerry Manus purchased the Crystal Palace Ballroom that was on Hancock Road where the Pontoosic Lake Park is located. The park was smaller I believe. Anyway, two years later, on Sunday night March 6, 1938, there was a massive fire that totaled destroyed the building and the fire fighters knew they could not stop the fire so they focus on saving the Blue Anchor Club, another night club. The distance between the two were a tea garden which was very close to each other. So, the fire fighters saved that one by hosing down as others keep fighting to stop the fire but the whole building burned as like a raving fire through he roof. No wonder the police can see the fire from the North side of the lake. The Crystal Palace was on South side of the lake. It is about 3 miles long lake, roughly.
Sunday Morning at 12:28 AM, the telephone operator received the call and said it was a fire and the alarm went off in a minute later near the school in town was. Ironically, the new rink was built kitty corner where the old school used to be. Roughly there though.
The fire entirely destroyed the rink. The fire fighters arrived on scene 2 and half mile from the rink and by the time they arrived, it was the entire building burned and this is why they were able to decide to save the Blue Anchor Bar next door which was just merely a few feet away. Heat can warm up or sparks from the fire can burn next building down. Many great fires of several cities learned that lesson.
Jerrry Manus, after the fire, sold the burned property to another Miller-- Kelton Miller who then donated the land to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts which is now part of Pontoosic Lake Park.
Anyway, because of that, likely it was wood built for the original compared to the new one just months later opened with brick walls. Jerry Manus reopened just months later but just before he died of heart disease or problem.
So, the next person who operated made it successful to operate until Leo Doyle who mysteriously bought the rink and sold it off. just two years after he bought it in 1936.
No information regarding after Leo Doyle sold the rink of what happened to the rink.
By the way, more mysterious thing connecting to the rink. This time, about Leo Doyle and his employment and business record. In 1946, Leo owned: Leo Doyle's Skating Rink in New Britain, Connecticut which opened in August 1942, Skaterina in Worchester, Massachusetts, Crystal Palace in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and sold it in 1946, Rialto rink in Springfield, Massachusetts which he sold in 1948, and Webster Square Arena in Worchester, MA. He sold it in 1953 -- the final rink he sold it off. The same year he sold off the last rink, he posted a wanted ad for a job in a well known publication- Billboard! What made him to sell off pretty quickly? It clearly showed he may not have a very good entrepreneurship operating a roller rink or a series of rinks. Unless he was doing what many investment firms do-- equality investments. Buy then run it to ground and sell for a profit OR successfully and sell it for a profit. But I do not think that is the case because Leo was looking for a job. Did his investment depleted? We do not know. He was looking for a job within the skating industry clearly means he may had passion on roller skating. Well, we do not know why. Anyone know anything about this guy, Leo Doyle I am speaking of?
The service station which was built in 1960 was a gas station and mechanic garage. But ever since it has been a garage to repair cars, trucks, etc. The whole property is together. It was sold on November 9, 2016 for merely 100,000 USD. Real cheap including the warehouse! Wow! How could any of us miss that to bring back the rink for that price! Oh man! Anyone has a machine that I can go back in time? Hahaha.
Original Crystal Palace --
The Interior.
Very much wood built and structure. It was wood floor. Perhaps Maple wood but not sure.
The Exterior.
The original building was built on the shores of what is now part of Pontoosic Lake Park. There is no available photos of the rink in original look before the fire. So, this remains a mystery unless anyone inform me what the place was like. Because of the fire, and the article of Jerry's death, it explained clearly without words, it was entirely wood built.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 120' x 70'. Built: 1922. Demolished: Sunday February 6, 1938. Fire.
Type of Building: Wood built building.
Roof: N/A.
Acres: N/A. (Now absorbed as a park)
Final Crystal Palace --
The Interior.
The interior had a wood floor. Likely Maple floor with 65 feet by 135 feet and it was a Log style layout. It had a lot of window exposure for lights in this simple Red-Brick bricks building. The white paint you see in photos were painted after the rink closed for sure and then recently painted a nice shade of Orange covering it. I prefer staying with Red-Brick color which is natural color of bricks or common. This was bigger than the original.
The Exterior.
Red-Brick bricks building at the time which eventually painted in Dirty White color then since 2017, Orange is the new color. It became a gas station which later became a mechanic where they fix cars, trucks, RVs, etc. That place has 2200 Square Feet (two stories) and it is on the same property where the rink was. The addition of the station was built in 1960. But it is fenced around that corner building and cutting off from the old rink building. It does appear not being in use according to the photos however, the painting over in 2017 shows it is part of the new owner who bought the whole complex and painted entire place. the Crystal Palace building AND mechanic garage in same color. Looks like the new owner is perhaps using it for parts stored away, engines, etc.
The original property in the second location had parking lot where the mechanic garage is now and more on the back as well as parking on the side of the building.
It is still standing and it does have Arched-Curved roof all repaired into Steel or Aluminum roof material. Still brick building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 65' x 135'. Floor: Wood. Floor Layout: LOG.
Building Size: Likely 80' x 155' (we do not know). Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing. Looked "abandoned."
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Arched-Curved.
Acres: 0.2427 Acre (10,572 SF.)
Operated:
Crystal Palace at Hancock: 1922 to Sunday February 6, 1938. Fire.
Crystal Palace at North Street: Fall 1938/August 1942* to c.1948
*I received two conflicting on date of re-opening of 1938 or 1942.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Crystal Palace at Hancock: Sunday February 6, 1938 Fire.
Crystal Palace at North Street: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open (both)/closed (2nd), why closed (2nd location), size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Berkshire Eagle - mentioned Crystal Palace; Realty Trac - related to service station only;
Billboard Magazine October 17, 1953 - Leo Doyle was looking for a job; The Berkshire Eagle - Friday October 23, 1942., Tuesday September 18, 1945; The North Adams Transcript, Monday February 7, 1938 - Huge fire destroyed the rink. The North Adams Transcript, Monday August 8, 1938 - The owner, Jerry Manus obitaruy;
Date of issue: 04 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.