Nantasket Rollerway Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach, Hull, MA. Only photograph of the rink itself found--for now. Source: Paragon Park Memories.
Nantasket Rollerway Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach, Hull, MA. Billboard - 02 June 1945 on the left, Right is Billboard - 03 May 1947.
Nantasket Rollerway Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach, Hull, MA. Source: YouTube/ HCTV Lectures.
Nantasket Rollerway Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach, Hull, MA. Source: YouTube/paragonpark79.
Nantasket Rollerway Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach, Hull, MA
Nantasket Rollerway was a rink at this early amusement park called Paragon Park at Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts. The park began in 1905 but they closed in 1985. There is not much information regarding about opening but the park itself closed in 1984.
The rink, Nantasket Rollerway was opened in early 20th Century. Perhaps around 1940s but maybe earlier because of the architecture looks older than 1940s. Or it was a replacement venue on that spot. Who knows. No other information from many sites and Wikipedia ever mentioned the rink at all. Even at my competitor who did not give much information.
It was open during summer time likely Memorial day weekend to Labor day weekend annually. It appeared to be 1920s it was opened but not sure. His site says 1942. I say 1920s.
Fred Freeman operated this rink. No, not that Captain Marvel Jr. That would be Freddy Freeman. haha.
UPDATE! -- 16 June 2022.
I received this email. Interesting read --
My father, mother and uncle owned and operated several amusement rides, games etc. A fellow classmate of mine from Hull, sent me your email referencing Nantasket Beach roller rink. I know the rink was still in use during the early 50s. My father owned the Fun House which was partially attached to the rink's building. Fun House had large solid wood slides that you would sit on burlap for the ride of your life. I can remember climbing up the stairs to one of the slides and peeking through a window to watch the skaters and listen to the music. Several of my little friends would spend their Saturday afternoons skating. Night time was for the grownups. For fun they would announce how they wanted everyone to skate, ie. ladies choice, backwards, etc. The Fun House burned to the ground approximately 1954. I believe the Rink closed for a few years then reopened with just Kiddie rides, which my uncle ran for a few years. The Rink was used and missed by several generations. A wonderful memory during sweeter years.
My Dad was a neighbor and my uncle rented the building for a few years after the skating rink closed and the building was stripped. The rink had minor damages from the fire but repairs were made and continued operating for several years.
Wow, thank you Nancy for your email! Did the rink burned down along with the Fun House?
UPDATE! - 16 June 2022. (found new information)
I found more new information --
During the 1917 season, There were major changes at Paragon. A new stone-carved front entrance designed by Hugh Cairns were added to the entrance on the Nantasket Avenue side. Hilarity Hall, a funhouse akin to the Steeplechase, was built next door, and a dance hall that later became a roller rink, toy store, and video arcade. But most significantly, George A. Dodge, a Boston businessman, looked to make an impact with the new and improved park as he hsa done annually which made this Trolley Park which rival or akin to Dreamland, Luna Park, and Coney Island Park.
In 1963, the former roller rink was already Toy-A-Rama, a toy store in the former roller rink burned down in that fall season.
The Interior.
Maple wood floor.
The Exterior.
It was Free-Span Wood with Columns Truss Wood-Walled amusement park - like Building with multi level windows with center lined up with the center of the rink. Many windows. Likely it was White walls with much words on it and windows too! It does appeared to be Monitor style roof.
The Fun House was partial attached to the roller skating rink however, the Fun House burned in 1954.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood with Columns Truss Wood-Walled amusement park - like Building.
Roof: Mixed.
Acres: 10.0000 AC.
Operated: 1917 to 1950s then reopened in that decade then closed in late 1950s or early 1960s. according to Nancy.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials, size of building, etc. Also photos. Please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Paragon Park Memories;
Old photos - (tons of them!).
Hub Pages - Paragon Park.
Facebook - Paragon Park Memories group.
Billboard - June 2, 1945, page 47.
Billboard - May 3, 1947, page 87.
