Courtesy of Google Map. Photo taken in June 2011 on top and the June 2018 of old rusting sign SKATING still up.
Courtesy of Skating News April 1946 edition. The two photos showed what the Eli Skating Club interior was like.
Courtesy of Skating News June to August 1946 issue.
Skating News December 1947. That was nice of them to have children to write letters to servicemen who served during the war and because of the date, their rebuilding missions in Europe (as well as Pacific theater rebuilt).
Newspaper article courtesy of Billboard, January 14, 1956, page 70.
Eli Skating Club 384 Davenport Avenue, New Haven, CT
New Haven Rollaround 384 Davenport Avenue, New Haven, CT
New Haven Rollaround 384 Davenport Avenue, New Haven, CT
This building, the White Company is historic building but not registered on National Register of Historic Places. So, it is not listed.
The building was built in 1913 as The White Company manufacturing company that made early automobiles. The first White Automobiles were manufactured in 1900 under the corporate leadership of Rollin White, who was the son of the founder of the White Singer Sewing Machine Co., with a patented steam generator. This location was a sales and service outlet for the area when there were limited number of dealership. I believed this was a corporate dealership, not a private dealership you go to today.
The name The White Company on the wall was still up and remains there to this day according to Google Maps. Even the sign that say SKATING was still up.
Apparently the company which made automobiles was founded in 1900 also made roller skates! According to Wikipedia, not just automobiles and diesel engines, they made roller skates, bicycles, and of course sewing machines. Perhaps were making for the well known sewing company, Singer that his father founded. I had no idea till today, November 19, 2020 that The White Company manufactured roller skates! Did any of you knew that? I did not. I only knew there was Chicago, Riedell, Roller Derby, and more recent brands including Moxi, and others. But not the brand White Skates. Please let me know and what they were like. They will be added here. Any dead skates brands will be added here.
Then in 1942, Ben F. Morey who founded the Eli Skating Club along with Jack Adams, his business partner but in 1956, Ben Morey sold the business to Edwin McLaughlin. The reason Ben sold the rink in 1956 so he can focus only on Riverview Rink.
Ben and his partner Jack Adams both named the rink in honor of YALE. "Old Eli".
Since Edwin McLaughlin purchased the rink, it became New Haven Rollaround. Edwin closed likely in1970.
And the Fate of the White Motor Company. Well, they ceased operation in 1980 under Bankruptcy chapter 11 of the US Code. As result, the company was split up in many ways. Volvo mainly purchased the company. It was a purchase of assets and name. Now, hardly any mention of White Company. No more sewing machines, no more automobiles, no more military vehicles, no more trucks, and no more of anything else they made.
Apparently White Motor Company closed that dealership in 1930s (likely) as result of the Great Depression according to Wikipedia.
And the building itself looked abandoned for a long time according to Google Map.
The Interior.
Likely wood floor but I have no information available. Second of all, since it was a boomering shaped building, likely one side of the building was entirely roller floor and other part for other access including snack bar, eating area, rest area, coat room, etc.
The Exterior.
It was a Flat roofed Column-supported Steel Truss Brick-Walled Factory/Dealership - like Building. It has Dark Red Bricks (common of its era before 1940s). It has front windows clearly for display originally for automobiles because it was the White Company Dealership and Service Center. It has sort of Boomerang shaped floorplan building. Standing out front on that road, you will think it looks just rectangular shaped building but it was not. Service bays was replaced with a roller rink as I am guessing that is what they did and the showroom front was concessions stand, eating area, and decorative props around that area. It would be a little difficult to look at the rink when you are in front area.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1913. Demolished: Still standing, abandoned..
Type of Building: Column-supported Steel Truss Brick-Walled Factory/Dealership - like Building.
Roof: Flat. (With proof from Skating News, the roof was actually Gable)
Acres: 0.43 Acres. (No parking lot).
Operated: N/A.
