Noticed the construction. Interesting style of arch. It is Segmental Arch but the Steel trusses are kind of like bow but it is not. You never seen much higher ceiling than the lower steel trusses you can see in this photo. It was originally built for horse shows and ice skating before it became roller rink.
All above courtesy of St. Louis History, Minneapolis Historial Society and the Sahlys.
Google Map. Present day look after that yucky colors on the building. Look more conservative. I like that but I wish they kept the windows!
Courtesy of Roller Garden. This is modern day. Dino is not shown in this photo. He is off of right side.
Both courtesy of Yelpers. (as Will Ferrell as Elf) LOOK! IT'S DINO! DID SANTA PUT IT UP THERE!? Haha. No, it was purchased from one summer time at Minnesota State Fair and was placed on top of the roof right by the front and it sure did made an attraction. So was the tennis racket painted on the roof as well. Later, the owners placed Dino indoors at a corner of the rink. Skaters are sure going to miss Dino. He should be placed in the Roller Skating Museum. I do not have the money to start up a Roller Rink Museum and put Dino in the museum. Waaaa.
Courtesy of Roller Garden/The Sahlys. Evolution of the snack bar. Both fanastic looking. I admit I love the old 60s-70s look before it became 1980s look. The 1980s I say? Yes, because of the glass blocks and pastel colors were so 80s.
Yelp. Very festive style for black light carpet.
Yelp. Wow, so red!
TONS of photos are found at St. Louis Park (MN) Historical Society, Please see it!
TONS of photos are found at St. Louis Park (MN) Historical Society, Please see it!
Roller Garden Facebook, April 19, 2021. Its sad to say good bye.
YouTube Video courtesy of Jeanne Andersen. Appears to be 1970s news clip that ran about 6 minutes. There are tons of Roller Garden YouTube videos available. Search as "Roller Garden"). The video segment on the Roller Garden was broadcast on April 7, 1974 on “Moore on Sunday” TV show. Video actually courtesy of Pavek Museum of Broadcasting.
Pastime Arena, 5622 W Lake St., St. Louis Park, MN
Pastime Roller Rink, 5622 W Lake St., St. Louis Park, MN
Roller Garden, 5622 W Lake St., St. Louis Park, MN
Pastime Roller Rink, 5622 W Lake St., St. Louis Park, MN
Roller Garden, 5622 W Lake St., St. Louis Park, MN
This rink building has quite a history. Very rich history too. Much storied that it is still operational today but for a time it was different. Even before it ran as a rink. It was a horse stable and competition arena for horse shows such as horse jump competitions, riding, with an audience watching them.
it was housed in a very unique Quonset Hut style arched building Dark Red Brick building with vertical window planes up front. The design is quite similar to the Center of Progress building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes, NY (A suburb of Syracuse, NY) among other complexes around the country.
St. Louis Park Historical Society has extremely well documented history of the facility and rink. it is like what I am doing here. Please click here to pick up where I am leaving this off and can come back and I have much brief version of history below this paragraph plus information below.
Herbert Baxter Allen owned horse farms and staples for horse training eventually purchased the property where the Arena still stands today as Roller Garden. Back then in 1925/26 Herbert purchased Holasek farm property and had the building built after about 5 to 20 years. This concept of his was to be the model of all horse shows complex that many would do have today. But not a lot. It has evolved quite a bit but he had a concept and had many investors invested in the building. Finally got the permit to built the building in October 7, 1929, just around the corner from the Great Depression would occurred at that moment. But they started to built it in November 1929 even when residents nearby saw what they were building really worried them because it was so massive.
They continued to built because of the motion did not pass to cancel the construction permit. So, up they built. Throughout the winter the built the massive building and finally opened as riding academy in May 1930. Originally cost 40,000 USD but ended up almost doubled at 75,000 USD. The inflation adjustable ended up with 1,155,745.51 USD in 2019. That is 1.2 Million Dollars (2019). Far cheaper than what comparative building built today would run 5 times more.
