Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. Source: Pinterest.
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. Source: Dead-Rinks
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. Source: Dead-Rinks.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome/Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. Source: eBay.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome/Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. The front today as a countertop company. Source: Google.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome/Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. The rear. Wow, look at that car! Source: Google.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome/Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. This was the site where many people found a dead body which was on the left side of this picture where the rails were. On the right was the former Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink. That was the rear side. The remainder of the recreation center outdoors were where all the trees are now. The front is shown above. Source: Google.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome/Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. This is the murder site. You can the circle. That was where the victim's body was laid there. Source:
Gay-Way Rollerdrome/Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. Popular place for sure. Source: Harrisburg Sunday Courier - Sunday, 14 June 1931.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome/Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. Popular place for sure. Source: Harrisburg Sunday Courier - Sunday, 14 June 1931.
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. Source: Billboard - 22 Dec 1945, page 59, columns 3 and 4 (bottom of newspaper page).
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. Source: Billboard - 31 March 1945, page 72, 3rd column. (Note, the editor of Billboard made a typo spelling as Heagy's instead of Hagy's).
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. It was advertised for sale in 1947. Source: The Evening News - Friday 18 April 1947.
Hagy Brothers' Playland 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA
Gay-Way Rollerdrome 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA
Gay-Way Rollerdrome 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA
Both rinks, Gay-Way Rollerdrome and the Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink were operational at 1399 Hagy Way, Harrisburg, PA. This roller rink has nothing to do with Hagy's Fountainblu Skate Arena. Totally different family. Just similar name though. This is early generation roller rink. Also has nothing to do with Hagy's Roller Rink. It is different. I know. The confusion! Right Dr. Smith. Oh he is saying on another planet, "Oh the humanity! The pain! The pain!" Oh Doctor! If you read on, you will see the difference! Different people! Like if some businesses had similar name but have naming rights in different area or even state. Is that ok, I can go on, Dr. Smith? Oh, he did not say a word like he realize I am right. (Haha).
It all started out with Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink though. Frank, Hyles, and, Lewis Hagy were brothers who founded and operated their Playland and Roller Rink. It began in 1932 until 1947. Actually, it was called Hagy Brothers' Playland. They included a swimming pool, a junior golf course which is not a miniature golf course or regulation. It is designed for youth to play golf.
They also had trap shooting, archery ranges, English Tennis, and ballroom dancing. It was literally a recreation center. I looked up what English Tennis is. That is called Real Tennis in UK. Or known as Court Tennis in the United States and Royal Tennis in Australia.
Clearly it was both indoors and outdoors recreation center. Amusement parks are different meaning here that the Amusement Parks are designed for amusement rides available for patrons to enjoy riding and yes, they would have picnic areas. However, Recreation Centers are more recreational focused centers that provides more physical means of activities than accepting rides. Trolley Parks are more of parks at the end of the rail line where you can relax and picnicking. State Parks are picnics and camping. Electric Parks are light shows and night life amusement park-style. Entertainment Center is more of.. enjoying something such as movie theaters included as well as play fun things to do. Very similar to Recreation Centers.
Ok, back to this...
The Hagy Brothers had a good operations of the facility although a sad note that someone was murdered and found behind the Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink in 1939. I have pretty good guessimate where her body was found. It was right on the side off the road.
Unfortunately, the whole grounds including the rink were sold in late 1947 and the new owner bought it and had a naming contest. Someone named the new facility as Gay-Way. It means happy way because it is a recreation center. Or entertainment center. The contest was held in the Fall of 1947 as the place was up and running. It ran until sometimes anywhere between 1948 and 1986 when Bob and Mona Krehling purchased the former rink into Krehling Industries. A countertops company.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome was quite a mystery because almost no news at all except for once in 1948 when the swimming pool had a electric shock injured swimmers and caused some deaths. They had to close the pool temporarily.
What more odd was that in 1962, it became Hagy's Roller Rink (Unrelated to the current Hagy's Fountainblu Skate Arena) just for a dog training session. The advertisement mentioned that so likely Gay-Way was out of business for a while but the owner kept the building for leasing purposes. I know some businesses do that. Wegmans come to mind that they have their older smaller stores next to their new bigger stores. Wegmans kept their old stores for leasing purposes so they can make money.
