My, look how formal they used to dress up! Today, come on! We need to go back to the old good fashioned way, they earn it! And the chivalry was alive and well back in 1950s as you can see the young man tying his girlfriend's skates as her friend looked on. Can you do that guys? You can! Try this again and bring back good manners! The gentleman behind the counter happened to be Victor Caile (the person who told me Victor's name was not sure if the spelling is correct. Source: HSD
Governor Printz Roller Rink 6515 Governor Printz Boulevard, Wilmington, DE. Ohhh! That looked real bad fire happening back in 1964. Source: Old Wilmington.
Governor Printz Roller Rink 6515 Governor Printz Boulevard, Wilmington, DE
This rink was named for the Governor and because it was on Governor Printz Boulevard in Wilmington, Delaware. Not much information I could get but I found this name thanks to seeing a photo of a rink that was burned down in the 1960s on Facebook group relating to another rink in Delaware. It was burned down in 1964. Only information I got outside of Billboard Magazine.
I could not find any information and if any of you, please email me information regarding to Printz. I need to see photos of interior, exterior, dates of open and I got that year of closure but what day was that?
The address I got was from Skating Center USA but this is educated guess it was on that street thanks to other information that have dotted the connection. It was part of what it was called, "Erectix Corp" which might have been the owner of Printz Skating Rink. There was a lawsuit in court regarding an accident in front of the rink and it also stated where. That same street. So, I connected that.
There was a history of a lawsuit that mentioned "a roller rink" on the same road but never said the name of the rink. It was a lawsuit filed by the trucker and the trucking company against a car driver for causing an accident on the road in front of the roller rink. Likely it was in front of Printz because of the address and again the name of the road connecting to the rink name.
I do not have much to go on but a photo of a fire and a photo of children in 1950s off the floor eating Popsicle and a real gentleman teenager tying his girlfriend's skates as another girl looked on and a couple of men chatting by the counter. Looked like the owner was the one behind the counter talking to the young man.
UPDATE --
I received an email on 24 August 2021 (Read on 29 August, 2021--yes, I have so much work to do and falling behind, sorry!) Here is what HPW has to say--
The man behind counter was Victor Caile (not sure of spelling) (Pictured above). The owner [was] my father John R Pyle [who was] born in 1933, died 2006. [He] worked and speed skated there in late 50's to 1964. I have 3 awards that survived the fire.
-- HPW.
Wow, thank you for your information! Really helpful. Glad your awards survived but the rink.. huge loss. Sorry to hear about that. Sorry for your loss. Would love the photos of the rink itself! How big was the rink? Layout of the wood floor in the rink? Size of the building? When was it built? See below, HPW. Anything to fill in? Please and thank you. Also when did your father started the rink?
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple floor Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: 1964 by fire.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Cinderblock building
Roof: Appeared to be Gabriel and Hip combination.
Acres: 2.6500 AC
Operated: N/A to 1964.
Reason for Closure: Destroyed by fire.
Wanted: Information regarding interior and exterior photos, how the fire started? Exact dates of open and closure.
Sources: Old Wilmington,
Facebook,
Pinterest,
Truila - Real Estate Record (although showed current building).
Date of Issue: 2019 Updated: 29 August 2021.
For Office Only: 2.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
I could not find any information and if any of you, please email me information regarding to Printz. I need to see photos of interior, exterior, dates of open and I got that year of closure but what day was that?
The address I got was from Skating Center USA but this is educated guess it was on that street thanks to other information that have dotted the connection. It was part of what it was called, "Erectix Corp" which might have been the owner of Printz Skating Rink. There was a lawsuit in court regarding an accident in front of the rink and it also stated where. That same street. So, I connected that.
There was a history of a lawsuit that mentioned "a roller rink" on the same road but never said the name of the rink. It was a lawsuit filed by the trucker and the trucking company against a car driver for causing an accident on the road in front of the roller rink. Likely it was in front of Printz because of the address and again the name of the road connecting to the rink name.
I do not have much to go on but a photo of a fire and a photo of children in 1950s off the floor eating Popsicle and a real gentleman teenager tying his girlfriend's skates as another girl looked on and a couple of men chatting by the counter. Looked like the owner was the one behind the counter talking to the young man.
UPDATE --
I received an email on 24 August 2021 (Read on 29 August, 2021--yes, I have so much work to do and falling behind, sorry!) Here is what HPW has to say--
The man behind counter was Victor Caile (not sure of spelling) (Pictured above). The owner [was] my father John R Pyle [who was] born in 1933, died 2006. [He] worked and speed skated there in late 50's to 1964. I have 3 awards that survived the fire.
-- HPW.
Wow, thank you for your information! Really helpful. Glad your awards survived but the rink.. huge loss. Sorry to hear about that. Sorry for your loss. Would love the photos of the rink itself! How big was the rink? Layout of the wood floor in the rink? Size of the building? When was it built? See below, HPW. Anything to fill in? Please and thank you. Also when did your father started the rink?
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple floor Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: 1964 by fire.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Cinderblock building
Roof: Appeared to be Gabriel and Hip combination.
Acres: 2.6500 AC
Operated: N/A to 1964.
Reason for Closure: Destroyed by fire.
Wanted: Information regarding interior and exterior photos, how the fire started? Exact dates of open and closure.
Sources: Old Wilmington,
Facebook,
Pinterest,
Truila - Real Estate Record (although showed current building).
Date of Issue: 2019 Updated: 29 August 2021.
For Office Only: 2.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.