Courtesy of The New England Magazine, An Illustrated Monthly, Vol.1. Only known illustration of the rink at the time.
Lowell Skating Rink Gorham Street, Lowell, MA
On Gorham Street in Lowell, Massachusetts was once the home of Lowell Skating Rink. This rink opened annually as a seasonal venue. They would open during November and close around April or until middle of May each year.
Seemly all pointed to 1884 as the year they were opened. But it did not last because of the newness of skating fad and there were three rinks already opened up in Boston so skaters seemed to go there. We do not know. They may have opened even far back to 1870s. (James Plimpton invented the Quads in 1860s in the midst of American Civil War.) No records known for that.
Sometimes the rink's clients reserved the rink for bicycles competition (Yes, they had bike riding and competitions long before some rinks today uses bicycles as means to try to survive), or even have bouquet parties, and skating competitions. Even the Lowell Skating Rink hosted the games for polo team from Lowell, Massachusetts. It was a popular rink as many saw the skating rink as a “bad institution.” Apparently it was deeply divided on opinions of the residents of Lowell.
So far I only found ONE information and that was it.
The reputation of roller skating at the time was greatly misunderstood with negative news thanks to media and some people especially leaders who were against roller skating. The editorial in that local newspaper said that roller skating could not “help having immoral effects” even if the management of the rink was sound. The long-ago writer also claimed that roller skating was the “most mischievous form of public amusement ever introduced” and believed that it would soon be “suppressed as a dangerous evil.” In the end, roller skating was not suppressed, and actually evolved into being seen by later generations as good, clean fun. The Lowell Skating Rink would not live to see the vindication of roller skating among the masses, though. It closed its doors in early 1885, and was sold and torn down soon after.
The media is powerful mis-influence which can put down a President of the United States or government or local leaders or even actors (ie- Art "Fatty" Arbuckle) or a business (Too many to list). And no, this was not Operation Mockingbird. That was not until 1950! This is 1885 when they shut down.
The Interior.
The skating floor was Clear Coated Yellow Birch Wood and it was a little softer than Hard Maple wood. The mar for Birch is 1260 hardness compared to Maple at 1450 hardness. Therefore they had softer wood. Not the Hard Maple or Cury Maple. It had ornamental railings that separated the skaters from the fifteen-foot-wide promenade. From the promenade, spectators watched skaters from their rows of camp chairs.
The floor was rather large by observation on the photo of exterior. It may be exaggerated. Likely it may have had a stage for a band or organ music.
It is anyone guess because it was that long ago.
Seemly all pointed to 1884 as the year they were opened. But it did not last because of the newness of skating fad and there were three rinks already opened up in Boston so skaters seemed to go there.
The Exterior.
It was a Gabled roofed large structure likely made of wood truss and materials such as walls, etc. The left end had two tall towers on each end of the wall. It did look more like a church in that architectural narrative between the two. The front doors were on the right side of the building. The furnace was in the area where the admission doors were since that was where I see a fireplace was.
It had a large sign with the name of the city and what the place was.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Clear coated Yellow Birch Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1870s? to 1885.
Reason for Closure: Negative publicity from the media (mis-information/mis-influence) forcing it to close.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Forgotten New England - Early controversy for Lowell Rink;
Date of issue: 09 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
Seemly all pointed to 1884 as the year they were opened. But it did not last because of the newness of skating fad and there were three rinks already opened up in Boston so skaters seemed to go there. We do not know. They may have opened even far back to 1870s. (James Plimpton invented the Quads in 1860s in the midst of American Civil War.) No records known for that.
Sometimes the rink's clients reserved the rink for bicycles competition (Yes, they had bike riding and competitions long before some rinks today uses bicycles as means to try to survive), or even have bouquet parties, and skating competitions. Even the Lowell Skating Rink hosted the games for polo team from Lowell, Massachusetts. It was a popular rink as many saw the skating rink as a “bad institution.” Apparently it was deeply divided on opinions of the residents of Lowell.
So far I only found ONE information and that was it.
The reputation of roller skating at the time was greatly misunderstood with negative news thanks to media and some people especially leaders who were against roller skating. The editorial in that local newspaper said that roller skating could not “help having immoral effects” even if the management of the rink was sound. The long-ago writer also claimed that roller skating was the “most mischievous form of public amusement ever introduced” and believed that it would soon be “suppressed as a dangerous evil.” In the end, roller skating was not suppressed, and actually evolved into being seen by later generations as good, clean fun. The Lowell Skating Rink would not live to see the vindication of roller skating among the masses, though. It closed its doors in early 1885, and was sold and torn down soon after.
The media is powerful mis-influence which can put down a President of the United States or government or local leaders or even actors (ie- Art "Fatty" Arbuckle) or a business (Too many to list). And no, this was not Operation Mockingbird. That was not until 1950! This is 1885 when they shut down.
The Interior.
The skating floor was Clear Coated Yellow Birch Wood and it was a little softer than Hard Maple wood. The mar for Birch is 1260 hardness compared to Maple at 1450 hardness. Therefore they had softer wood. Not the Hard Maple or Cury Maple. It had ornamental railings that separated the skaters from the fifteen-foot-wide promenade. From the promenade, spectators watched skaters from their rows of camp chairs.
The floor was rather large by observation on the photo of exterior. It may be exaggerated. Likely it may have had a stage for a band or organ music.
It is anyone guess because it was that long ago.
Seemly all pointed to 1884 as the year they were opened. But it did not last because of the newness of skating fad and there were three rinks already opened up in Boston so skaters seemed to go there.
The Exterior.
It was a Gabled roofed large structure likely made of wood truss and materials such as walls, etc. The left end had two tall towers on each end of the wall. It did look more like a church in that architectural narrative between the two. The front doors were on the right side of the building. The furnace was in the area where the admission doors were since that was where I see a fireplace was.
It had a large sign with the name of the city and what the place was.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Clear coated Yellow Birch Wood. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1870s? to 1885.
Reason for Closure: Negative publicity from the media (mis-information/mis-influence) forcing it to close.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Forgotten New England - Early controversy for Lowell Rink;
Date of issue: 09 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.