Paragon Park Book - website. Excellent history of the amusement park. Must read!
Date of issue: 26 December 2020.
Update: 16 June 2022.
For office use only: 4/2.
Worth to visit:
None. Demolished, gone, entire park is gone.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Second of all: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with different results between two (or more) sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former.
As for “For Office Only” is for my reasoning and private legal reason for that.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved becomes property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7
The rink, Nantasket Rollerway was opened in early 20th Century. Perhaps around 1940s but maybe earlier because of the architecture looks older than 1940s. Or it was a replacement venue on that spot. Who knows. No other information from many sites and Wikipedia ever mentioned the rink at all. Even at my competitor who did not give much information.
It was open during summer time likely Memorial day weekend to Labor day weekend annually. It appeared to be 1920s it was opened but not sure. His site says 1942. I say 1920s.
Fred Freeman operated this rink. No, not that Captain Marvel Jr. That would be Freddy Freeman. haha.
UPDATE! -- 16 June 2022.
I received this email. Interesting read --
My father, mother and uncle owned and operated several amusement rides, games etc. A fellow classmate of mine from Hull, sent me your email referencing Nantasket Beach roller rink. I know the rink was still in use during the early 50s. My father owned the Fun House which was partially attached to the rink's building. Fun House had large solid wood slides that you would sit on burlap for the ride of your life. I can remember climbing up the stairs to one of the slides and peeking through a window to watch the skaters and listen to the music. Several of my little friends would spend their Saturday afternoons skating. Night time was for the grownups. For fun they would announce how they wanted everyone to skate, ie. ladies choice, backwards, etc. The Fun House burned to the ground approximately 1954. I believe the Rink closed for a few years then reopened with just Kiddie rides, which my uncle ran for a few years. The Rink was used and missed by several generations. A wonderful memory during sweeter years.
My Dad was a neighbor and my uncle rented the building for a few years after the skating rink closed and the building was stripped. The rink had minor damages from the fire but repairs were made and continued operating for several years.
Wow, thank you Nancy for your email! Did the rink burned down along with the Fun House?
UPDATE! - 16 June 2022. (found new information)
I found more new information --
During the 1917 season, There were major changes at Paragon. A new stone-carved front entrance designed by Hugh Cairns were added to the entrance on the Nantasket Avenue side. Hilarity Hall, a funhouse akin to the Steeplechase, was built next door, and a dance hall that later became a roller rink, toy store, and video arcade. But most significantly, George A. Dodge, a Boston businessman, looked to make an impact with the new and improved park as he hsa done annually which made this Trolley Park which rival or akin to Dreamland, Luna Park, and Coney Island Park.
In 1963, the former roller rink was already Toy-A-Rama, a toy store in the former roller rink burned down in that fall season.
The Interior.
Maple wood floor.
The Exterior.
It was Free-Span Wood with Columns Truss Wood-Walled amusement park - like Building with multi level windows with center lined up with the center of the rink. Many windows. Likely it was White walls with much words on it and windows too! It does appeared to be Monitor style roof.
The Fun House was partial attached to the roller skating rink however, the Fun House burned in 1954.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood with Columns Truss Wood-Walled amusement park - like Building.
Roof: Mixed.
Acres: 10.0000 AC.
Operated: 1917 to 1950s then reopened in that decade then closed in late 1950s or early 1960s. according to Nancy.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials, size of building, etc. Also photos. Please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Paragon Park Memories;
Old photos - (tons of them!).
Hub Pages - Paragon Park.
Facebook - Paragon Park Memories group.
Billboard - June 2, 1945, page 47.
Billboard - May 3, 1947, page 87.
Paragon Park Book - website. Excellent history of the amusement park. Must read!
Date of issue: 26 December 2020.
Update: 16 June 2022.
For office use only: 4/2.
Worth to visit:
None. Demolished, gone, entire park is gone.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Second of all: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with different results between two (or more) sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former.
As for “For Office Only” is for my reasoning and private legal reason for that.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved becomes property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7