Postcard courtesy of Quincy Historical Society. 1913 postcard of the original business-- Moore's Summer Ball Room. Residents walked by in this old Black-and-White photo which later made into postcard that was colored by a colorist. If you can spot the location, observe the street and sidewalk and the houses upon the hill on the right. Now compare to the Google Map's photo taken. Buildings on the left and behind the rink were demolished. And even houses too. It looked overcrowded on the right but some torn downs and the rebuilds you can see in the Google Map.
Courtesy of Google Map. Taken in winter 2011. Noticed the curve, and road slightly downward and the houses on this hill? The former rink and ballroom of course, was where this park is today and trees are growing there as well. A lot of trees have grown since that photo in pre-1913 have taken. It is hard to see the OUTDOOR roller rink. Next Google photo showed it all. So, the town will not miss the rink! It sits within yards from original spot in the same park (and block). This was taken in December 2011. Likely this rink in the park was exact location of the original thanks to the other Google Map photo (see bottom).
A few good old ads. First one clearly very old. The gentleman couple skating with the girl was wearing which appeared to be a marching band military style uniform because of his shoulders, which is uncommon with the US military in 20th Century (pre-Spanish-American War) Union uniform would wear them or some foreign countries. Interesting concept. Then we have that famous duck character skating. And yes, you can see his easy temper when he fell down! yes, Donald Duck® has hot tempers according to my comic book collections and my official Donald Duck hard cover history book. No wonder Daisy said no to marriage until Donald repents and stop his tempers. (Yes, its in one of old old comic books I recalled reading but I do not have that one). Everyone, stop having tempers. Understand. I understood! Hey Donna Duck, where your sweetheart Daisy in the ads? See, Donna, your tempers! She wont be in the ads till you stop it! Hahaha. Top Left: courtesy of PicClick. Bottom left is eBay, untouched.
Donald Duck® by Walt Disney Company.
Donald Duck® by Walt Disney Company.
More of the same. Sticker on the right.
Courtesy of Billboard, February 28, 1948. Fred Knight was looking for a defunct rink's wood floor to replace. Did he have water damages? Flooding? Storm? Roof collapsed? Something of a mystery. Not only that, the age of Maple wood floor is good for 50 years. It was nearing its 50 years though if you remember it was a ballroom way back as far as 1900s. That is 45 to 50 years there already..
Courtesy of Houghs Neck Bulletin. May 2018, page 7. The American Legions held a meeting at the rink at the time in Winter of 1955.
Courtesy the Quincy Sun. Thursday January 18, 1980. The fire that destroyed the rink. There is a proof where this located. If you look at the 2nd photo in the article. The top right, you see it was all burned down, now look above the rumbles, you see pretty shinny ground and two 2 stories houses that are identical to each other in background, that would be the parking lot that is still in existence and the two houses that are still there in Google Map (Those two houses in background are on Bay View Ave). Also see a lot of houses on this hill in background in the 1913 postcard. See below seen from the 2 houses on Bay View Ave seen in 2nd photo. You can even see the rink in the park. Can you see the Brown roof house on the top of the hill right of the telephone pole after this white house on middle of hill? Same house in the postcard if you look just above the right side of the sign.. on top of the sign. Just to point out where the rink was.
DiMarzio's Roller Rink 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA
Quincy Roller Skating Rink 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA
Quincy Gardens 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA
Bay View Rollerway 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA
DiMarzio's Roller Rink 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA (Rebooted)
Quincy Roller Skating Rink 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA
Quincy Gardens 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA
Bay View Rollerway 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA
DiMarzio's Roller Rink 1284 Sea Street, Quincy, MA (Rebooted)
There were quite a series of rinks at this location but not all seemly at the same location though as it may have been relocated. I do not have any confirmation on that part-- yet.
But they all were in Quincy though. It went through 5 different rink names. However, the beginning was not a rink, it was, of course, another dance hall that was popular at the time and usually most dance halls were converted to roller rinks like the one at Acushnet Park.
It began as Moore's Summer Ball Room. I attempted to find out more information on this ballroom but to no avail. None. The post card was dated in 1913. So, the ballpark date would be around 1910 to 1913 when it was first opened. Maybe longer before that. Clearly a Mr. Moore owned that ballroom.
But in 1939, William and Marion DiMarzio began the roller rink at the former Moore's Summer Ball Room. Exact date is unknown. They ran the rink until 1946 according to the article in The Quincy Sun Jan 18, 1980 as a brief history background because of a major 4 alarm fire that ended the rink for good. More on that later.
