Roll-A-Way Rink 6 W Macarthur St, Shawnee, OK. You can see the outline of the former rink building. Very clear. This new owner did not clear out the foundation. Instead, he put in a new small food take out place. There has been two different restaurants I believe. Maybe more. But it was empty for a while because of next photo showed it was a manufactured home park, a real small one as you can see in the photo above. It is not there anymore. Just empty lots. Well, in the next photo, it was clearly taken likely in 2000s. Even those trailers appeared abandoned as well. This above was in 2010s. Source: Google (Above) Realtor (below).
Robert "Bob" Hutchison Kennedy Obituary. Robert was the operator and owner of Roll-A-Way Rink and Larchmiller Skating Rink. Source: Rootsweb.
Roll-A-Way Rink 6 West Macarthur Street, Shawnee, OK
Roll-A-Way Rink was a rink for 45 years at 6 West Macarthur Street, Shawnee, Oklahoma. It began in 1945 for Bob Kennedy to open this beloved rink with beautiful Maple wood floor, a rare sight to see it had a Maple in Oklahoma. Well, it sadly, it was a fire that destroyed the rink on Thursday night December 16, 1999 marking the end of 45 years run for this beloved rink. Yes, I said it twice because it was truly close to the owner. That rink was full of memories for him and the skating patrons there.
Bob Kennedy came to Shawnee in 1949
The fire was so bad that the firefighters did not go in as ordered not to as they feared the roof would collapse and sure did collapsed. The judgement was correct not to send them in.
The fire began about the time to close for the night. Only eight people were inside when this occurred. An hour later, the fire broke out. The investigators thinks it has to do with the power surge or an electrical short on the breaker panel in the northwest corner part of the building. Apparently age of the breakers. It has been 45 years. But not that soon as I believe. But unfortunately, it may have caused the fire. I really felt bad for Bob Kennedy.
It all started with the rink manager Mark Lomax and others noticed the whole place lights blinked twice. Then it went dark inside. They then knew they had to get out as it was a gut feeling. Then the fire happened. Everyone there then heard loud crackle sounds. That is when the fire occurred inside and it spread real quick.
No one was injured or killed in the fire.
The Maple floor was the same floor when Bob had it lay down when he had the rink built in 1954. They just celebrated 50th Anniversary. Then it ended. Bob was not ready to quit or retire. He wanted to keep going And to be ready to pass to next generation (as in my opinion) but the fire ended it. Yes, he had fire insurance and would have it covered well but rebuilding and reopening would not be the same so its best to end. And that was it.
Robert "Bob" Hutchison Kennedy who passed away in April 2005 came in Shawnee in 1949 and bought Larchmiller Skating Rink that same year. Later, he built and operated Roll-A-Way Rink as it is profiled on this page. If you want to read his obituary, you will have to roll down to find his since they were listing other people before him.
Before that Bob served for the U.S. Navy for two years starting in 1945 serving in Marshall and Gilbert Islands as electric technician. Thank you Bob for defending the Constitution of the United States and our Faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.
Bob also owned the Bob's Stereo Shop and the MacArthur Center Shops (shopping plaza). I see the name of the plaza must be named after the Pacific Theater US Army General MacArthur. I figured that out because of Bob served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater of World War Two.
UPDATE!
Kevin Anderson who send me an email today on 3 July 2021 talked about several rinks that his family on both sides operated and they all were related.
Bob was related to his father who had mobile "tent" rink in Perry while his nephew's father, Lowell Anderson and his brother Boyd Anderson owned first Orbit Skate Center in Choctaw, Oklahoma as Boyd opened Century Skateland in Midwest City Oklahoma.
The Interior.
Beautiful 45 years old Maple floor in its entire time at the rink till the fire.
The Exterior.
N/A. I need photographs!
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: (possible 34,412 SF). Built: 1954. Demolished: Thursday Night December 15, 1999 by electrical fire.
Type of Building: N/A.
Roof: N/A.
Acres: 0.79 Acre.
Operated: (Overall)-- N/A.
Reason for Closure: Destroyed by fire on Thursday night December 15, 1999 caused by electrical panel.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Oklahoman - the fire destroyed the rink; Newson 6 - the fire destroyed the rink;
Realtor; Loop Net;
Date of issue: 08 June 2021. Updated: 03 July 2021.
For office use only: 3 p. (1 g., 1 p, 1 o.)
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
Bob Kennedy came to Shawnee in 1949
The fire was so bad that the firefighters did not go in as ordered not to as they feared the roof would collapse and sure did collapsed. The judgement was correct not to send them in.
The fire began about the time to close for the night. Only eight people were inside when this occurred. An hour later, the fire broke out. The investigators thinks it has to do with the power surge or an electrical short on the breaker panel in the northwest corner part of the building. Apparently age of the breakers. It has been 45 years. But not that soon as I believe. But unfortunately, it may have caused the fire. I really felt bad for Bob Kennedy.
It all started with the rink manager Mark Lomax and others noticed the whole place lights blinked twice. Then it went dark inside. They then knew they had to get out as it was a gut feeling. Then the fire happened. Everyone there then heard loud crackle sounds. That is when the fire occurred inside and it spread real quick.
No one was injured or killed in the fire.
The Maple floor was the same floor when Bob had it lay down when he had the rink built in 1954. They just celebrated 50th Anniversary. Then it ended. Bob was not ready to quit or retire. He wanted to keep going And to be ready to pass to next generation (as in my opinion) but the fire ended it. Yes, he had fire insurance and would have it covered well but rebuilding and reopening would not be the same so its best to end. And that was it.
Robert "Bob" Hutchison Kennedy who passed away in April 2005 came in Shawnee in 1949 and bought Larchmiller Skating Rink that same year. Later, he built and operated Roll-A-Way Rink as it is profiled on this page. If you want to read his obituary, you will have to roll down to find his since they were listing other people before him.
Before that Bob served for the U.S. Navy for two years starting in 1945 serving in Marshall and Gilbert Islands as electric technician. Thank you Bob for defending the Constitution of the United States and our Faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.
Bob also owned the Bob's Stereo Shop and the MacArthur Center Shops (shopping plaza). I see the name of the plaza must be named after the Pacific Theater US Army General MacArthur. I figured that out because of Bob served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater of World War Two.
UPDATE!
Kevin Anderson who send me an email today on 3 July 2021 talked about several rinks that his family on both sides operated and they all were related.
Bob was related to his father who had mobile "tent" rink in Perry while his nephew's father, Lowell Anderson and his brother Boyd Anderson owned first Orbit Skate Center in Choctaw, Oklahoma as Boyd opened Century Skateland in Midwest City Oklahoma.
The Interior.
Beautiful 45 years old Maple floor in its entire time at the rink till the fire.
The Exterior.
N/A. I need photographs!
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: (possible 34,412 SF). Built: 1954. Demolished: Thursday Night December 15, 1999 by electrical fire.
Type of Building: N/A.
Roof: N/A.
Acres: 0.79 Acre.
Operated: (Overall)-- N/A.
Reason for Closure: Destroyed by fire on Thursday night December 15, 1999 caused by electrical panel.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The Oklahoman - the fire destroyed the rink; Newson 6 - the fire destroyed the rink;
Realtor; Loop Net;
Date of issue: 08 June 2021. Updated: 03 July 2021.
For office use only: 3 p. (1 g., 1 p, 1 o.)
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.