All above courtesy of Facebook group/Tom Fullam.
Courtesy of SeaCoastline (seacoastline.com). The appearance as Roller Skate Newton. The wall mural retained at the ReStore thrift store.
Courtesy of Jason Sullivan on YouTube.
Happy Wheels, 29 Fox Run Road, Newington, NH (Original)
Roller Skate Newington, 29 Fox Run Road, Newington, NH
UPDATE: Happy Wheels Skating Center was one of the SIX Happy Wheels in New England region including NH, Maine.. etc. It was started by the elder William Falkingham and his wife. Both passed away in 1980s and 1990s respectively. This caused a split of ownerships between the Falkingham Brothers of rinks and a couple of them or so closed as well.
Originally it was Happy Wheels Roller Skating Rink then it became Roller Skate Newington. This marked the final rink ever.. for now in New Hampshire. Like Vermont, both states do not have any roller rink presently as of 2019 at the time of writing.
Originally, as Happy Wheels, the exterior was quite dark, dark colored building, It appeared to be Black in this 80s photograph someone took and uploaded in Facebook. The interior originally as Happy Skate had straight stripes and zigzag crossing over each other on the Grey wall.
Then they had changes to more colorful with circus style walls that has each section of same wall but of different colors. Then it became all one Grey wall with Happy Wheels mural on the wall. The very same wall where the current Roller Skate Newington is still up in the ReStore thrift store.
Apparently the renovation were quite common at that rink which made it more refreshing and up to date. Most rinks rarely do that since 1970s. But this one did good job renovating often.
The rink was in a warehouse type of Sheet metal walls (steel), gable roof, and Tan colored exterior (as Roller Skate Newington). Black (originally as Happy Wheels).
Interior, for Roller Skate Newington only, it was very refreshing like a fusion of 1970s and 2010s appearance. The interior was quite bright with mostly Canary Yellow background with flowing stripes and stars on the rink wall. It had curved corners, not like the exterior walls. It had large clear Black italic Ariel fonts for the name of the rink (Roller Skate Newington) as you can see in photos and YouTube video of its last skate.
The rink floor to me appeared to be concrete painted in two Dark Blue tones. Darker inside the Center. I did not see in the video for any figure skating lines at all. It was standard. What I like there was wooden footguard wrap around the rink. Really gave an accent to the wall and the rink plus a wooden rail around. It did gave that 1960s-70s feel with that rail. Rarely a rink has that on a wall for skaters to practice with. Or to grab preventing their fall. Nice concept.
The flashing lights were wrapped around on top wall around the rink and off-rink section of games, lockers, and snack-bar area. It appeared to be refreshing as it was like you may remember a certain brand of video store or movie theater lights on outside. To me, in my opinion, it reminded me of those. They were very creative, I am referring to the owners of the rink.
The rink Closed for good on July 31, 2011. It was opened in 1983. The Southeast NH Habitat for Humanity's ReStore opened up in 2017 and still in operations. The light fixtures and the mural and name still exist inside the ReStore. Maybe.. just maybe there is hope! If the Habitat for Humanity desire to sell the property, the new owners can own the building and reopen as rink. So, one can hope!
The YouTube video showed quite a crowd for final skate. About 100 skaters attended the final skate.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Two tones Blue Polyurethane Coated Concrete
Floor Layout: Standard
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Type of Building: Steel sheet metal warehouse.
Roof: Gable
Operated: As Happy Wheels: Pre-1982 to 2006/7
As Roller Skate Newington: 2006/7 to July 31, 2011.
(Same ownership but split between brothers as Happy Wheels and later, name changed however, for the management, it was Leon and Phyllis Shaw since 1983 till closure).
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding Happy Wheels date of open and closure. Was Happy Wheels the same as Roller Skate Newington with same owners and management? More information on decor and which one was in correct order of style.
Sources: FRRP, YouTube, Facebook/Tom Fullam (their album has TONS of pictures!),
Sea Coastline,
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Roller Skate Newington, 29 Fox Run Road, Newington, NH
UPDATE: Happy Wheels Skating Center was one of the SIX Happy Wheels in New England region including NH, Maine.. etc. It was started by the elder William Falkingham and his wife. Both passed away in 1980s and 1990s respectively. This caused a split of ownerships between the Falkingham Brothers of rinks and a couple of them or so closed as well.
Originally it was Happy Wheels Roller Skating Rink then it became Roller Skate Newington. This marked the final rink ever.. for now in New Hampshire. Like Vermont, both states do not have any roller rink presently as of 2019 at the time of writing.
Originally, as Happy Wheels, the exterior was quite dark, dark colored building, It appeared to be Black in this 80s photograph someone took and uploaded in Facebook. The interior originally as Happy Skate had straight stripes and zigzag crossing over each other on the Grey wall.
Then they had changes to more colorful with circus style walls that has each section of same wall but of different colors. Then it became all one Grey wall with Happy Wheels mural on the wall. The very same wall where the current Roller Skate Newington is still up in the ReStore thrift store.
Apparently the renovation were quite common at that rink which made it more refreshing and up to date. Most rinks rarely do that since 1970s. But this one did good job renovating often.
The rink was in a warehouse type of Sheet metal walls (steel), gable roof, and Tan colored exterior (as Roller Skate Newington). Black (originally as Happy Wheels).
Interior, for Roller Skate Newington only, it was very refreshing like a fusion of 1970s and 2010s appearance. The interior was quite bright with mostly Canary Yellow background with flowing stripes and stars on the rink wall. It had curved corners, not like the exterior walls. It had large clear Black italic Ariel fonts for the name of the rink (Roller Skate Newington) as you can see in photos and YouTube video of its last skate.
The rink floor to me appeared to be concrete painted in two Dark Blue tones. Darker inside the Center. I did not see in the video for any figure skating lines at all. It was standard. What I like there was wooden footguard wrap around the rink. Really gave an accent to the wall and the rink plus a wooden rail around. It did gave that 1960s-70s feel with that rail. Rarely a rink has that on a wall for skaters to practice with. Or to grab preventing their fall. Nice concept.
The flashing lights were wrapped around on top wall around the rink and off-rink section of games, lockers, and snack-bar area. It appeared to be refreshing as it was like you may remember a certain brand of video store or movie theater lights on outside. To me, in my opinion, it reminded me of those. They were very creative, I am referring to the owners of the rink.
The rink Closed for good on July 31, 2011. It was opened in 1983. The Southeast NH Habitat for Humanity's ReStore opened up in 2017 and still in operations. The light fixtures and the mural and name still exist inside the ReStore. Maybe.. just maybe there is hope! If the Habitat for Humanity desire to sell the property, the new owners can own the building and reopen as rink. So, one can hope!
The YouTube video showed quite a crowd for final skate. About 100 skaters attended the final skate.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Two tones Blue Polyurethane Coated Concrete
Floor Layout: Standard
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Type of Building: Steel sheet metal warehouse.
Roof: Gable
Operated: As Happy Wheels: Pre-1982 to 2006/7
As Roller Skate Newington: 2006/7 to July 31, 2011.
(Same ownership but split between brothers as Happy Wheels and later, name changed however, for the management, it was Leon and Phyllis Shaw since 1983 till closure).
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding Happy Wheels date of open and closure. Was Happy Wheels the same as Roller Skate Newington with same owners and management? More information on decor and which one was in correct order of style.
Sources: FRRP, YouTube, Facebook/Tom Fullam (their album has TONS of pictures!),
Sea Coastline,
© 2019 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.