Then the family either sold the business only or entirely the business and the building to Fred D. Knight in 1946 and ran the rink for a brief time. Fred renamed it as Quincy Roller Skating Rink and renamed it again as Quincy Gardens. Some rinks at the time used that term, "Gardens" which does not mean literally gardens with flowers, plants, trees, or like a park... No, it was just a name they used. Like today owners call their rinks, "Family Fun Center." without mentioning roller skating rink in their names.
Well, apparently Fred owned short time and I do not have information on when he changed the dates. Only information was found in a 1952 Roller Skating Directory is the Quincy Gardens. That is all but it was very short lived.
Next owner took over in around between 1952 and their own demise was 1956. Likely 1953 till 1956. Apparently Fred owned very briefly and the owner of Bay View Rollerway owned it very brief too. This perhaps prompt the next generation of the DiMarzios-- Richard and Jeanne DiMarzio rebooted the rink with same original name, DiMarzio's Roller Rink. Jeanne was also an assistant manager at the Co-Ed Rollerdrome with William, the original owner of the DiMarzio's Roller Rink. Later, it was Jean DiMarzio and her sister Helen Lynch who owned the rink toward its end.
But that all ended due to a fire on Friday January 11, 1980. It completely burned down in a Four-Alarm fire which was very dangerous and very hot fast fire which completely flattened the entire structure plus the apartment the two sisters/owners were living in next door. The fire was so bad that they had six injuries and putting four of the fire fighters out for a week of work because of eye injuries. Another broke or injured his wrist. For the eye injuries, likely it was due to heavy smoke.
The fire fighters fought this fire pretty much entire day which was very difficult to douse. The structure was pretty much in wood and perhaps the floor as well as wood. This is why its dangerous to built a wood house. You know the story about the Three Little Pigs? Please read it! This is why Jean said for the rebuilt of the rink, it will be concrete. Bingo! She understood the Three Little Pigs story. You would have to do that too if you want to keep your place strong because we have hurricanes, tornados (that one is a real tough call), heavy wet snow, ice...
OK, back to this. The fire ended the rink and must be the fund raising did not much effort as it was tried. This is pre-internet days that you could do a crowd funding. Unfortunately, I believe was the end. Not enough to start a new rink on the same spot.
Today, it is a park with a baseball field way in the back. ...And, guess what? Roller skating lives on in that spot where the former rink was. It is now an outdoor Roller Rink (perhaps they also fill in during winter as ice rink).
The Interior.
N/A.
The Exterior.
Since they have been around for 41 years, I am sure the changes occurred often. Since it was built in 1900s or the start of 1910s, it was a simple storefront look that it had overhang Hip Canopy and narrow sidewalk even narrowed into the wall of the building. Also had steps because of the hill. Newer photos showed it was smoothed out but not flat though.
The building had storefront look during Moore's Summer Ball Room.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Wood, likely Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Friday January 11, 1980 caused by fire. Remains demolished next day and clean up. Now a park. "Replacement" is an outdoors roller hockey rink.
Type of Building: Wood Truss Wood built and Walled Storefront - like Building.
Roof: N/A. (Flat?)
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1939 to Friday January 11, 1980.
DiMarzio's Roller Rink: 1939 to 1946.
Quincy Roller Skating Rink: 1946 to N/A.
Quincy Gardens: N/A to N/A.
Bay View Rollerway: N/A to 1956.
DiMarzio's Roller Rink (Rebooted): 1956 to Friday January 11, 1980.
Reason for Closure:
DiMarzio's Roller Rink: N/A.
Quincy Roller Skating Rink: N/A.
Quincy Gardens: N/A. (Likely poor business practices or financial losses)
Bay View Rollerway: N/A. (Likely poor business practices or financial losses)
DiMarzio's Roller Rink (Rebooted): Fire destroyed completely. Crowd funding failure.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos!
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Billboard, February 28, 1948, page 79; PicClick through Google search;
Hough Neck Bulletin, May 2018, page 7; The Quincy Sun. Thursday January 18, 1980; Google Map.
Date of issue: 21 December 2020.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
But they all were in Quincy though. It went through 5 different rink names. However, the beginning was not a rink, it was, of course, another dance hall that was popular at the time and usually most dance halls were converted to roller rinks like the one at Acushnet Park.
It began as Moore's Summer Ball Room. I attempted to find out more information on this ballroom but to no avail. None. The post card was dated in 1913. So, the ballpark date would be around 1910 to 1913 when it was first opened. Maybe longer before that. Clearly a Mr. Moore owned that ballroom.