Seating was 2,000 attendees watching the horse shows. The riding floor was 129 Feet x 222 Feet, much larger than a hockey rink. PLUS a dirt floor with tan bark mulch was 100 Feet by 218 Feet.
This is quite a number for both floors. Quite big complex. I had to compare to the Center of Progress which is merely minutes from where I live. It would be close in comparative in size. COP building main floor is 123 Feet by 488 Feet.
For a short time, they had polo at the arena. Even a polo club called Pastime Polo Club and applied for membership.
But in 1939, Hebert Allen sold Pastime to Arthur J. Eaton and a female from Chicago. But Hebert continued to judge horses at horse shows. Hebert Allen continued to manage the facility though. Then he changed a part of the floor where it was hayoff area into a dance floor and rent out the space for dance nights. But in 1940/41, the barn burned down. Good news was that all 30 horses were saved but it was a large blow to the Allen Family (and I am sure to Eaton Family too). Unfortunately, Hebert Allen died of heart attack in 1947. Perhaps the fire and the War affected Hebert.
In 1941, a different name for the academy: Lilac Way Riding Academy and but kept the name, Pastime Arena, During winters starting in 1941, the southern half of the floor became ice rink opening on December 1st. However, for October 1943, Arthur Eaton decided to add roller rink. This is the history of roller rink began for this arena. It was named as Pastime Roller Rink. They said it was even called, "World's largest roller rink." But there is no information regarding that rink size.
The other half was still set for dirt floor for horses. Bit of unusual combinations for this multi-purpose arena. They did not allow alcohol beverages. However, people started to complain about the rink! They did not with ice rink. What people has against roller skating? This is common with roller rinks around the world with problems.
They had curfews and 5 children were in violation passed the curfews then they passed requiring license to operate a rink and the ever rising fees to make it harder for Arthur to pay. This battle began in January 24, 1944 -- just 3 months after the roller rink opened! Then it was clear the council was after the rink itself, not the children. So, having said, on February 14, they passed Ordinance 203, regulating and licensing roller skating rinks. The fee was 25 Dollars. They had several rules.
Then following month, it was all about noise! the loud organ music, loud patrons talking outside leaving. And more complaining.
So, that made the council deny the application of license to operate the roller rink on March 20th. Even a female fell from the horse was fatal, Mr. Eaton was not giving up for fight and said roller skating is one of safest exercises to do. In fact, he brought the village to court and won a temporary injunction that he does not need a license.
fast forward- On April 25, they had a council meeting to get a permit for a plastic factory to set up shop on the grounds where the arena is and of course, denied because of noises BUT the planning committee said they would help that factory to find another location and give them a permit. That really exposed hypocrisy of the council.
Because of this, the planning committee gave Eaton a 5 year permit to continue the rink and riding area arena. But council denied.
Looks like this plastic company was a white knight for the Pastime Arena/Roller Rink to make a point. It worked.
After a few times back and forth but on November 13, 1944, finally Arthur Eaton was granted a license to operate the rink.
But by 1948, rink was rowdy and had to pass another ordinance to tighten rules on this rink. But in 1947, the village had to send the police to the rink often. And yes, it was in 1940s, not 2010s! Rowdiness can take away rinks. In my reading about diners, drive-ins restaurants, I read the same problems as rinks had and families were upset about teenagers taking over and this caused people deserting places which hurt businesses because of lack of law enforcement. Today, you see they do have heavy law enforcement presence at airports, and now at shopping malls.
Not a mall cop, real cops are now in malls.
Speaking of malls, in 1950, owner Arthur Eaton wanted to convert the rink-riding stable into a shopping center. Of course, more resistance. So, clearly the rink was in decline because of the rowdy crowds. Again, common can harm businesses.
So, by 1957, Arthur Eaton sold the Arena including Pastime Roller Rink because of problems and town refused to convert to shopping center. He sold it to an investment firm to convert them into tennis courts.
They faced new problems such as the noise of running, ball bouncing, and rackets hit. But also the hard asphalt surface floor were not kind to tennis players especially their body joints such as knees.
