Harry M. Smith Chevrolet 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of Rink-History.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Minor changes on exterior but major changes inside. Today as a printing company on the left and something else on the right. Noticed the truck? In every other year Google Mapper goes by this street, the truck is still there. Does it ever move? Courtesy of Google Maps. 2011.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Bird eye view. Courtesy of Google Maps.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The Morning Call - 17 November 1939.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The Record - 17 November 1939. Edited for Content and graphic design Copyrighted by Rink-History. (layout space not to be wasted.)
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The Morning Call - 18 November 1939. Page 1. Cover story.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The Morning Call - 18 November 1939. Page 1, Cover story.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The Morning Call - 18 November 1939. Page 3, Colum 4 and 5.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of Courtesy of The Morning Call - 18 November 1939.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. One of the earliest skating shows before big shows like with ice had with Ice Follies, Holiday on Ice, etc. Charlie Chaplin already did his in his films. Courtesy of Courtesy of The Morning Call - 08 December 1939.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of Billboard - 06 January 1945. Photoshopped and Edited for Content Copyrighted by Rink-History (omitted 3 ads, fitted, and highlighted).
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of Billboard - 08 May 1948. Page 91, 1st column, top story.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The Record - 03 June 1949.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The News - 07 September 1949.
-Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The News - 07 December 1949.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Billboard - 18 March 1950; page 81, 4th Column, 2nd article. (DISCLAIMER - This is the correct FULL article that my competitor did not disclosure for you to read. He only had 2/3rd of the article) We at Rink-History provide FULL articles for your convenience, not shortened. And provide FULL information that we were taught in school to include PAGE and COLUMN to point out where. Please click the Billboard link and compare to my competitor. You will see. Thank you for understanding).
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The Sunday News - 05 Aug 5, 1951.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The News - 16 May 1952.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The Record - 20 February 1953.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The News - 05 Dec 1955.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of The News - 26 July 1960.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of Rink-History.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of Rink-History.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of Rink-History.
Paterson Recreation Center 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ. Courtesy of Rink-History.
Harry M. Smith Chevrolet 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ
Paterson Recreation Center 655 at Market St., Paterson, NJ
Paterson Arena 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ
Paterson Recreation Center 655 at Market St., Paterson, NJ
Paterson Arena 655 Market St., Paterson, NJ
Technically first at this property was Harry M. Smith Chevrolet Dealership was located at 655 at Market St., Paterson, New Jersey. But the dealer was either sold or converted to a roller rink so it became Paterson Recreation Center which was an RSROA affiliated membership when it was opened in 1939 and operated until 1948 under President/Gen. Mgr.: Dr. Louis M. Berliner. The Director was Harry M. Smith, the very same who owned the Harry M. Smith Chevrolet Dealership!
When AOW Corporation purchased Paterson Recreation Center, they renamed it as Paterson Arena. Typical AOW Corporation would have a rink by those name with "Arena" at the time.
Later, they had Manager: William "Bill" and Ruth Holland. They had an organ. They used an Hammond Organ since was common. With their Organist: Maurice Grudine
• Floor size: 100' x 200'[2]
• Primary reason for closing: Sold to AOW[3]
• Opened: Nov 1939[1] - 1948[3]
Paterson Arena, 95 - 19th Ave., Paterson, New Jersey
• Operator: AOW Corporation (America on Wheels)[3]
• Manager: Walter Trotter[4], Joe Schneider[5], William Lawless[7], Bill Reed[10/8]
• Pro/Coach: Claire & Walter Trotter[3], William Lawless, Racing Coach[4], Phil Pinto[6], Eileen Loeffler[9], Diane Lanzotti & John Haddad[10]
• Organist: Barry King[7]
• Primary reason for closing: [?]
• Opened: 1948[3] - 1957[11]
Now it is Trinity Press printing company which is located at this property since 1984. After the rink closed in 1957, but before 1984, perhaps a business or two were in that building.
The Interior.
Harry M. Smith Co. Chevrolet Dealership: : Dealership with showroom and mechanic department. Reason I included this is so I can figure out everything where it was. Read on next generation use of the building.
Paterson Recreation Center: They perhaps had one side for roller rink and the other the 24 lanes bowling alley. They were easily divided because of the roof as you can see on top bird view. Likely the rink perhaps was in the garage part where they fixed cars. They were open space without any posts. And it was only divided at that point with the other half of the building where the bowling alley was. The decor must have been 1930s style but interior theme was not known.