Having said about the dog training sessions, the organizers knew it was originally Hagy's like many of you would call places with original names. Destiny USA is the current name that I call it Carousel Center Mall or Carousel Mall. Or the Syracuse Chiefs instead of the Syracuse Mets. The Chiefs Stadium instead of the Mets Stadium, Carrier Dome.. I call that The Dome. I am sure many of you say the same for many facilities, places, businesses, etc. Rink related, I still call my old employer where I skated, Sports-O-Rama instead of any latter names they had. You get the idea why the organizers named that place. It was never really reopened as Hagy's Roller Rink. It was the name of the spot where it was, yes. Say, I will have a speaking seminar on Dead-Rinks at the Amp in advertisements instead of saying St. Joseph's Heath Amphitheater.
Hope this clears. This is why Gay-Way Rollerdrome and Gay-Way Playland were quite mysterious with their slow disappearance.
The Interior.
Hagy Brothers' Playland:
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink:
Gay-Way Rollerdrome:
The Exterior.
Hagy Brothers' Playland:
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink:
Gay-Way Rollerdrome:
The Stats:
Rink Size: 60' x 180'. Floor: Appeared to be Maple, non-painted, clear coated.
Floor Layout: FAN.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1932.. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gabled. (Faux Front Step Flat Roof on front and rear walls.
Acres: > 5.000 AC.
Organ: Hammond.
Swimming Pool: 220' x 80' (Outdoors)
Operated: (Overall)-- July 1932 until N/A.
Hagy Brothers' Playland: June 1931 to December 1945 (Playland up for sale)
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink: July 1932 to July1947 (sold off or reduced to rink and pool)
Gay-Way Rollerdrome: July 1947 to N/A.
Reason for Closure:
Hagy Brothers' Playland: To settle estate due to death of Lewis Hagy in April 1943.
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink: To settle estate due to death of Lewis Hagy in April 1943.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome: 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:
(many were from the Newspapers.com and I could not get a clear picture because of must purchase subscription. We at Dead-Rinks have a policy that we do not purchase because this site is free for you to view because I do not receive donations. Also Dead-Rinks has a policy that if we only want one article from a single newspaper, why should we pay for subscription for daily or a month. Just need for a minute. Therefore, we do not accept that. So, this is why there is no clippings. Thank you for your understanding. Any others, we can show if it has no paywalls.)
Harrisburg Sunday Courier - Sunday, 05 July 1931.
Harrisburg Sunday Courier - Sunday, 17 July 1932.
Harrisburg Sunday Courier - Sunday, 11 Jun 1939, Page 13 - Hagy's Pool.
The Evening News - Friday, 14 March 1941.
Billboard - 22 Dec 1945, page 59, columns 3 and 4 (bottom).
Billboard - 31 March 1945, page 72, 3rd column. (Note, the editor of Billboard made a typo spelling as Heagy's instead of Hagy's).
The Evening News - Friday, 18 Apr 18, 1947
The Evening News - Friday, 26 Dec 26, 1947
The Evening News - Wednesday, 31 Dec 31, 1947
The Sentinel - 07 Jun 1948
The Sentinel - 26 Oct 1962
Harrisburg Sunday Courier
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
11 Jun 1939, Sun • Page 13
Worth to visit:
None. Private property.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Date of issue: 21 April 2022.
For office use only: 13.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
It all started out with Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink though. Frank, Hyles, and, Lewis Hagy were brothers who founded and operated their Playland and Roller Rink. It began in 1932 until 1947. Actually, it was called Hagy Brothers' Playland. They included a swimming pool, a junior golf course which is not a miniature golf course or regulation. It is designed for youth to play golf.
They also had trap shooting, archery ranges, English Tennis, and ballroom dancing. It was literally a recreation center. I looked up what English Tennis is. That is called Real Tennis in UK. Or known as Court Tennis in the United States and Royal Tennis in Australia.
Clearly it was both indoors and outdoors recreation center. Amusement parks are different meaning here that the Amusement Parks are designed for amusement rides available for patrons to enjoy riding and yes, they would have picnic areas. However, Recreation Centers are more recreational focused centers that provides more physical means of activities than accepting rides. Trolley Parks are more of parks at the end of the rail line where you can relax and picnicking. State Parks are picnics and camping. Electric Parks are light shows and night life amusement park-style. Entertainment Center is more of.. enjoying something such as movie theaters included as well as play fun things to do. Very similar to Recreation Centers.
Ok, back to this...
The Hagy Brothers had a good operations of the facility although a sad note that someone was murdered and found behind the Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink in 1939. I have pretty good guessimate where her body was found. It was right on the side off the road.