There was in fact, perhaps the rink was still operational when there were no tennis playing. A photograph of a group of beautiful female tennis players convene outside of Pastime and you can see the sign with the skate still hanging outside.
In 1958, dances were added to the tennis court/rink bringing more activities on the floor to diversify different activities to keep Pastime Roller Rink still in operational. The council approved it. It apparently was getting bit easier now since I am sure new people on the council than those of Wartimes (1940s).
Conflicting reports stating that Howard Hardacker bought the rink in September 1960 or 1962 that he may have renamed it by 1964 according to a phone book. It became Roller Garden the same still operational today.
A part time rock - n - roll dance venue was established. Apparently focus on dance venue at that point. It was also rented out for other events such as an automobile show and private events such as for fire fighters and even had bands to play there.
Enter February 1, 1969, Russell C. Johnston (unrelated to the Professor of "Gillian's Island), a well established piano and organ player, he loved playing organ at the rink and had a couple of instruments at home (a piano and an organ), having played with big bands and big name bands.
He updated the floor because the floor was “asphaltic mastic” – a mixture of asphalt and Portland cement which does not function well. Instead, Russell replaced with very dense Masonic particle board for the floor in 1972. It lasted a good 30 years with that floor. Too few rinks has those type of floors. 2 other rinks on my list (so far as of Dec 8, 2019) had same type of floor.
And the parking lot was paved because it was dirt which can cause problems. The exterior of Roller Garden in a May 1969 photo showed it needed wall repairs and windows were boarded up or covered up by bricks.
However, in 1969, there was a fire at the rink on the roof that they were placing tar on the roof and caused fire. Because of the floor was wood and to save it, the fire fighters worked with water on outside as the owners and staff used fire extinguishers to burn out the fire on the floor to preserve. Apparently the very same anti-Pastime/Roller Garden people wanted that building burned down shouted, "Let that old barn burn down!" If you say that in today's world, you could be facing an arrest and booking and facing the judge or dismissed by morning.
The rink was opened 30 minutes late because of the fire. They quickly cleaned up alright.
Roller Garden had a racket club. Another new activity at the rink. Might be tennis though.
Apparently tennis popularity was fading by the 70s. In 1972, Roller Garden purchased a 10,000 USD Hammond organ and installed new soundproofing to modernize the rink as they were focusing more on roller skating. The old postcard in 1972 showed as a rink with tennis court lines still intact. In fact, they can change sessions in just 3 minutes! From roller rink to tennis courts and back to rink.
There was a controversy involving a mural of a jumbo sized yellow tennis racket painted on the roof of Roller Garden. It was Russell's idea after seeing a mural at another place and he actually did asked and they said it was ok but then they said it was too big but the city back off anyway leaving it alone because it was their own fault for a miscommunication.
Of course tennis was dropped in the late 1970s as Baby Boomers (including myself) made roller skating popular again thanks to Disco Skating era and better polyurethane wheels.
Controversies were not new. in 1980s, they had to address noises and the air conditioning needs because skaters would open doors to cool inside and that increased noises to neighbors so the ceiling was dropped to absorb noises. but for a time still no air conditioning. And with a certain ethic group as well. This forced one time fee of 25 USD in 1940s already increased to 750 Dollars to the new posted 1,500 USD! The new ordiance would have forced the rink reduced hours and closing time which can bring 169 Thousand USD loss annually. but at the end with legal fees, cost him 10,000 USD although he won the case in court.
Today, Roller Garden is owned by Johnston’s son-in-law, Bill Sahly, who took over management, and it is still a family business owned rink. Other owners are Bill’s wife Pat, and her sister and brother-in-law, Colleen and Levi Johnson. You should check out this rink! Really. I would recommend this because it is very unique and has a very large floor to skate on. And of course, DINO was placed on the roof up front but now, DINO is placed upon a raised floor inside on a back left corner of the rink when you see this photo above.
This rink still a beautiful rink with updated looks inside.
