Courtesy of M.K. (Fan) who pointed out this was Massee's. Wow, very house like and small! Photo likely taken after Massee's closed.
Courtesy of Picclick.com. Actual age old sticker.
Taken from Billboard, April 3, 1954, page 45, 3rd column. See it is plural for Massee's Roller rinks
Courtesy of Dakota County Tribune, date unknwn, page 2. Newspaper photo courtesy of M.K.
Given by M. K. Newspaper clippings around November-December 1985.
Newspaper unknown, given by M.K. This article was published on May 11, 2000. Photo shown from 1925, before Massee's Rink. The photo is only showing the fairgrounds, not where Massee's was located. The Newspaper published the names wrong. It should have been Massee, not Massey and should have been Massee's, not Massey's.
Courtesy of Farmington Independent, no date given, Great article.
Massee's Roller Rink 4008 220th St. W., Farmington, MN aka
Mas-See's Roller Rink 4008 220th St. W., Farmington, MN
Mas-See's Roller Rink 4008 220th St. W., Farmington, MN
This rink was in operations for nearly 40 years. I do not have opening date but I do for closing date according to Farmington Independent newspaper published on November 6, 1985. Ah, Around the time McFly and Doc flew... Oh wrong subject! Hahaha.
Massee's Roller Rink was built at the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington, Minnesota. Originally in 1920s, it was a dance hall/pavilion.
Massee's leased the building during the "off season" from the organization that managed the fairgrounds. this means during the actual county fair (running during the first full week of August each summer) Massee's vacated the building and the building housed various fair activities and exhibits. Must be they had to remove all the skate rentals, benches, I am not sure but that sounded like that.
This rink ran around from c. 1946 to Halloween October 31, 1985. Ironically, a skater who requested the last song who must have known the rink is about to close asked for this song called, "Another One Bites the Dust."
Spooky, indeed, the rink was closing and it was last song. Most of the skaters there did not realize they were skating there for the last time!
The building Massee's leased was not all that well built and by the time Massee's closed in 1985 it was not in great shape. It was torn down at some point in the 1990s.
Massee's were started by Llewellyn "Lew" W. Massee and his wife Esther. They were the same owners all those years. But L.W. Massee passed away in 1980 leaving just Esther working till 1985.
Some of the information added were given to me by M.K
What I love this was that in the article that on the last day, a longtime customer said to the owner, Mrs. Masse, "if you took all the couples who met in the roller rink and then tied the knot, you wouldn't be able to fit them in the building." (Quote from Farmington Independent, November 6, 1985.) Wow, that would mean so many couples have met throughout nearly 40 years of operating that rink. What a Love Rink it was! (A twist on "The Love Boat" TV show name).
There was another Masse's Roller Rink. In the Billboard magazine, it did say, "Masse's Rinks" with the plural s on the end. Was there another rink with same name in same town? See photo on top. You will see it did say "Rinks" What you think? Please let me know at [email protected].
Esther Massee had to close the rink due to rising cost of insurance, expenses, utilities, etc. Plus the numbers of skaters were down.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple or Oak (M.K. is not sure). Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: Mid-1990s
Type of Building: Commercial house-style building
Roof: Hip.
Acres: N/A
Operated: Sunday October 27, 1948 (Newspaper) to Halloween October 31, 1985.
Reason for Closure: Rising costs including insurance, electric, expenses force rink shut down.
Wanted: Information regarding size of rink, floor material and more photos?
Sources: Billboard magazine, April 3, 1954, page 45, 3rd column. Rivertown online newspaper; M.P (A fan);
Obituary - Esther Massee; Farmington Independent; Dakota County Tribune, date unknwn, page 2;
© Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3.
Massee's Roller Rink was built at the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington, Minnesota. Originally in 1920s, it was a dance hall/pavilion.
Massee's leased the building during the "off season" from the organization that managed the fairgrounds. this means during the actual county fair (running during the first full week of August each summer) Massee's vacated the building and the building housed various fair activities and exhibits. Must be they had to remove all the skate rentals, benches, I am not sure but that sounded like that.
This rink ran around from c. 1946 to Halloween October 31, 1985. Ironically, a skater who requested the last song who must have known the rink is about to close asked for this song called, "Another One Bites the Dust."
Spooky, indeed, the rink was closing and it was last song. Most of the skaters there did not realize they were skating there for the last time!
The building Massee's leased was not all that well built and by the time Massee's closed in 1985 it was not in great shape. It was torn down at some point in the 1990s.
Massee's were started by Llewellyn "Lew" W. Massee and his wife Esther. They were the same owners all those years. But L.W. Massee passed away in 1980 leaving just Esther working till 1985.
Some of the information added were given to me by M.K
What I love this was that in the article that on the last day, a longtime customer said to the owner, Mrs. Masse, "if you took all the couples who met in the roller rink and then tied the knot, you wouldn't be able to fit them in the building." (Quote from Farmington Independent, November 6, 1985.) Wow, that would mean so many couples have met throughout nearly 40 years of operating that rink. What a Love Rink it was! (A twist on "The Love Boat" TV show name).
There was another Masse's Roller Rink. In the Billboard magazine, it did say, "Masse's Rinks" with the plural s on the end. Was there another rink with same name in same town? See photo on top. You will see it did say "Rinks" What you think? Please let me know at [email protected].
Esther Massee had to close the rink due to rising cost of insurance, expenses, utilities, etc. Plus the numbers of skaters were down.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple or Oak (M.K. is not sure). Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: Mid-1990s
Type of Building: Commercial house-style building
Roof: Hip.
Acres: N/A
Operated: Sunday October 27, 1948 (Newspaper) to Halloween October 31, 1985.
Reason for Closure: Rising costs including insurance, electric, expenses force rink shut down.
Wanted: Information regarding size of rink, floor material and more photos?
Sources: Billboard magazine, April 3, 1954, page 45, 3rd column. Rivertown online newspaper; M.P (A fan);
Obituary - Esther Massee; Farmington Independent; Dakota County Tribune, date unknwn, page 2;
© Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3.