Eli Skating Club: 1942 to January 7, 1956
New Haven Rollaround: January 16,1956 to c.1970s.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Eli Skating Club: Mr. Ben F. Morey sold to new owner, Edwin McLaughlin so he can focus on his other rink, Riverview Rink in New Jersey.
New Haven Rollaround: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Connecticut Mills - The White Company building; Wikipedia - The White Company;
Skating News - April 1946, June to August 1946, December 1946; Billboard - January 14, 1956, Page 70;
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
The building was built in 1913 as The White Company manufacturing company that made early automobiles. The first White Automobiles were manufactured in 1900 under the corporate leadership of Rollin White, who was the son of the founder of the White Singer Sewing Machine Co., with a patented steam generator. This location was a sales and service outlet for the area when there were limited number of dealership. I believed this was a corporate dealership, not a private dealership you go to today.
The name The White Company on the wall was still up and remains there to this day according to Google Maps. Even the sign that say SKATING was still up.
Apparently the company which made automobiles was founded in 1900 also made roller skates! According to Wikipedia, not just automobiles and diesel engines, they made roller skates, bicycles, and of course sewing machines. Perhaps were making for the well known sewing company, Singer that his father founded. I had no idea till today, November 19, 2020 that The White Company manufactured roller skates! Did any of you knew that? I did not. I only knew there was Chicago, Riedell, Roller Derby, and more recent brands including Moxi, and others. But not the brand White Skates. Please let me know and what they were like. They will be added here. Any dead skates brands will be added here.
Then in 1942, Ben F. Morey who founded the Eli Skating Club along with Jack Adams, his business partner but in 1956, Ben Morey sold the business to Edwin McLaughlin. The reason Ben sold the rink in 1956 so he can focus only on Riverview Rink.
Ben and his partner Jack Adams both named the rink in honor of YALE. "Old Eli".
Since Edwin McLaughlin purchased the rink, it became New Haven Rollaround. Edwin closed likely in1970.
And the Fate of the White Motor Company. Well, they ceased operation in 1980 under Bankruptcy chapter 11 of the US Code. As result, the company was split up in many ways. Volvo mainly purchased the company. It was a purchase of assets and name. Now, hardly any mention of White Company. No more sewing machines, no more automobiles, no more military vehicles, no more trucks, and no more of anything else they made.
Apparently White Motor Company closed that dealership in 1930s (likely) as result of the Great Depression according to Wikipedia.
And the building itself looked abandoned for a long time according to Google Map.
The Interior.
Likely wood floor but I have no information available. Second of all, since it was a boomering shaped building, likely one side of the building was entirely roller floor and other part for other access including snack bar, eating area, rest area, coat room, etc.
The Exterior.
It was a Flat roofed Column-supported Steel Truss Brick-Walled Factory/Dealership - like Building. It has Dark Red Bricks (common of its era before 1940s). It has front windows clearly for display originally for automobiles because it was the White Company Dealership and Service Center. It has sort of Boomerang shaped floorplan building. Standing out front on that road, you will think it looks just rectangular shaped building but it was not. Service bays was replaced with a roller rink as I am guessing that is what they did and the showroom front was concessions stand, eating area, and decorative props around that area. It would be a little difficult to look at the rink when you are in front area.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1913. Demolished: Still standing, abandoned..
Type of Building: Column-supported Steel Truss Brick-Walled Factory/Dealership - like Building.
Roof: Flat. (With proof from Skating News, the roof was actually Gable)
Acres: 0.43 Acres. (No parking lot).
Operated: N/A.
Eli Skating Club: 1942 to January 7, 1956
New Haven Rollaround: January 16,1956 to c.1970s.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Eli Skating Club: Mr. Ben F. Morey sold to new owner, Edwin McLaughlin so he can focus on his other rink, Riverview Rink in New Jersey.
New Haven Rollaround: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Connecticut Mills - The White Company building; Wikipedia - The White Company;
Skating News - April 1946, June to August 1946, December 1946; Billboard - January 14, 1956, Page 70;
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.