Originally it had windows but covered by late 1970s. It has beautiful Dark Red Bricks walls with Dark brown wood panels up front to cover where windows used to be. But for the inside, originally had dirt and mulch floors for horses, followed by hard surface for dance floor. Later, it was Asphaltic Mastic - a mix of asphalt and concrete. Then replaced in 1972 by Masonic Particle Board floor for 30 years. Currently Maple wood.
I highly recommend you go check out Roller Garden which is still operational UNTIL MAY 8, 2021! It still look beautiful according to photos seen in Yelp and their own website, Roller Garden (click link)
Rink Size:
Pastime Arena: (not a rink yet): The riding ring was 129' x 222;, and a dirt floor, with a tan bark riding ring 100' X 218'.
Pastime Roller Rink: Likely 30,000 SF (Billboard 12/4/1954; page 66, 2nd column)
Roller Garden: N/A
Floor:
Pastime Arena: (not a rink yet): N/A;, and 2nd, Dirt with a Tan bark (mulch) riding ring.
Pastime Roller Rink: (1941-42): Ice, one layer (likely).
Pastime Roller Rink: 1943 - Maple.
Pastime Roller Rink:1954 - 8 inch thick cement with Flexboard cover with floor grip liquid (Epoxy?)
Roller Garden: in 1972 - Masonic Plank format,
Roller Garden: 2013 - replaced with Maple wood with polyurethane coated, clear then painted White coat in c. 2017.
Floor Layout:
Pastime Arena: (not a rink yet): All dirt. (1941-42: Ice, single layer)
Pastime Roller Rink:1943 - Pattern unknown.
Pastime Roller Rink: 1954 - standard due to flexboards covered cement.
Roller Garden: 1972- Masonic Plank Wood board.
Roller Garden: 2002- FAN
Building Size: N/A Built: November 1929 - May 1930
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building
Roof: Arched
Acres: 10 Acres (original). Current: Unknown.
Operated:
Pastime Arena: 1930 to to September 1960/62 (although Pastime Arena name continued while Pastime Roller Rink was operational from October 1943 to September 1960/62). Ice Rink in 1941 to 42.
Pastime Roller Rink: October 1943 to September 1960/62.
Roller Garden: September 1960/62 to May 8, 2021.
Reason for Closure:
Pastime Arena: Eaton sold Pastime Arena/Roller Rink because of problems with town and declining attendees as well as city refused to issue permit to change to shopping plaza (educated guess).
Pastime Roller Rink: N/A why sold
Roller Garden: Owners wanted retirement later but due to COVID Lockdowns and limitations, it was speeded to close for good.
Wanted: Information regarding well, none! Just permission for photos! Excellent history preserved! Specific dates if possible.
Sources: St. Louis Park (MN) Historical Society, Our Houzz, Four Square - Roller Garden;
Pastime/Roller Garden Artistic Skate Club, Arthur Eaton Jr. Obituary. Yelp (Roller Garden),
Vimeo video streaming, Minn Post, Roller Garden website. Billboard (12/4/1954, pg. 66, 2nd column).
Kool 108 - Roller Garden closing; Facebook - Roller Garden; Bring me the News - Closing of Roller Garden;
Roller Garden PDF LINK; Roller Garden PDF;
Date of Issue: 2019 Updated: 20 April 2021 (adding Roller Garden as Dead Rink)
© Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3, 16.
it was housed in a very unique Quonset Hut style arched building Dark Red Brick building with vertical window planes up front. The design is quite similar to the Center of Progress building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes, NY (A suburb of Syracuse, NY) among other complexes around the country.
St. Louis Park Historical Society has extremely well documented history of the facility and rink. it is like what I am doing here. Please click here to pick up where I am leaving this off and can come back and I have much brief version of history below this paragraph plus information below.
Herbert Baxter Allen owned horse farms and staples for horse training eventually purchased the property where the Arena still stands today as Roller Garden. Back then in 1925/26 Herbert purchased Holasek farm property and had the building built after about 5 to 20 years. This concept of his was to be the model of all horse shows complex that many would do have today. But not a lot. It has evolved quite a bit but he had a concept and had many investors invested in the building. Finally got the permit to built the building in October 7, 1929, just around the corner from the Great Depression would occurred at that moment. But they started to built it in November 1929 even when residents nearby saw what they were building really worried them because it was so massive.