Paterson Arena: I am not sure if AOW Corporation eliminated the bowling alley. If they did, they lost out. If they kept it, that would have been a rare sight to see an AOW Corporation owned and operated a dual entertainment sports-- Roller Skating and Bowling. It maybe have been the same but updated the decor as decade went by.
The Exterior.
Harry M. Smith Co. Chevrolet Dealership: Dark Red-Brown Bricks Warehouse themed look dealership (popular theme at the time)
Paterson Recreation Center: Only signage adn garage door changed into windows for skating and bowling. Rest remained the same.
Paterson Arena: See above. Same.
Today the building still stands and still has same look!
The Stats:
Rink Size: 100' x 200'. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
Acres: N/A.
Architect: N/A.
Contractor: N/A.
Interior Designer: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Organist: Maurice Grudine
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: 24
Duck Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Candlestick Bowling Lanes: None.
Pocket Billiard Tables: N/A.
Air Hockey Tables: N/A.
Foosball Table: N/A.
Basketball Speed: N/A.
Amusement Rides: None.
Driving Range Slots: None.
Miniature Golf Course: None.
Arcade: (Number unknown)
Skee-Ball: N/A.
Fascination: None.
Restaurant: None.
Cocktail lounge: None.
Laser Tag: None.
Bounce Houses: None.
Bumper Cars: None.
Go-Kart: None.
Motel: None.
Swimming Pool: None.
Jungle Gym Playground: None.
Skate Park: None.
Theater (movie/stage): None.
Dance Center: None.
Picnic Grove: None.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1939 to 1957.
Harry M. Smith Co. Chevrolet Dealership: 1910s to 1939.
Paterson Recreation Center: 1939 to 1948.
Paterson Arena: 1948 to 1957.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Harry M. Smith Co. Chevrolet Dealership: Likely owner lost dealership rights, decided to become recreation center.
Paterson Recreation Center: Unknown, sold to AOW Corporation.
Paterson Arena:
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also, photos/articles. Also send me any updates such as reopening, sold, name changes, or whatsoever occurred with this rink or any rinks. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at Rink-History©. Before you email, please state this rink name AND THE CITY AND STATE (or COUNTRY) so I can know where or what rink you are talking about. Thank you. We welcome both active and defunct rinks.
Sources:
Trinity Press - Website, location, date of established at location to 1984.
Sources are also found in gallery.
Billboard - 06 January 1945, p. 45, 1st and 2nd column.
Date of issue: 23 August 2023.
Updated:
For office use only: 25
Worth to visit:
None. Only exterior.
DISCLAIMER:
International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© (formerly known as Dead-Rinks) and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. We do not endorse such illegal activities including breaking and entry of former rinks, malls, abandoned buildings, etc. 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.
Dead Rinks is now International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© because many former names have become new names at the same rinks that are still active and due to much confusion, We have decided that International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© fits better for all rinks including defunct, closed, inactive, rebooted, and rinks that are still active today. For short on this site, it is International Roller Skating Rinks History© Bear with us as we change the entire site page by page each day. 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. Since we are rebooted to allow alive rinks, active rinks, we welcome those active rinks as well. It will be described.
As for “For Office Only” is for my reasoning and private legal reason for that.
Any music associated with any YouTube or any other videos provided on International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© are not the property of International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group and/or International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© therefore we do not own the rights to the music.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved become property of International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© 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: Disclaimer.
© Copyrighted by International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation©, an International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 17. Deut. 32:7.
When AOW Corporation purchased Paterson Recreation Center, they renamed it as Paterson Arena. Typical AOW Corporation would have a rink by those name with "Arena" at the time.
Later, they had Manager: William "Bill" and Ruth Holland. They had an organ. They used an Hammond Organ since was common. With their Organist: Maurice Grudine
• Floor size: 100' x 200'[2]
• Primary reason for closing: Sold to AOW[3]
• Opened: Nov 1939[1] - 1948[3]
Paterson Arena, 95 - 19th Ave., Paterson, New Jersey
• Operator: AOW Corporation (America on Wheels)[3]
• Manager: Walter Trotter[4], Joe Schneider[5], William Lawless[7], Bill Reed[10/8]
• Pro/Coach: Claire & Walter Trotter[3], William Lawless, Racing Coach[4], Phil Pinto[6], Eileen Loeffler[9], Diane Lanzotti & John Haddad[10]
• Organist: Barry King[7]
• Primary reason for closing: [?]
