East Market Gardens 264 East Market Street, Akron, OH. A postcard that showed very clear and good condition after all those years. It said to be printed in 1926. To compare location, check the church on the left side in the postcard and then check the 3rd picture which is a Google Map. You will see the location. The Automobile Eight mechanic garage in between that church on the left and the East Market Street Gardens also been demolished and grass growing. Source: Akron Postcards.
East Market Gardens 264 East Market Street, Akron, OH. This speed skating event was held on 4 February 1920. The floor looked like ice but it was not. It was much scratched! No protection on the floor! And appeared cold inside because everyone watching were waring coats and hats and even some speed skaters wore knit cap with fluffy ball on it! And Oh! The gun! I do not think they had cap guns back then or even blanks! Hard to see that gun. It does look like a Kenton "S&W" Cast Iron Blank Pistol Cal.22 but I am not sure. So, that was a blank shot gun so no bullets needed. (Source for gun: Gun Auction). Source: eBay.
East Market Gardens 264 East Market Street, Akron, OH. To compare with the postcard for the location. This was taken in 2018. The old rink building was demolished after 1982. Source: Google. Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks (pinpoint locations).
East Market Gardens 264 East Market Street, Akron, OH
There was a popular spot in 1920s and that was East Market Gardens on 264 East Market Street, Akron, OH. This was actually set as a dance hall. It was Danceland. But also was a roller rink. Perhaps the name Skateland might come to mind because of Danceland. However, I do not see any names like that. Just East Market Gardens. Sometimes an owner of a building would have two business he operated which would be a dance hall and a roller rink using the same floor but not at the same time. Kind of like an arena or a stadium having two different teams playing on. Like the Jets and the Giants in New Jersey shared the same complex to play on but not on the same day because of their schedule. They takes turn. Therefore, this building, the East Market Gardens is actually an arena for both businesses. Of course, taking turns like those two ball teams sharing New Meadowlands Stadium.
I do not have specific date of open but it sounded like the year 1920 when it was first opened. They closed sometime in 1950s. But the building itself was demolished sometimes after 1982. I could not retrive any good aerial photos of the place due to blur or things in the photo.
What I can see though on USGS aerial photo maps, they did built a building attaching to the former dance hall-rink until the original building was demolished in 1982 or later. But the new addition next door was demolished as well in around 2010-2012 according to Google Map. Now both are parking lots. There is a historic sign you can park on the street in front of the former rink for you to read. However, I am unable to read what the sign says in Google Map. I could not find through images for that.
As for the music, Many big names played there including Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Harry James. The location experience its Golden era in 1920s and 30s. I do not know when they folded. Organ? I do not know.
The Interior.
Only known photo so far showed that speed skating occurred in February 1920 has the floor as Maple hardwood floor. The rink had no half-walls to separate the floor from spectators.
The décor they had was the Wood Lattice Fence or mostly known as Crisscrossing Fence. Usually the X and adjusted 45 degrees to make it a "T". They had that hanging above the rink for décor look. Also excellent for wire lights (similar to Christmas lights), vines/plants, etc.
The roof line is Gabled Monitor. Similar concept to the Rollercade in Cleveland which was the World's Largest at the time.
The Exterior.
It was a very attractive Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks - Walled Arena - like Building with Gabled Monitor. Similar set up as it was with Rollercade.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, non-coated, Maple hardwood. Floor Layout: Straight.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks - Walled Arena - like Building.
Roof: Gabled Monitor.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1920 to 1960s?
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Google Map
USGS
Akron Postcards - best postcard on the net so far.
eBay - 1920s pictures.
Summit History - showed date.
Downtown Akron - 6th paragraph under "All Gone"
Akrons Ohio Moms - showed postcard among with many Akron buildings in postcards and pictures.
Set List - Music concerts with dates. Only listed 2 concerts of many concerts.
Types of Fence
Date of issue: 18 November 2021.
For office use only: 3.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
I do not have specific date of open but it sounded like the year 1920 when it was first opened. They closed sometime in 1950s. But the building itself was demolished sometimes after 1982. I could not retrive any good aerial photos of the place due to blur or things in the photo.
What I can see though on USGS aerial photo maps, they did built a building attaching to the former dance hall-rink until the original building was demolished in 1982 or later. But the new addition next door was demolished as well in around 2010-2012 according to Google Map. Now both are parking lots. There is a historic sign you can park on the street in front of the former rink for you to read. However, I am unable to read what the sign says in Google Map. I could not find through images for that.
As for the music, Many big names played there including Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Harry James. The location experience its Golden era in 1920s and 30s. I do not know when they folded. Organ? I do not know.
The Interior.
Only known photo so far showed that speed skating occurred in February 1920 has the floor as Maple hardwood floor. The rink had no half-walls to separate the floor from spectators.
The décor they had was the Wood Lattice Fence or mostly known as Crisscrossing Fence. Usually the X and adjusted 45 degrees to make it a "T". They had that hanging above the rink for décor look. Also excellent for wire lights (similar to Christmas lights), vines/plants, etc.
The roof line is Gabled Monitor. Similar concept to the Rollercade in Cleveland which was the World's Largest at the time.
The Exterior.
It was a very attractive Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks - Walled Arena - like Building with Gabled Monitor. Similar set up as it was with Rollercade.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, non-coated, Maple hardwood. Floor Layout: Straight.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks - Walled Arena - like Building.
Roof: Gabled Monitor.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1920 to 1960s?
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Google Map
USGS
Akron Postcards - best postcard on the net so far.
eBay - 1920s pictures.
Summit History - showed date.
Downtown Akron - 6th paragraph under "All Gone"
Akrons Ohio Moms - showed postcard among with many Akron buildings in postcards and pictures.
Set List - Music concerts with dates. Only listed 2 concerts of many concerts.
Types of Fence
Date of issue: 18 November 2021.
For office use only: 3.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.