They continued to built because of the motion did not pass to cancel the construction permit. So, up they built. Throughout the winter the built the massive building and finally opened as riding academy in May 1930. Originally cost 40,000 USD but ended up almost doubled at 75,000 USD. The inflation adjustable ended up with 1,155,745.51 USD in 2019. That is 1.2 Million Dollars (2019). Far cheaper than what comparative building built today would run 5 times more.
Seating was 2,000 attendees watching the horse shows. The riding floor was 129 Feet x 222 Feet, much larger than a hockey rink. PLUS a dirt floor with tan bark mulch was 100 Feet by 218 Feet.
This is quite a number for both floors. Quite big complex. I had to compare to the Center of Progress which is merely minutes from where I live. It would be close in comparative in size. COP building main floor is 123 Feet by 488 Feet.
For a short time, they had polo at the arena. Even a polo club called Pastime Polo Club and applied for membership.
But in 1939, Hebert Allen sold Pastime to Arthur J. Eaton and a female from Chicago. But Hebert continued to judge horses at horse shows. Hebert Allen continued to manage the facility though. Then he changed a part of the floor where it was hayoff area into a dance floor and rent out the space for dance nights. But in 1940/41, the barn burned down. Good news was that all 30 horses were saved but it was a large blow to the Allen Family (and I am sure to Eaton Family too). Unfortunately, Hebert Allen died of heart attack in 1947. Perhaps the fire and the War affected Hebert.
In 1941, a different name for the academy: Lilac Way Riding Academy and but kept the name, Pastime Arena, During winters starting in 1941, the southern half of the floor became ice rink opening on December 1st. However, for October 1943, Arthur Eaton decided to add roller rink. This is the history of roller rink began for this arena. It was named as Pastime Roller Rink. They said it was even called, "World's largest roller rink." But there is no information regarding that rink size.
The other half was still set for dirt floor for horses. Bit of unusual combinations for this multi-purpose arena. They did not allow alcohol beverages. However, people started to complain about the rink! They did not with ice rink. What people has against roller skating? This is common with roller rinks around the world with problems.
They had curfews and 5 children were in violation passed the curfews then they passed requiring license to operate a rink and the ever rising fees to make it harder for Arthur to pay. This battle began in January 24, 1944 -- just 3 months after the roller rink opened! Then it was clear the council was after the rink itself, not the children. So, having said, on February 14, they passed Ordinance 203, regulating and licensing roller skating rinks. The fee was 25 Dollars. They had several rules.
Then following month, it was all about noise! the loud organ music, loud patrons talking outside leaving. And more complaining.
So, that made the council deny the application of license to operate the roller rink on March 20th. Even a female fell from the horse was fatal, Mr. Eaton was not giving up for fight and said roller skating is one of safest exercises to do. In fact, he brought the village to court and won a temporary injunction that he does not need a license.
fast forward- On April 25, they had a council meeting to get a permit for a plastic factory to set up shop on the grounds where the arena is and of course, denied because of noises BUT the planning committee said they would help that factory to find another location and give them a permit. That really exposed hypocrisy of the council.
Because of this, the planning committee gave Eaton a 5 year permit to continue the rink and riding area arena. But council denied.
Looks like this plastic company was a white knight for the Pastime Arena/Roller Rink to make a point. It worked.
After a few times back and forth but on November 13, 1944, finally Arthur Eaton was granted a license to operate the rink.
But by 1948, rink was rowdy and had to pass another ordinance to tighten rules on this rink. But in 1947, the village had to send the police to the rink often. And yes, it was in 1940s, not 2010s! Rowdiness can take away rinks. In my reading about diners, drive-ins restaurants, I read the same problems as rinks had and families were upset about teenagers taking over and this caused people deserting places which hurt businesses because of lack of law enforcement. Today, you see they do have heavy law enforcement presence at airports, and now at shopping malls.
