Courtesy of Kansas museum. Photo taken in 1891. A large group of skaters pose for photo. But I dont see skates! Hmm. Must be before they got skates or after a session. That is a huge crowd!
Dr. Thomas McCarty's Skating Rink 600 North Second Avenue, Dodge City, KS
Dr. T.L. or known as Thomas L. McCarty opened his rink, Dr. Thomas McCarty's Skating Rink in 1885 on 600 North Second Avenue, Dodge City, Kansas.
Dr. T.L. McCarty was a Renaissance man. He did everything. He was on school board, a chemist, would travel hardship to arrive to his patient's home afar from town on horse and buggy. He started up doctor's office--first one in Dodge City, Kansas. Then he also was a surgeon, a drug rep and dealer starting a drug store. He also emphasize on people's health by encouraging people to exercise. He built a bicycle race track which later became automobile race track (perhaps he sold the track and someone converted into a car racing track). He also started the roller rink and a hospital.
Also Dr. McCarty was a medical examiner. First for the town. He was first for many things. Sure was a Dr. Quincy of his time. Haha.
He may have pioneered the concept of bicycling and roller skating as a fitness form. Not a social activity. One of the first to declare they are the means to be exercising. Not recreational. But those two can be recreational but they are recreational fitness as I would have to say. For now, I would say he was a pioneer in fitness skating unless someone earlier said otherwise. It was not really caught on till the American Residential's Council on Fitness in 1950s declared roller skating as a fitness. Fitness centers did not come around till around 1940s. And that that time, the war time-- fitness began in bases, and at home to keep in shape. However, it was not till 1968 fitness became most aware of all and that began a trend. But the idea for modern fitness began likely with this doctor, Dr. T.L. McCarty.
This well established doctor began quite everything in the town during 1880s after his arrival in November 1872 to open his medical practice. Then in 1877, he opened a drug store. The date for the track and hospital are unknown but the rink was in 1885.
The Interior.
It was all wood interior, not just the floor but the walls and ceiling too. The entire interior gave a slight Western Feel and it had a stage on the back end of the rink to operate as an opera when not skating. There were windows on each side.
The Exterior.
N/A.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 60' x 116'. Floor: Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Destroyed by fire (date unknown).
Type of Building: N/A.
Roof: N/A.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1885 to N/A.
Reason for Closure: Burned down. Did not rebuilt and did not reopen.
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: Kansas Memory - Skating rink brief info; A blog - Dr. T.L. McCarty; KSHS website- another view of same thing; Dodge Globe - Dr. T.L. McCarty; History Net - History on roller skate rinks in West;
Business Fit - History of Fitness; The Dodge City Times - 1885;
Date of issue: 06 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
Dr. T.L. McCarty was a Renaissance man. He did everything. He was on school board, a chemist, would travel hardship to arrive to his patient's home afar from town on horse and buggy. He started up doctor's office--first one in Dodge City, Kansas. Then he also was a surgeon, a drug rep and dealer starting a drug store. He also emphasize on people's health by encouraging people to exercise. He built a bicycle race track which later became automobile race track (perhaps he sold the track and someone converted into a car racing track). He also started the roller rink and a hospital.
Also Dr. McCarty was a medical examiner. First for the town. He was first for many things. Sure was a Dr. Quincy of his time. Haha.
He may have pioneered the concept of bicycling and roller skating as a fitness form. Not a social activity. One of the first to declare they are the means to be exercising. Not recreational. But those two can be recreational but they are recreational fitness as I would have to say. For now, I would say he was a pioneer in fitness skating unless someone earlier said otherwise. It was not really caught on till the American Residential's Council on Fitness in 1950s declared roller skating as a fitness. Fitness centers did not come around till around 1940s. And that that time, the war time-- fitness began in bases, and at home to keep in shape. However, it was not till 1968 fitness became most aware of all and that began a trend. But the idea for modern fitness began likely with this doctor, Dr. T.L. McCarty.
This well established doctor began quite everything in the town during 1880s after his arrival in November 1872 to open his medical practice. Then in 1877, he opened a drug store. The date for the track and hospital are unknown but the rink was in 1885.
The Interior.
It was all wood interior, not just the floor but the walls and ceiling too. The entire interior gave a slight Western Feel and it had a stage on the back end of the rink to operate as an opera when not skating. There were windows on each side.
The Exterior.
N/A.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 60' x 116'. Floor: Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Destroyed by fire (date unknown).
Type of Building: N/A.
Roof: N/A.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1885 to N/A.
Reason for Closure: Burned down. Did not rebuilt and did not reopen.
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: Kansas Memory - Skating rink brief info; A blog - Dr. T.L. McCarty; KSHS website- another view of same thing; Dodge Globe - Dr. T.L. McCarty; History Net - History on roller skate rinks in West;
Business Fit - History of Fitness; The Dodge City Times - 1885;
Date of issue: 06 February 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.