Ebay. Someone sold it anyway. Anyway! This was a better postcard I found compared to other sites. It did feature a storefront like Gable building. All wood. Even the floor. Yes, wood was common back then as concrete was not used till a few decades later. A huge sign on the front wall really get people attention and yes, the old Black-and-White photo shown here has proven that the crowd were waiting to go in skating. hardly anyone else at other venues on the left. Yes, you see that man standing with his legs crossed. Bit hard to do that! That one was bit weird. You noticed how they dress?! Remember, that was the way you were supposed to wear when you are out in public! Long dresses and thick too. And men with suits and tails! All ready to go skating! At the time, amusement parks, roller rinks, etc were normally attracting upper classes who could afford compared to the poor. Child labor laws and federal work laws and OSHA laws passed which created middle class and bringing up poor people. I only saw 3 children in the picture. Can you find them? Answer at bottom!
You can see in postcard, THREE buildings. Was this the one that burned down in 1914?
You can see in postcard, THREE buildings. Was this the one that burned down in 1914?
Homestead Skating Rink, The Savin Rock, CT
The Homestead Skating Rink was part of the Savin Rock Amusement Park in Savin Rock, Connecticut. This was common having a roller rink in a trolley park or even amusement park such as this one. There are a lot of information about this park but the sad part was it did not talk much about the skating rink at all. Wikipedia did not say anything about the rink. The author on that site apparently ignored the importance of the rink as other authors did with other amusement parks and trolley parks on Wikipedia. They would mention it because usually it is shared with dancing hall but Savin Rock Amusement Park had roller rink separately from dance hall. Some parks did the same, separately. I have done a few rinks on this site their profiles that they were part of their amusement parks. One was in RI, another in New Hampshire, a couple of them in Connecticut, a few in New York State, etc. Even one right in my old backyard, literally cross Edwards Falls -- the Suburban Park in Manlius, NY.
The Homestead Skating Rink may have likely been part of the original--the trolley park type of amusement park because it was connected to this trolley line in 1870s. Entrepreneur George Kelsey established the extended line of trolleys he owned and this, he built 1,500-foot pier to accommodate a ferry service between trolley and a ferry on at the end of Beach Street. This started step by step in the area. He built a hotel to house 150 guests then eventually built a resort surrounded the property. Had bands playing there along with having a fountain, an observatory, a wooded area for picnics, and a carousel which was revolved first by manpower and later by a horse on a treadmill. Very basic amusement area. This was more like a public park like. Slowly becoming trolley park. Amusements were built by other businessmen, and soon the park had a zoo, a museum and a dance hall. Promoters organized cock fights, horse races and prize fights. Yes, those illegal cock fights. Were they legal at the time? I do not know. But they are illegal in the United States. But they had prize fights, boxing. By the way, George Kelsey owned the West Haven Buckle Company, the first buckle manufacturing company. That is right, your belt buckles! This dates back to 1850s. His staff, Shelton Hartshorn patented belt buckle. Back then before that, all were tied belts and harnesses for belts. I had to tie my Renaissance era belt to hold my canteen and shout, "Behold! Behold, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade 'nd Snow of Cones! Come hither!" as a actor and vendor as well as supervisor.
Old Postcards I found online showed it was stamped in 1910, 1911, and 1912. So, apparently it was part of White City Trolley Park. Did the fire of 1914 destroyed the rink? It was possible because it destroyed 3 buildings. No postcards post stamped beyond 1914.
Each venue at the park were owned by other business people. Clearly it was like a shopping mall full of tenants. This park had full of tenants with their own amusement sector. This is why you noticed old amusement parks, trolley parks, and circus of yesteryear even state fairs had those freak shows. Think of Cardiff Giant was displayed at fairs and parks till they were exposed for fraud. By the way, that fake giant is sitting in a museum in Cooperstown, NY.
Finally in 1903 carnival rides were added and the area which sealed officially opened as an amusement park, an upgrade from trolley park called the White City. They even added more venues and had a street called "The Rock" like Broadway is to theaters in NYC, and Boardwalk is to Atlantic City, and the Strip is to Vegas casinos. The Rock had many venues. Likely perhaps where the Homestead Roller Rink was housed. Postcard did not say that but most venues were on that street although they had 2 more streets housed with many venues and rides.
By then it was 1919, they renamed it Savin Rock Amusement Park, was attracting 1.2 million visitors each year. This status would have made this park continue today if they have kept it running well. But the Great Hurricane of 1938 flatted many rides and buildings. Did the Homestead Skating Rink become a victim? We do not know. Anyone?
They were going to expand in 1950s but it was stalled. In 1960s, too many residents and industrial businesses wanted to take over the area and this turned off park patrons and this, the park lost its popularity and by 1966, they closed for good.
The park had other problems during it's run including in 1930s illegal gaming and gambling arresting 30 men. The Hurricane of 1938 did damaged many rides (but surprising Wilcox's Restaurant on the water received almost no damages! But often the buildings at the park had fires. There was a grease fire destroyed three buildings in 1914. Another fire was on June 11, 1932, an electrical fire caused over $100,000 in damages. Additional fires destroyed Savin Rock’s White City and, in 1951, its wax museum. Nothing said about the rink.
I do not have any true information about the rink.
The Interior.
For sure it is open spacious rink but it was small as you can see in the postcard. Crowded and waiting to go in. It is open because of side walls were opened to let the breeze in. (postcard showed people wearing jackets on as it was in spring or fall.)
The Exterior.