Not a mall cop, real cops are now in malls.
Speaking of malls, in 1950, owner Arthur Eaton wanted to convert the rink-riding stable into a shopping center. Of course, more resistance. So, clearly the rink was in decline because of the rowdy crowds. Again, common can harm businesses.
So, by 1957, Arthur Eaton sold the Arena including Pastime Roller Rink because of problems and town refused to convert to shopping center. He sold it to an investment firm to convert them into tennis courts.
They faced new problems such as the noise of running, ball bouncing, and rackets hit. But also the hard asphalt surface floor were not kind to tennis players especially their body joints such as knees.
There was in fact, perhaps the rink was still operational when there were no tennis playing. A photograph of a group of beautiful female tennis players convene outside of Pastime and you can see the sign with the skate still hanging outside.
In 1958, dances were added to the tennis court/rink bringing more activities on the floor to diversify different activities to keep Pastime Roller Rink still in operational. The council approved it. It apparently was getting bit easier now since I am sure new people on the council than those of Wartimes (1940s).
Conflicting reports stating that Howard Hardacker bought the rink in September 1960 or 1962 that he may have renamed it by 1964 according to a phone book. It became Roller Garden the same still operational today.
A part time rock - n - roll dance venue was established. Apparently focus on dance venue at that point. It was also rented out for other events such as an automobile show and private events such as for fire fighters and even had bands to play there.
Enter February 1, 1969, Russell C. Johnston (unrelated to the Professor of "Gillian's Island), a well established piano and organ player, he loved playing organ at the rink and had a couple of instruments at home (a piano and an organ), having played with big bands and big name bands.
He updated the floor because the floor was “asphaltic mastic” – a mixture of asphalt and Portland cement which does not function well. Instead, Russell replaced with very dense Masonic particle board for the floor in 1972. It lasted a good 30 years with that floor. Too few rinks has those type of floors. 2 other rinks on my list (so far as of Dec 8, 2019) had same type of floor.
And the parking lot was paved because it was dirt which can cause problems. The exterior of Roller Garden in a May 1969 photo showed it needed wall repairs and windows were boarded up or covered up by bricks.
However, in 1969, there was a fire at the rink on the roof that they were placing tar on the roof and caused fire. Because of the floor was wood and to save it, the fire fighters worked with water on outside as the owners and staff used fire extinguishers to burn out the fire on the floor to preserve. Apparently the very same anti-Pastime/Roller Garden people wanted that building burned down shouted, "Let that old barn burn down!" If you say that in today's world, you could be facing an arrest and booking and facing the judge or dismissed by morning.
The rink was opened 30 minutes late because of the fire. They quickly cleaned up alright.
Roller Garden had a racket club. Another new activity at the rink. Might be tennis though.
Apparently tennis popularity was fading by the 70s. In 1972, Roller Garden purchased a 10,000 USD Hammond organ and installed new soundproofing to modernize the rink as they were focusing more on roller skating. The old postcard in 1972 showed as a rink with tennis court lines still intact. In fact, they can change sessions in just 3 minutes! From roller rink to tennis courts and back to rink.
There was a controversy involving a mural of a jumbo sized yellow tennis racket painted on the roof of Roller Garden. It was Russell's idea after seeing a mural at another place and he actually did asked and they said it was ok but then they said it was too big but the city back off anyway leaving it alone because it was their own fault for a miscommunication.
Of course tennis was dropped in the late 1970s as Baby Boomers (including myself) made roller skating popular again thanks to Disco Skating era and better polyurethane wheels.
Controversies were not new. in 1980s, they had to address noises and the air conditioning needs because skaters would open doors to cool inside and that increased noises to neighbors so the ceiling was dropped to absorb noises. but for a time still no air conditioning. And with a certain ethic group as well. This forced one time fee of 25 USD in 1940s already increased to 750 Dollars to the new posted 1,500 USD! The new ordiance would have forced the rink reduced hours and closing time which can bring 169 Thousand USD loss annually. but at the end with legal fees, cost him 10,000 USD although he won the case in court.
