Photo courtesy of Betty Davidson through Pinterest. This included the old Langley school which burned down in 1997. Photo appeared taken just before the fire due to its clearness, color of film, etc. maybe taken in 1995. Who knows.
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Preservation. A good close up of the Rock Gymnasium. Noticed beautiful stone layout. The roof was repaired but I noticed two different kinds which was not a match. Please see the big roof on top. Google Map showed the same way. It is not the same sheet because of the bends of the metal are different styles. This looks taken in early 21st Century. Maybe 2010.
Two above courtesy of Google Map.
Courtesy of Google Map. The exposed remnant of the Foundation of the old school that was burned down in 1997.
Langley Roller Rink Langley, AR
Langley Roller Rink was in Langley, Arkansas. Likely the legend was in the Historic Langley Gymnasium where the Langley School was held from 1940s to 1969 when it was consolidated into another school district and it was closed for good according the court ruling.
A long story version for you to start reading before getting back here is this-- Arkansas Preservation. They will explain the long story and the story about the rink is in the 23rd paragraph if you roll down if desired to skip the entire story about the Gym.
The school was closed for good along with the Stone Gymnasium as they are called. They closed in1965/66 and was boarded up for three years till William O. Davis asked the Kirby School District regarding purchasing the school and gym. Finally, the school district sold the property in July 1969 to William Davis. Mr. Davis opened a skating rink in the gymnasium. The residents of Langley enjoyed the skating rink as it wsa popular. The Davis Family continued to own the school and gym until 1984, when they sold the property to Eddy and Charlotte Ayers.
The Ayers continued the operation of the skating rink in the Rock Gymnasium and rehabilitated the old school into a bed and breakfast called the “Country School Inn”. Sadly in 1997, the old school/bed and breakfast caught on fire due to an electrical issue in the attic causing the complete loss of the structure but leaving the gymnasium unharmed. This in effective ended roller skating in the Rock Gymnasium.
So, five years later (in 2002), the property was sold to Jerry and Linda Wilcox who added the metal roof. However, the gymnasium began to deteriorate and fall into serious neglect. By 2011 the building was in need of repair and Launa Simmons and her husband purchased the property in December and began to rehabilitate the gymnasium back to its glory days before 1969. Therefore, the Langley School Gymnasium is being nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places under Criterion A with local significance for its recreational and educational use in the community of Langley, Arkansas.
Currently an activity and educational facility for the town.
The Interior.
There is no photos of interior however, likely it had Maple floor because of the school, originally designed in mind was a basketball court therefore, the Maple wood was common used and straight wood layout.
In 1969, it was opened as roller rink on the old gym floor. Maybe basket loops were still there when it was a rink.
It was falling apart until new owners, Launa Simmons and her husband purchased the property in December 2011 did the repairs to bring back the interior to pre-1969 roller rink look.
The Exterior.
All stone house-like building designed for a gymnasium originally then a roller rink. It has that Colonialism for architecture as it has Mosaic Stone Wall style. Very house-like even still standing today since it is consider historic to the tiny town as I can see on Google Map. Worth a trip to see this one for sure. But it is private property. You can park side on the road and take a pic of it if desired. But do not bother the people who lives immediately next to the old Gymnasium.
The roof was different originally with rubber shingles but was replaced with Forest Green metal sheet roof.
The extension to the left is all Cinder-block painted in Tan. It was likely where bathrooms and lockers were. The front door extension was also Cinder-block. Same color. All same as it was pre-1969 found in Google Map. It is being preserved.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Maple. Floor Layout: Likely straight; originally designed for basketball in mind.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing, survived huge fire within feet.
Type of Building: Free-Span Colonial house - like Building with Mosaic Stone Walls.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1969 to 2002.
Reason for Closure: Massive electrical fire burned down the old Langley School Building next to the Rock Gymnasium where the rink was in 1997 but without B&B business, they closed rink in 2002. The effect of the fire forced the rink to close. The gym building was spared from the widespread fire.
Wanted: Information regarding actual date 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: Arkansas Preservation, Pinterest,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.
A long story version for you to start reading before getting back here is this-- Arkansas Preservation. They will explain the long story and the story about the rink is in the 23rd paragraph if you roll down if desired to skip the entire story about the Gym.
The school was closed for good along with the Stone Gymnasium as they are called. They closed in1965/66 and was boarded up for three years till William O. Davis asked the Kirby School District regarding purchasing the school and gym. Finally, the school district sold the property in July 1969 to William Davis. Mr. Davis opened a skating rink in the gymnasium. The residents of Langley enjoyed the skating rink as it wsa popular. The Davis Family continued to own the school and gym until 1984, when they sold the property to Eddy and Charlotte Ayers.
The Ayers continued the operation of the skating rink in the Rock Gymnasium and rehabilitated the old school into a bed and breakfast called the “Country School Inn”. Sadly in 1997, the old school/bed and breakfast caught on fire due to an electrical issue in the attic causing the complete loss of the structure but leaving the gymnasium unharmed. This in effective ended roller skating in the Rock Gymnasium.
So, five years later (in 2002), the property was sold to Jerry and Linda Wilcox who added the metal roof. However, the gymnasium began to deteriorate and fall into serious neglect. By 2011 the building was in need of repair and Launa Simmons and her husband purchased the property in December and began to rehabilitate the gymnasium back to its glory days before 1969. Therefore, the Langley School Gymnasium is being nominated to the Arkansas Register of Historic Places under Criterion A with local significance for its recreational and educational use in the community of Langley, Arkansas.
Currently an activity and educational facility for the town.
The Interior.
There is no photos of interior however, likely it had Maple floor because of the school, originally designed in mind was a basketball court therefore, the Maple wood was common used and straight wood layout.
In 1969, it was opened as roller rink on the old gym floor. Maybe basket loops were still there when it was a rink.
It was falling apart until new owners, Launa Simmons and her husband purchased the property in December 2011 did the repairs to bring back the interior to pre-1969 roller rink look.
The Exterior.
All stone house-like building designed for a gymnasium originally then a roller rink. It has that Colonialism for architecture as it has Mosaic Stone Wall style. Very house-like even still standing today since it is consider historic to the tiny town as I can see on Google Map. Worth a trip to see this one for sure. But it is private property. You can park side on the road and take a pic of it if desired. But do not bother the people who lives immediately next to the old Gymnasium.
The roof was different originally with rubber shingles but was replaced with Forest Green metal sheet roof.
The extension to the left is all Cinder-block painted in Tan. It was likely where bathrooms and lockers were. The front door extension was also Cinder-block. Same color. All same as it was pre-1969 found in Google Map. It is being preserved.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Maple. Floor Layout: Likely straight; originally designed for basketball in mind.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing, survived huge fire within feet.
Type of Building: Free-Span Colonial house - like Building with Mosaic Stone Walls.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1969 to 2002.
Reason for Closure: Massive electrical fire burned down the old Langley School Building next to the Rock Gymnasium where the rink was in 1997 but without B&B business, they closed rink in 2002. The effect of the fire forced the rink to close. The gym building was spared from the widespread fire.
Wanted: Information regarding actual date 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: Arkansas Preservation, Pinterest,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.