It was a Gabled building that looks like a general store because of that huge rectangular sign and open window (no glass) making it looks like a farmers Market look or general store look. But it was a rink. According to all postcards, it showed it had Tan and Red base colors. Very roman style paints. It also had some White as well. They had that huge sign with the name of the rink but also it says "ROLLER SKATING" to make it easier for people walking by to see it is a rink. Plus that huge red sign with the same big capitalized words, "ROLLER SKATING"
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span? Wood Truss Steel-Walled Open walled - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A. (Part of the Amusement Park).
Operated: c. 1900s to maybe 1910s.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: West Haven History Book; Wikipedia - Savin Rock Amusement Park;
Savin Rock Amusement Park book; Connecticut History - Savin Rock Amusement Park;
Hartford-Courant - Savin Rock Amusement Park;
Answers to the locations of children in that postcard: First you see a boy in gray suit directly below the letter "K" with the parent in Brown Suit. Second one was a girl in White jacket and yellow shoes direct below "LL" on sign. Third is a teenager (I could be wrong) by the front door in White coat next to her mother in Red Jacket and Yellow skirt on.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
The Homestead Skating Rink may have likely been part of the original--the trolley park type of amusement park because it was connected to this trolley line in 1870s. Entrepreneur George Kelsey established the extended line of trolleys he owned and this, he built 1,500-foot pier to accommodate a ferry service between trolley and a ferry on at the end of Beach Street. This started step by step in the area. He built a hotel to house 150 guests then eventually built a resort surrounded the property. Had bands playing there along with having a fountain, an observatory, a wooded area for picnics, and a carousel which was revolved first by manpower and later by a horse on a treadmill. Very basic amusement area. This was more like a public park like. Slowly becoming trolley park. Amusements were built by other businessmen, and soon the park had a zoo, a museum and a dance hall. Promoters organized cock fights, horse races and prize fights. Yes, those illegal cock fights. Were they legal at the time? I do not know. But they are illegal in the United States. But they had prize fights, boxing. By the way, George Kelsey owned the West Haven Buckle Company, the first buckle manufacturing company. That is right, your belt buckles! This dates back to 1850s. His staff, Shelton Hartshorn patented belt buckle. Back then before that, all were tied belts and harnesses for belts. I had to tie my Renaissance era belt to hold my canteen and shout, "Behold! Behold, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade 'nd Snow of Cones! Come hither!" as a actor and vendor as well as supervisor.
Old Postcards I found online showed it was stamped in 1910, 1911, and 1912. So, apparently it was part of White City Trolley Park. Did the fire of 1914 destroyed the rink? It was possible because it destroyed 3 buildings. No postcards post stamped beyond 1914.
Each venue at the park were owned by other business people. Clearly it was like a shopping mall full of tenants. This park had full of tenants with their own amusement sector. This is why you noticed old amusement parks, trolley parks, and circus of yesteryear even state fairs had those freak shows. Think of Cardiff Giant was displayed at fairs and parks till they were exposed for fraud. By the way, that fake giant is sitting in a museum in Cooperstown, NY.
Finally in 1903 carnival rides were added and the area which sealed officially opened as an amusement park, an upgrade from trolley park called the White City. They even added more venues and had a street called "The Rock" like Broadway is to theaters in NYC, and Boardwalk is to Atlantic City, and the Strip is to Vegas casinos. The Rock had many venues. Likely perhaps where the Homestead Roller Rink was housed. Postcard did not say that but most venues were on that street although they had 2 more streets housed with many venues and rides.
By then it was 1919, they renamed it Savin Rock Amusement Park, was attracting 1.2 million visitors each year. This status would have made this park continue today if they have kept it running well. But the Great Hurricane of 1938 flatted many rides and buildings. Did the Homestead Skating Rink become a victim? We do not know. Anyone?
They were going to expand in 1950s but it was stalled. In 1960s, too many residents and industrial businesses wanted to take over the area and this turned off park patrons and this, the park lost its popularity and by 1966, they closed for good.
The park had other problems during it's run including in 1930s illegal gaming and gambling arresting 30 men. The Hurricane of 1938 did damaged many rides (but surprising Wilcox's Restaurant on the water received almost no damages! But often the buildings at the park had fires. There was a grease fire destroyed three buildings in 1914. Another fire was on June 11, 1932, an electrical fire caused over $100,000 in damages. Additional fires destroyed Savin Rock’s White City and, in 1951, its wax museum. Nothing said about the rink.
I do not have any true information about the rink.
The Interior.
For sure it is open spacious rink but it was small as you can see in the postcard. Crowded and waiting to go in. It is open because of side walls were opened to let the breeze in. (postcard showed people wearing jackets on as it was in spring or fall.)
The Exterior.
It was a Gabled building that looks like a general store because of that huge rectangular sign and open window (no glass) making it looks like a farmers Market look or general store look. But it was a rink. According to all postcards, it showed it had Tan and Red base colors. Very roman style paints. It also had some White as well. They had that huge sign with the name of the rink but also it says "ROLLER SKATING" to make it easier for people walking by to see it is a rink. Plus that huge red sign with the same big capitalized words, "ROLLER SKATING"
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span? Wood Truss Steel-Walled Open walled - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A. (Part of the Amusement Park).
Operated: c. 1900s to maybe 1910s.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding actual dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink. Also photos.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: West Haven History Book; Wikipedia - Savin Rock Amusement Park;
Savin Rock Amusement Park book; Connecticut History - Savin Rock Amusement Park;
Hartford-Courant - Savin Rock Amusement Park;
Answers to the locations of children in that postcard: First you see a boy in gray suit directly below the letter "K" with the parent in Brown Suit. Second one was a girl in White jacket and yellow shoes direct below "LL" on sign. Third is a teenager (I could be wrong) by the front door in White coat next to her mother in Red Jacket and Yellow skirt on.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.