Today, Roller Garden is owned by Johnston’s son-in-law, Bill Sahly, who took over management, and it is still a family business owned rink. Other owners are Bill’s wife Pat, and her sister and brother-in-law, Colleen and Levi Johnson. You should check out this rink! Really. I would recommend this because it is very unique and has a very large floor to skate on. And of course, DINO was placed on the roof up front but now, DINO is placed upon a raised floor inside on a back left corner of the rink when you see this photo above.
This rink still a beautiful rink with updated looks inside.
Originally it had windows but covered by late 1970s. It has beautiful Dark Red Bricks walls with Dark brown wood panels up front to cover where windows used to be. But for the inside, originally had dirt and mulch floors for horses, followed by hard surface for dance floor. Later, it was Asphaltic Mastic - a mix of asphalt and concrete. Then replaced in 1972 by Masonic Particle Board floor for 30 years. Currently Maple wood.
I highly recommend you go check out Roller Garden which is still operational UNTIL MAY 8, 2021! It still look beautiful according to photos seen in Yelp and their own website, Roller Garden (click link)
Rink Size:
Pastime Arena: (not a rink yet): The riding ring was 129' x 222;, and a dirt floor, with a tan bark riding ring 100' X 218'.
Pastime Roller Rink: Likely 30,000 SF (Billboard 12/4/1954; page 66, 2nd column)
Roller Garden: N/A
Floor:
Pastime Arena: (not a rink yet): N/A;, and 2nd, Dirt with a Tan bark (mulch) riding ring.
Pastime Roller Rink: (1941-42): Ice, one layer (likely).
Pastime Roller Rink: 1943 - Maple.
Pastime Roller Rink:1954 - 8 inch thick cement with Flexboard cover with floor grip liquid (Epoxy?)
Roller Garden: in 1972 - Masonic Plank format,
Roller Garden: 2013 - replaced with Maple wood with polyurethane coated, clear then painted White coat in c. 2017.
Floor Layout:
Pastime Arena: (not a rink yet): All dirt. (1941-42: Ice, single layer)
Pastime Roller Rink:1943 - Pattern unknown.
Pastime Roller Rink: 1954 - standard due to flexboards covered cement.
Roller Garden: 1972- Masonic Plank Wood board.
Roller Garden: 2002- FAN
Building Size: N/A Built: November 1929 - May 1930
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse Building
Roof: Arched
Acres: 10 Acres (original). Current: Unknown.
Operated:
Pastime Arena: 1930 to to September 1960/62 (although Pastime Arena name continued while Pastime Roller Rink was operational from October 1943 to September 1960/62). Ice Rink in 1941 to 42.
Pastime Roller Rink: October 1943 to September 1960/62.
Roller Garden: September 1960/62 to May 8, 2021.
Reason for Closure:
Pastime Arena: Eaton sold Pastime Arena/Roller Rink because of problems with town and declining attendees as well as city refused to issue permit to change to shopping plaza (educated guess).
Pastime Roller Rink: N/A why sold
Roller Garden: Owners wanted retirement later but due to COVID Lockdowns and limitations, it was speeded to close for good.
Wanted: Information regarding well, none! Just permission for photos! Excellent history preserved! Specific dates if possible.
Sources: St. Louis Park (MN) Historical Society, Our Houzz, Four Square - Roller Garden;
Pastime/Roller Garden Artistic Skate Club, Arthur Eaton Jr. Obituary. Yelp (Roller Garden),
Vimeo video streaming, Minn Post, Roller Garden website. Billboard (12/4/1954, pg. 66, 2nd column).
Kool 108 - Roller Garden closing; Facebook - Roller Garden; Bring me the News - Closing of Roller Garden;
Roller Garden PDF LINK; Roller Garden PDF;
Date of Issue: 2019 Updated: 20 April 2021 (adding Roller Garden as Dead Rink)
© Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3, 16.