All Photos above Courtesy: Hillcrest Roller Rink Facebook.
Photo Courtesy: Delaware County NY Fire Wire & Emergency News Facebook page.
Photo Courtesy: Google Map.
Photo courtesy: FRRP.
Hillcrest Roller Rink, 2181 Co Rd 4, Sidney, New York
Hillcrest Roller Rink was set in a small town in Sidney, New York which was in Northeast of Binghamton, NY about an half hour drive or so. The rink operated for a long time since one of the post in You Tube said he remembered skating there in 1940's. It was a small rink that looked like a house or something.
This rink was one of the oldest in the nation till the fire destroyed the building. Likely the oldest operating rink.
It held skating, dancing, special events, concerts, fund raising events. Very community-like that people could enjoy skating.
Unfortunately, it came to a stop when they had a huge fire and burned down in 2014 according to a clip on You Tube. It was never rebuilt. As of January 2019 Google Map still showed the image capture in 2008! Must be Google wanted to be nice to let the town of Sidney, NY to have a memory. Google Maps needs to have annual map files so people can look back in the past.
It was a cute white building that looked very old. It was old. It began in 1929 as a roller rink and held on for so long. It was one of the oldest American skating rinks still in operations as of 2014. Who is the oldest?
After the fire, they no longer had desire to rebuilt. As shown on top view/bird view of the Google Map, they no longer showed the rink but all grassy sandwiched between neat cut grass and houses.
They had several owners through out the years because it ran so long. Tracey Chapman was the final owner who owned July 29, 1998 to the fire in 2014.
Darn, I just missed my chance to skate there. I had no idea about this rink. Oh well! By the looks of the photos, the rink appeared to be very nice and very homely and friendly as I can see the photos. Very community and closely to each other because this was a small town that skaters may have known each other. That was the rink everybody know their names. That would be the rink I would have liked spend time there.
Tracey Chapman, sorry for your loss of the rink. How did it happen? Electrical? According to Watershedpost.com website, they said the investigation could not be concluded and could not be solved because it was a complete burn and not do anything until Tracey Chapman's insurance company demands it. Apparently not. It was completely burned to the ground because the structure was so old. About 85 years old. It was all wood structure, not steel beam and blocks.
Tracey said he grew up skating at that rink and he had his daughter birthday parties there often. The rink hosted many community efforts. When there was serious flooding occurred especially in 2011, Tracey and his staff tried to keep the kids off the streets and not get into trouble, and people able to go to the rink because they were displaced.
Facilities are normally emergency shelter like at Hillcrest did.
The rink ran seasonal and not open in the summer.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Wood, (look like Maple) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A
Type of Building: Free Wood Span House-like with Columns on side of rink Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: 1.30 Acres
Operation: 1929 to August 27, 2014. Closed due to fire loss.
Reason for Closure: Fire loss.
Wanted: Information regarding old photos of the rink-both interior and exterior back long ago. exact dates of opening since already got date of closure due to fire.
Source: YouTube, Watershed Post, FRRP, Facebook group, Loopnet
Hillcrest Roller Rink was set in a small town in Sidney, New York which was in Northeast of Binghamton, NY about an half hour drive or so. The rink operated for a long time since one of the post in You Tube said he remembered skating there in 1940's. It was a small rink that looked like a house or something.
This rink was one of the oldest in the nation till the fire destroyed the building. Likely the oldest operating rink.
It held skating, dancing, special events, concerts, fund raising events. Very community-like that people could enjoy skating.
Unfortunately, it came to a stop when they had a huge fire and burned down in 2014 according to a clip on You Tube. It was never rebuilt. As of January 2019 Google Map still showed the image capture in 2008! Must be Google wanted to be nice to let the town of Sidney, NY to have a memory. Google Maps needs to have annual map files so people can look back in the past.
It was a cute white building that looked very old. It was old. It began in 1929 as a roller rink and held on for so long. It was one of the oldest American skating rinks still in operations as of 2014. Who is the oldest?
After the fire, they no longer had desire to rebuilt. As shown on top view/bird view of the Google Map, they no longer showed the rink but all grassy sandwiched between neat cut grass and houses.
They had several owners through out the years because it ran so long. Tracey Chapman was the final owner who owned July 29, 1998 to the fire in 2014.
Darn, I just missed my chance to skate there. I had no idea about this rink. Oh well! By the looks of the photos, the rink appeared to be very nice and very homely and friendly as I can see the photos. Very community and closely to each other because this was a small town that skaters may have known each other. That was the rink everybody know their names. That would be the rink I would have liked spend time there.
Tracey Chapman, sorry for your loss of the rink. How did it happen? Electrical? According to Watershedpost.com website, they said the investigation could not be concluded and could not be solved because it was a complete burn and not do anything until Tracey Chapman's insurance company demands it. Apparently not. It was completely burned to the ground because the structure was so old. About 85 years old. It was all wood structure, not steel beam and blocks.
Tracey said he grew up skating at that rink and he had his daughter birthday parties there often. The rink hosted many community efforts. When there was serious flooding occurred especially in 2011, Tracey and his staff tried to keep the kids off the streets and not get into trouble, and people able to go to the rink because they were displaced.
Facilities are normally emergency shelter like at Hillcrest did.
The rink ran seasonal and not open in the summer.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Wood, (look like Maple) Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A
Type of Building: Free Wood Span House-like with Columns on side of rink Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: 1.30 Acres
Operation: 1929 to August 27, 2014. Closed due to fire loss.
Reason for Closure: Fire loss.
Wanted: Information regarding old photos of the rink-both interior and exterior back long ago. exact dates of opening since already got date of closure due to fire.
Source: YouTube, Watershed Post, FRRP, Facebook group, Loopnet