Both photos courtesy of Jeff Paine Blog. Bottom photo-- to find it it is easy! Look toward left side closer to the bottom corner. You can see that unmistakable long building with that kind of roof.
Mammoth Roller Rink 97 (South) Main Street, Cortland, NY
Mammoth Roller Rink was a rink in Cortland, NY when it first opened on Saturday September 6, 1884 according to Tully Times, a newspaper at the time.
By 1887, there were a group of people who seemly not interested in roller skating as an exercise. They apparently rejected a four acre of land right by the Mammoth Roller Rink when the town suggested because of the popular skating venue is an activity and athletic function. They wanted some place else. Did they evidently hurt the rink? This is long ago and harder to find information. But nevertheless, roller skating faded there and they had other functions including exhibits, foot races, storage and other purposes. Later it was acquired by the 45th Separate Company by 1892-93 and it became Armory Building. But that did not last long there either.
“Peck Bros, started in business on Feb. 1, 1896, when they opened the store at 97 Main street, together with a store house in the rear for the sale of agricultural machinery, implements, wagons, sleighs, horse furnishing goods and farmers' supplies. In 1897 they started a lumber business and on April 1, 1899, they took possession of the armory on Main street. This building encloses a space 80 x 220 feet which they have cut up into two departments, viz.: The horse furnishing goods, manufactory and ware rooms, which together with the office, occupies a space 30 x 60 feet, and the display rooms for implements, machinery and vehicles occupying the rest of this large sized building. In the rear of the armory they have established the lumber business. The firm comprises M. J. and L. W. Peck, both of whom are natives of Solon, Cortland county.” --Grip’s Historical Souvenir of Cortland, 1899.
So, quite large building. 80 feet wide by 220 feet long. Apparently when this first opened as a rink, the rink itself was 80 feet wide by maybe 185 to 200 feet leaving just 20 feet or so for snack bar, seating, coat room, and office. The Peck Brothers split the facility. 30 by 60 and the rest bigger. Selling equipment. And later, they added a lumber yard. A forerunner to Jumbo hardware stores you know today such as Lowes and Home Depot.
There have been quite a changes through 20th Century. It also became classrooms, and now an Army recruiting office, career center, and some retail store according Google Map.
The building has long since torn down likely because it is entire different appearance there.
The Interior.
N/A
The Exterior.
It was a 80 X 220 building and you can see in the photo. It had windows all around this White walled building with a Low-pitch Hip roof building that almost a Gable roof. It had two pinnacles on the top flat part of roof. One toward front and other toward rear. Windows all around the building to have natural lights come in. As if you know your history lights back then were not as much wattage. Originally the rink sat just on the edge of the city building zone in 1880s. Today, it is totally different building. Flat roof, has three storefronts: two career centers and a retail. Likely it did meet its fate that it was torn down.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: Date unknown but did torn down.
Type of Building: Warehouse-like Building.
Roof: Low Pitch Gable-Hip Roff.
Acres: N/A
Operated: Saturday September 6, 1884 to c. 1892
Reason for Closure: Skating faded.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of the rink, both interior and exterior, exact dates of closure.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Tully Times, Saturday September 13, 1884; Jeff Paine Blog, Jeff Pain Blog 2,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
By 1887, there were a group of people who seemly not interested in roller skating as an exercise. They apparently rejected a four acre of land right by the Mammoth Roller Rink when the town suggested because of the popular skating venue is an activity and athletic function. They wanted some place else. Did they evidently hurt the rink? This is long ago and harder to find information. But nevertheless, roller skating faded there and they had other functions including exhibits, foot races, storage and other purposes. Later it was acquired by the 45th Separate Company by 1892-93 and it became Armory Building. But that did not last long there either.
“Peck Bros, started in business on Feb. 1, 1896, when they opened the store at 97 Main street, together with a store house in the rear for the sale of agricultural machinery, implements, wagons, sleighs, horse furnishing goods and farmers' supplies. In 1897 they started a lumber business and on April 1, 1899, they took possession of the armory on Main street. This building encloses a space 80 x 220 feet which they have cut up into two departments, viz.: The horse furnishing goods, manufactory and ware rooms, which together with the office, occupies a space 30 x 60 feet, and the display rooms for implements, machinery and vehicles occupying the rest of this large sized building. In the rear of the armory they have established the lumber business. The firm comprises M. J. and L. W. Peck, both of whom are natives of Solon, Cortland county.” --Grip’s Historical Souvenir of Cortland, 1899.
So, quite large building. 80 feet wide by 220 feet long. Apparently when this first opened as a rink, the rink itself was 80 feet wide by maybe 185 to 200 feet leaving just 20 feet or so for snack bar, seating, coat room, and office. The Peck Brothers split the facility. 30 by 60 and the rest bigger. Selling equipment. And later, they added a lumber yard. A forerunner to Jumbo hardware stores you know today such as Lowes and Home Depot.
There have been quite a changes through 20th Century. It also became classrooms, and now an Army recruiting office, career center, and some retail store according Google Map.
The building has long since torn down likely because it is entire different appearance there.
The Interior.
N/A
The Exterior.
It was a 80 X 220 building and you can see in the photo. It had windows all around this White walled building with a Low-pitch Hip roof building that almost a Gable roof. It had two pinnacles on the top flat part of roof. One toward front and other toward rear. Windows all around the building to have natural lights come in. As if you know your history lights back then were not as much wattage. Originally the rink sat just on the edge of the city building zone in 1880s. Today, it is totally different building. Flat roof, has three storefronts: two career centers and a retail. Likely it did meet its fate that it was torn down.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: Date unknown but did torn down.
Type of Building: Warehouse-like Building.
Roof: Low Pitch Gable-Hip Roff.
Acres: N/A
Operated: Saturday September 6, 1884 to c. 1892
Reason for Closure: Skating faded.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of the rink, both interior and exterior, exact dates of closure.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Tully Times, Saturday September 13, 1884; Jeff Paine Blog, Jeff Pain Blog 2,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.