But in 1939, William and Marion DiMarzio began the roller rink at the former Moore's Summer Ball Room. Exact date is unknown. They ran the rink until 1946 according to the article in The Quincy Sun Jan 18, 1980 as a brief history background because of a major 4 alarm fire that ended the rink for good. More on that later.
Then the family either sold the business only or entirely the business and the building to Fred D. Knight in 1946 and ran the rink for a brief time. Fred renamed it as Quincy Roller Skating Rink and renamed it again as Quincy Gardens. Some rinks at the time used that term, "Gardens" which does not mean literally gardens with flowers, plants, trees, or like a park... No, it was just a name they used. Like today owners call their rinks, "Family Fun Center." without mentioning roller skating rink in their names.
Well, apparently Fred owned short time and I do not have information on when he changed the dates. Only information was found in a 1952 Roller Skating Directory is the Quincy Gardens. That is all but it was very short lived.
Next owner took over in around between 1952 and their own demise was 1956. Likely 1953 till 1956. Apparently Fred owned very briefly and the owner of Bay View Rollerway owned it very brief too. This perhaps prompt the next generation of the DiMarzios-- Richard and Jeanne DiMarzio rebooted the rink with same original name, DiMarzio's Roller Rink. Jeanne was also an assistant manager at the Co-Ed Rollerdrome with William, the original owner of the DiMarzio's Roller Rink. Later, it was Jean DiMarzio and her sister Helen Lynch who owned the rink toward its end.
But that all ended due to a fire on Friday January 11, 1980. It completely burned down in a Four-Alarm fire which was very dangerous and very hot fast fire which completely flattened the entire structure plus the apartment the two sisters/owners were living in next door. The fire was so bad that they had six injuries and putting four of the fire fighters out for a week of work because of eye injuries. Another broke or injured his wrist. For the eye injuries, likely it was due to heavy smoke.
The fire fighters fought this fire pretty much entire day which was very difficult to douse. The structure was pretty much in wood and perhaps the floor as well as wood. This is why its dangerous to built a wood house. You know the story about the Three Little Pigs? Please read it! This is why Jean said for the rebuilt of the rink, it will be concrete. Bingo! She understood the Three Little Pigs story. You would have to do that too if you want to keep your place strong because we have hurricanes, tornados (that one is a real tough call), heavy wet snow, ice...
OK, back to this. The fire ended the rink and must be the fund raising did not much effort as it was tried. This is pre-internet days that you could do a crowd funding. Unfortunately, I believe was the end. Not enough to start a new rink on the same spot.
Today, it is a park with a baseball field way in the back. ...And, guess what? Roller skating lives on in that spot where the former rink was. It is now an outdoor Roller Rink (perhaps they also fill in during winter as ice rink).
The Interior.
N/A.
The Exterior.
Since they have been around for 41 years, I am sure the changes occurred often. Since it was built in 1900s or the start of 1910s, it was a simple storefront look that it had overhang Hip Canopy and narrow sidewalk even narrowed into the wall of the building. Also had steps because of the hill. Newer photos showed it was smoothed out but not flat though.
The building had storefront look during Moore's Summer Ball Room.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Wood, likely Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Friday January 11, 1980 caused by fire. Remains demolished next day and clean up. Now a park. "Replacement" is an outdoors roller hockey rink.
Type of Building: Wood Truss Wood built and Walled Storefront - like Building.
Roof: N/A. (Flat?)
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1939 to Friday January 11, 1980.
DiMarzio's Roller Rink: 1939 to 1946.
Quincy Roller Skating Rink: 1946 to N/A.
Quincy Gardens: N/A to N/A.
Bay View Rollerway: N/A to 1956.
DiMarzio's Roller Rink (Rebooted): 1956 to Friday January 11, 1980.
Reason for Closure:
DiMarzio's Roller Rink: N/A.
Quincy Roller Skating Rink: N/A.
Quincy Gardens: N/A. (Likely poor business practices or financial losses)
Bay View Rollerway: N/A. (Likely poor business practices or financial losses)
DiMarzio's Roller Rink (Rebooted): Fire destroyed completely. Crowd funding failure.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos!
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Billboard, February 28, 1948, page 79; PicClick through Google search;
Hough Neck Bulletin, May 2018, page 7; The Quincy Sun. Thursday January 18, 1980; Google Map.
Date of issue: 21 December 2020.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.