Google Map. As seen today. The rink itself was in this corner building where this bridal-groom shop is located. You can see where it splits if you look at the rooftop trim differ and the window frames are different.
Morse Block Roller Rink northwest corner of Fifth and Broad streets, Fremont, NE
A well established man in Fremont who had money owned a block on Fifth and Broad Streets in Fremont. He had several businesses including his ice and sand businesses.
He was E.N. Morse who invested his block for his businesses and leasing spaces to other businesses. His rink was on the Northwest corner block of Fifth and Broad Street. It is where today a bridal shop and tuxedo shop is located. That rink was on ground floor of the two story building which still stands today.
I do not have any photos and has no closing date. He opened in 1907 on his block.
His ad in 1907 in a newspaper that explained as, "“A New Place of Amusement. Fremont’s Roller Rink will be opened for business on Monday night Dec. 2, 1907. The whole lower floor of the Morse Block has been remodeled and equipped with the latest equipments and is one of the most up-to-date skating rinks in the state. Good order will positively be observed and the management reserves the right to refuse admission and the use of skates to objectionable persons. Come and gave a good time. Admission 10 cents. Skates 15 cents. Cloak Room 5 cents.” I could not find its source what newspaper the ad it was featured in. When I find it, I will add this ad to this page.
Wow, you noticed the admission price and the skate rental price? Skate rental cost MORE than the admission! I recalled another rink from 1885 advertisement said it was 10 cents each-admission and the rental totaled at 20 cents. But Morse's owned rink had rental cost 5 cents more than the admission! It was costly compared to admission! 25 Cents for both. I assumed at the time not many people owned roller skates from famed Chicago or Ridell. Back then.
Image today admission is 12 Dollars and the price of rental at 18 Dollars? That would be 30 Dollars. That is amusement park admission price on low end with a 5 Dollars off. That would really stop all the rinks if that happened!
This is why values really changed and the rink's profit is low because of all the expenses you have to add for the rink such as mortgage or leases, taxes, wages, supplies, and utilities and other expenses including insurance!
The Interior.
Has to be Maple for this era. It was that big although it was sizable for its era though. Likely had windows up front to lighten up inside. More so that the rink was toward the back.
The Exterior.
Two-storys/stories brick building. Likely it was Dark-Red brick but the Google Maps showed it was painted. To compare brick, I would refer to the Red Bricks seen on the Morse Block section on the right side. You can image what it was like. Other businesses were upstairs as the rink was on first floor.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1907? Demolished: Still standing. Currently a bridal and groom shop.
Type of Building: Brick-built two storys/stories storefront building.
Roof: Flat (tiled to rear).
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1907 to N/A
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding photos, ads, when closed?
Sources: Fremont Tribune 1, Fremont Tribune 2,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
A well established man in Fremont who had money owned a block on Fifth and Broad Streets in Fremont. He had several businesses including his ice and sand businesses.
He was E.N. Morse who invested his block for his businesses and leasing spaces to other businesses. His rink was on the Northwest corner block of Fifth and Broad Street. It is where today a bridal shop and tuxedo shop is located. That rink was on ground floor of the two story building which still stands today.
I do not have any photos and has no closing date. He opened in 1907 on his block.
His ad in 1907 in a newspaper that explained as, "“A New Place of Amusement. Fremont’s Roller Rink will be opened for business on Monday night Dec. 2, 1907. The whole lower floor of the Morse Block has been remodeled and equipped with the latest equipments and is one of the most up-to-date skating rinks in the state. Good order will positively be observed and the management reserves the right to refuse admission and the use of skates to objectionable persons. Come and gave a good time. Admission 10 cents. Skates 15 cents. Cloak Room 5 cents.” I could not find its source what newspaper the ad it was featured in. When I find it, I will add this ad to this page.
Wow, you noticed the admission price and the skate rental price? Skate rental cost MORE than the admission! I recalled another rink from 1885 advertisement said it was 10 cents each-admission and the rental totaled at 20 cents. But Morse's owned rink had rental cost 5 cents more than the admission! It was costly compared to admission! 25 Cents for both. I assumed at the time not many people owned roller skates from famed Chicago or Ridell. Back then.
Image today admission is 12 Dollars and the price of rental at 18 Dollars? That would be 30 Dollars. That is amusement park admission price on low end with a 5 Dollars off. That would really stop all the rinks if that happened!
This is why values really changed and the rink's profit is low because of all the expenses you have to add for the rink such as mortgage or leases, taxes, wages, supplies, and utilities and other expenses including insurance!
The Interior.
Has to be Maple for this era. It was that big although it was sizable for its era though. Likely had windows up front to lighten up inside. More so that the rink was toward the back.
The Exterior.
Two-storys/stories brick building. Likely it was Dark-Red brick but the Google Maps showed it was painted. To compare brick, I would refer to the Red Bricks seen on the Morse Block section on the right side. You can image what it was like. Other businesses were upstairs as the rink was on first floor.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1907? Demolished: Still standing. Currently a bridal and groom shop.
Type of Building: Brick-built two storys/stories storefront building.
Roof: Flat (tiled to rear).
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1907 to N/A
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding photos, ads, when closed?
Sources: Fremont Tribune 1, Fremont Tribune 2,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.