• Opened: 1948[3] - 1957[11]
Now it is Trinity Press printing company which is located at this property since 1984. After the rink closed in 1957, but before 1984, perhaps a business or two were in that building.
The Interior.
Harry M. Smith Co. Chevrolet Dealership: : Dealership with showroom and mechanic department. Reason I included this is so I can figure out everything where it was. Read on next generation use of the building.
Paterson Recreation Center: They perhaps had one side for roller rink and the other the 24 lanes bowling alley. They were easily divided because of the roof as you can see on top bird view. Likely the rink perhaps was in the garage part where they fixed cars. They were open space without any posts. And it was only divided at that point with the other half of the building where the bowling alley was. The decor must have been 1930s style but interior theme was not known.
Paterson Arena: I am not sure if AOW Corporation eliminated the bowling alley. If they did, they lost out. If they kept it, that would have been a rare sight to see an AOW Corporation owned and operated a dual entertainment sports-- Roller Skating and Bowling. It maybe have been the same but updated the decor as decade went by.
The Exterior.
Harry M. Smith Co. Chevrolet Dealership: Dark Red-Brown Bricks Warehouse themed look dealership (popular theme at the time)
Paterson Recreation Center: Only signage adn garage door changed into windows for skating and bowling. Rest remained the same.
Paterson Arena: See above. Same.
Today the building still stands and still has same look!
The Stats:
Rink Size: 100' x 200'. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
Acres: N/A.
Architect: N/A.
Contractor: N/A.
Interior Designer: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Organist: Maurice Grudine
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: 24
Duck Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
Candlestick Bowling Lanes: None.
Pocket Billiard Tables: N/A.
Air Hockey Tables: N/A.
Foosball Table: N/A.
Basketball Speed: N/A.
Amusement Rides: None.
Driving Range Slots: None.
Miniature Golf Course: None.
Arcade: (Number unknown)
Skee-Ball: N/A.
Fascination: None.
Restaurant: None.
Cocktail lounge: None.
Laser Tag: None.
Bounce Houses: None.
Bumper Cars: None.
Go-Kart: None.
Motel: None.
Swimming Pool: None.
Jungle Gym Playground: None.
Skate Park: None.
Theater (movie/stage): None.
Dance Center: None.
Picnic Grove: None.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1939 to 1957.
Harry M. Smith Co. Chevrolet Dealership: 1910s to 1939.
Paterson Recreation Center: 1939 to 1948.
Paterson Arena: 1948 to 1957.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Harry M. Smith Co. Chevrolet Dealership: Likely owner lost dealership rights, decided to become recreation center.
Paterson Recreation Center: Unknown, sold to AOW Corporation.
Paterson Arena:
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also, photos/articles. Also send me any updates such as reopening, sold, name changes, or whatsoever occurred with this rink or any rinks. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at Rink-History©. Before you email, please state this rink name AND THE CITY AND STATE (or COUNTRY) so I can know where or what rink you are talking about. Thank you. We welcome both active and defunct rinks.
Sources:
Trinity Press - Website, location, date of established at location to 1984.
Sources are also found in gallery.
Billboard - 06 January 1945, p. 45, 1st and 2nd column.
Date of issue: 23 August 2023.
Updated:
For office use only: 25
Worth to visit:
None. Only exterior.
DISCLAIMER:
International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© (formerly known as Dead-Rinks) and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. We do not endorse such illegal activities including breaking and entry of former rinks, malls, abandoned buildings, etc. 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.
Dead Rinks is now International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© because many former names have become new names at the same rinks that are still active and due to much confusion, We have decided that International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© fits better for all rinks including defunct, closed, inactive, rebooted, and rinks that are still active today. For short on this site, it is International Roller Skating Rinks History© Bear with us as we change the entire site page by page each day. 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. Since we are rebooted to allow alive rinks, active rinks, we welcome those active rinks as well. It will be described.
As for “For Office Only” is for my reasoning and private legal reason for that.
Any music associated with any YouTube or any other videos provided on International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© are not the property of International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group and/or International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© therefore we do not own the rights to the music.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved become property of International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation© 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: Disclaimer.
© Copyrighted by International Roller Skating Rinks History Foundation©, an International Commercial Archeology Preservation© Group. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 17. Deut. 32:7.