Unfortunately, the whole grounds including the rink were sold in late 1947 and the new owner bought it and had a naming contest. Someone named the new facility as Gay-Way. It means happy way because it is a recreation center. Or entertainment center. The contest was held in the Fall of 1947 as the place was up and running. It ran until sometimes anywhere between 1948 and 1986 when Bob and Mona Krehling purchased the former rink into Krehling Industries. A countertops company.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome was quite a mystery because almost no news at all except for once in 1948 when the swimming pool had a electric shock injured swimmers and caused some deaths. They had to close the pool temporarily.
What more odd was that in 1962, it became Hagy's Roller Rink (Unrelated to the current Hagy's Fountainblu Skate Arena) just for a dog training session. The advertisement mentioned that so likely Gay-Way was out of business for a while but the owner kept the building for leasing purposes. I know some businesses do that. Wegmans come to mind that they have their older smaller stores next to their new bigger stores. Wegmans kept their old stores for leasing purposes so they can make money.
Having said about the dog training sessions, the organizers knew it was originally Hagy's like many of you would call places with original names. Destiny USA is the current name that I call it Carousel Center Mall or Carousel Mall. Or the Syracuse Chiefs instead of the Syracuse Mets. The Chiefs Stadium instead of the Mets Stadium, Carrier Dome.. I call that The Dome. I am sure many of you say the same for many facilities, places, businesses, etc. Rink related, I still call my old employer where I skated, Sports-O-Rama instead of any latter names they had. You get the idea why the organizers named that place. It was never really reopened as Hagy's Roller Rink. It was the name of the spot where it was, yes. Say, I will have a speaking seminar on Dead-Rinks at the Amp in advertisements instead of saying St. Joseph's Heath Amphitheater.
Hope this clears. This is why Gay-Way Rollerdrome and Gay-Way Playland were quite mysterious with their slow disappearance.
The Interior.
Hagy Brothers' Playland:
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink:
Gay-Way Rollerdrome:
The Exterior.
Hagy Brothers' Playland:
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink:
Gay-Way Rollerdrome:
The Stats:
Rink Size: 60' x 180'. Floor: Appeared to be Maple, non-painted, clear coated.
Floor Layout: FAN.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1932.. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gabled. (Faux Front Step Flat Roof on front and rear walls.
Acres: > 5.000 AC.
Organ: Hammond.
Swimming Pool: 220' x 80' (Outdoors)
Operated: (Overall)-- July 1932 until N/A.
Hagy Brothers' Playland: June 1931 to December 1945 (Playland up for sale)
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink: July 1932 to July1947 (sold off or reduced to rink and pool)
Gay-Way Rollerdrome: July 1947 to N/A.
Reason for Closure:
Hagy Brothers' Playland: To settle estate due to death of Lewis Hagy in April 1943.
Hagy Brothers' Roller Rink: To settle estate due to death of Lewis Hagy in April 1943.
Gay-Way Rollerdrome: 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:
(many were from the Newspapers.com and I could not get a clear picture because of must purchase subscription. We at Dead-Rinks have a policy that we do not purchase because this site is free for you to view because I do not receive donations. Also Dead-Rinks has a policy that if we only want one article from a single newspaper, why should we pay for subscription for daily or a month. Just need for a minute. Therefore, we do not accept that. So, this is why there is no clippings. Thank you for your understanding. Any others, we can show if it has no paywalls.)
Harrisburg Sunday Courier - Sunday, 05 July 1931.
Harrisburg Sunday Courier - Sunday, 17 July 1932.
Harrisburg Sunday Courier - Sunday, 11 Jun 1939, Page 13 - Hagy's Pool.
The Evening News - Friday, 14 March 1941.
Billboard - 22 Dec 1945, page 59, columns 3 and 4 (bottom).
Billboard - 31 March 1945, page 72, 3rd column. (Note, the editor of Billboard made a typo spelling as Heagy's instead of Hagy's).
The Evening News - Friday, 18 Apr 18, 1947
The Evening News - Friday, 26 Dec 26, 1947
The Evening News - Wednesday, 31 Dec 31, 1947
The Sentinel - 07 Jun 1948
The Sentinel - 26 Oct 1962
Harrisburg Sunday Courier
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
11 Jun 1939, Sun • Page 13
Worth to visit:
None. Private property.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Date of issue: 21 April 2022.
For office use only: 13.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.