Courtesy of Rush City, MN website.
This very unique unusual arch roof was set for Moulton's Rollerdrome/Rush City Rollerdrome back the day.
Moulton's Rollerdrome 915 W 8th Street, Rush City MN
Rush City Rollerdrome 915 W 8th Street, Rush City MN
Rush City Rollerdrome 915 W 8th Street, Rush City MN
UPDATE!
A skater or fan of roller skating emailed me today on June 9th, 2020 that the address (never said what rink but I assume this was the rink) was 915 West 8th Street, Rush City, MN.
That building has very unique design. Now is a church.
All I have is an obituary for Sally Moulton. Sally's son, Ronald and daughter-in-law, Patricia-Ronald's wife were the operators of the other rink, Moulton's Roller Palace.
There is a YouTube video filmed in 1996 showing a little girl whose birthday was 8 years in the old video. Anyway. That really helped me to figure the rink. It had Log Cabin layout format Maple floor with tongue-and-groove woodboards on the wall around the rink and above that, all white. This is with the Rush City Rollerdrome management. That is all I have for interior. Exterior, I have no idea.
They closed the rink in July 1954 for a 10 days convention (either Mormons or Jehovah's witnesses but I am not sure) and the owners went on vacation during that time and came back to keep it closed to renovate then reopened when completed.
UPDATE --
Ok, whoever played this "Unsolved Mysteries" theme song in your laptop or phone, please it is not an update type you have seen on that television show. Haha.
A fan named M. who wrote to me that he went with his church group and he recalled it had a row of pinball machines before Pac Man and Space Invaders came on the scene. They did not have any video games. Just video games. His youth group from church went to the rink a couple of times per year. (Space Invaders came out in 1978 and I believe 1979 but not sure, Pac Man came out. My favorite of all time is Bubble Bobble 1986). Pong was HOME based video game released in 1972 and I had that too!
What popular at the rink playing was what it was called, "Moonlight Skate" which is a couple skate. Every half hour there was such "Moonlight Skate". One of the few events where the youth group chaperones let the boys and girls publicly hold hands. This was bit unusual depending on the denomination the church is. Some do allow single dances and others forbidden dancing outright.
They even had a soda vending machine according to that fan named M.
From another skater who emailed me on 10 February 2021--
He said that John Risk owned the rink. There were more than just pin balls, there were pool tables, air hockey, and a bunch of arcade games there was a arm wrestling table from what I remember. This must be a bit later when video games came out.
They also had a back room that you could rent for birthday parties.
From another skater who emailed me on 04 May 2021--
I just viewed your dead rink info on Moulton's Rollerdrome in Rush City. I skated there in the late 50's early 60's. Met my husband of 54 years there and definitely did the moonlight skate! I was also in several productions that Sally directed.
I guess this means this rink had skating shows. Like what Ice Follies/Ice Capades/Disney on Ice was like but on roller skates. It was more common during Mid-Century that rinks had such production shows. Sad that it is a lost art. Same with the ice shows. Lost art.
The Interior.
Small town country feel interior with wood walls. Horizontal layout on the wall. Wooden floor LOG Cabin style. It is small rink. Even you can tell with the exterior. The out-built part is perhaps the snack bar, eating area, etc.
The Exterior.
Fat "A" Arched roof all wood Free-span building It does look like a barn. Looks more like an Amish or Mennonite style barn.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple wood. Floor Layout: Log Cabin. Small size.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Now a church.
Type of Building: Fat "A" Arched roof all wood Free-span barn-like building.
Roof: Arched (almost cursive "A" roof design with hip.)
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding everything! pictures, dates of open and closed for each rink, and when sold and why sold and why closed down for good.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Sally Moulton 1, Sally Moulton 2, Several Billboards newsprints. (hard to find it in their newspaper but I have found them-all 3 are of 1954.)
Updates: 9 June 2020, 10 February 2021, 04 May 2021,
For office Only: 2 pix.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
A skater or fan of roller skating emailed me today on June 9th, 2020 that the address (never said what rink but I assume this was the rink) was 915 West 8th Street, Rush City, MN.
That building has very unique design. Now is a church.
All I have is an obituary for Sally Moulton. Sally's son, Ronald and daughter-in-law, Patricia-Ronald's wife were the operators of the other rink, Moulton's Roller Palace.
There is a YouTube video filmed in 1996 showing a little girl whose birthday was 8 years in the old video. Anyway. That really helped me to figure the rink. It had Log Cabin layout format Maple floor with tongue-and-groove woodboards on the wall around the rink and above that, all white. This is with the Rush City Rollerdrome management. That is all I have for interior. Exterior, I have no idea.
They closed the rink in July 1954 for a 10 days convention (either Mormons or Jehovah's witnesses but I am not sure) and the owners went on vacation during that time and came back to keep it closed to renovate then reopened when completed.
UPDATE --
Ok, whoever played this "Unsolved Mysteries" theme song in your laptop or phone, please it is not an update type you have seen on that television show. Haha.
A fan named M. who wrote to me that he went with his church group and he recalled it had a row of pinball machines before Pac Man and Space Invaders came on the scene. They did not have any video games. Just video games. His youth group from church went to the rink a couple of times per year. (Space Invaders came out in 1978 and I believe 1979 but not sure, Pac Man came out. My favorite of all time is Bubble Bobble 1986). Pong was HOME based video game released in 1972 and I had that too!
What popular at the rink playing was what it was called, "Moonlight Skate" which is a couple skate. Every half hour there was such "Moonlight Skate". One of the few events where the youth group chaperones let the boys and girls publicly hold hands. This was bit unusual depending on the denomination the church is. Some do allow single dances and others forbidden dancing outright.
They even had a soda vending machine according to that fan named M.
From another skater who emailed me on 10 February 2021--
He said that John Risk owned the rink. There were more than just pin balls, there were pool tables, air hockey, and a bunch of arcade games there was a arm wrestling table from what I remember. This must be a bit later when video games came out.
They also had a back room that you could rent for birthday parties.
From another skater who emailed me on 04 May 2021--
I just viewed your dead rink info on Moulton's Rollerdrome in Rush City. I skated there in the late 50's early 60's. Met my husband of 54 years there and definitely did the moonlight skate! I was also in several productions that Sally directed.
I guess this means this rink had skating shows. Like what Ice Follies/Ice Capades/Disney on Ice was like but on roller skates. It was more common during Mid-Century that rinks had such production shows. Sad that it is a lost art. Same with the ice shows. Lost art.
The Interior.
Small town country feel interior with wood walls. Horizontal layout on the wall. Wooden floor LOG Cabin style. It is small rink. Even you can tell with the exterior. The out-built part is perhaps the snack bar, eating area, etc.
The Exterior.
Fat "A" Arched roof all wood Free-span building It does look like a barn. Looks more like an Amish or Mennonite style barn.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple wood. Floor Layout: Log Cabin. Small size.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Now a church.
Type of Building: Fat "A" Arched roof all wood Free-span barn-like building.
Roof: Arched (almost cursive "A" roof design with hip.)
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding everything! pictures, dates of open and closed for each rink, and when sold and why sold and why closed down for good.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Sally Moulton 1, Sally Moulton 2, Several Billboards newsprints. (hard to find it in their newspaper but I have found them-all 3 are of 1954.)
Updates: 9 June 2020, 10 February 2021, 04 May 2021,
For office Only: 2 pix.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.