Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. Skating rink and bowling alley. Yes, bowling were included! Courtesy of Norwood Historical Society.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. Also they had a mini-golf course. Noticed they used logs as borders for the course. Big difference than most mini-golf courses which used 2 x 4 studs for their courses. Courtesy of Norwood Historical Society.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. Skating rink and bowling alley. AND later, mini-golf course! Charles noticed in 1957 that there were PWD (Persons With Disabilities) who were sitting in the rink so he designed and built that mini-golf course and let children and PWD play golf. Courtesy of Norwood Historical Society.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. 1957 and 1965 views of the same place. That is because after 1962, it was rebuilt after this huge fire that destroyed the building. Mini-Golf course was not very clear seen. Courtesy of USGS.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. Noticed the interior for the old rink before the fire? It is the only known photo so far. That is unfortunately. Appeared to be wood, arched ceiling? Cannot be right. And the floor was Rotunda. This was the rink floor and interior before the fire. Courtesy of Norwood Historical Society.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. Seen in SKATE Magazine, February 1960, page 17. Courtesy of SKATE Magazine. February 1960.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. March 1st, 1962 fire. Courtesy of SKATE Magazine, February 1960. Page 3.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. The fire. Courtesy of The Boston-Globe, Thursday, 1 March 1962.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. As seen in Norwood High School yearbook, 1963. Courtesy of Norwood High School, Norwood, MA.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. As seen in Norwood High School yearbook, 1964. Courtesy of Norwood High School, Norwood, MA.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. Norwood High School TIOT Yearbook. Photographs of the rink shown in sponsors section of the yearbooks. This one shown from 1965 advertisement. The 1964 showed their new facility. Courtesy of Norwood High School, Norwood, MA.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. This is the advertisement. Courtesy of Norwood Historical Society.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. This is the advertisement for 1963 Norwood High School yearbook. Courtesy of Norwood High School.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. This is the advertisement for 1964 Norwood High School yearbook. Courtesy of Norwood High School.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA. This was a 1965 yearbook ad for Norwood High School yearbook. Courtesy of Norwood High School.
Roll-Land 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA
Roll-Land Bowladrome 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA
Roll-Land Roller Skating 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA
Roll-Land Bowladrome 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA
Roll-Land Roller Skating 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, MA
Roll-Land opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day November 24, 1938 at 942 Boston-Providence Highway - Rte. 1, Norwood, Massachusetts. It was opened up by Charles, John, and Peter Santoro. It was a modest Cape Cod style house style. It was bit of unusual for a rink to have that style but it worked for them since some businesses had their own Cape Cod style or Colonial style. Howard Johnston's and Friendly's Restaurants come to mind, respectively. They did include bowling.
It was first business built in a lot surrounding all farmlands. Sound familiar. It was common for businesses back in 1800s and early 1900s up to 1950s that they would built a storefront or a business in middle of farmlands away from other businesses in the neighborhood. Well, Roll-Land roller skating rink was one example of thousands of businesses practiced this way. Today, seeing on Google Map, I see they do have plenty of businesses on that street now. All commercial in that area.
But on June 9, 1942, they had a fire. But quickly repaired and shortly after repairs, it was reopened. That was a 25,000 USD damages. Small potatoes compared to the one that was really destroyed the rink on March 1, 1962. This fire that fire fighters could not battle well and it was totally destroyed and burned to ashes except for the front wall remained intact. Completely gutted.
However, the owners did not give up and rebuilt into more modern more commercial like building. The main door was on the side toward the back as the front was a different business. Perhaps a business tenant to help the mortgage.
They continued with the rink but new ownership was added. Charles' nephew, John Maddocks was added to the co-ownership.
The dimension for the floor I got was not clear. Which building? The original Cape-Cod style or the new rebuilt store front style building? I leave both dimensions in both sections (see below).
Original building (1938 to 1962) --
The Interior.
It appeared to be Maple wood floor that is Rotunda which is hard to see in the photo above which was shown on the program booklet. Exposed ceiling that was arched!? The roof outside was Hip.. Sometimes ceilings can be that shape and outside roof can be different.
The Exterior.
Very stylish Cape-Cod building with Gable and Valler roof style. I am not sure if that is really Gable in the photo. It could have been Hip roof similar concept to the Mid-Century Modernism HJ's Restaurant Orange Roof design. It was more like original HJ's than the entire updated long slung roof design. The original was beautiful and homely for skaters at the time.
In 1957, Miniature Golf courses were added outside behind the rink.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 70' x 170'. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1938. Demolished: Fire March 1, 1962.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss? Wood-Walled Cape Cod house style Building.
Roof: Gable and Valler.
Acres: N/A.
Architect: N/A.
Contractor: N/A.
Interior Designer: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: Unknown how many lanes.
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: Yes. Used Logs as course borders.
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.
Rebuilt- (1962 to closure in 2000) --
The Interior.
The interior gave a feeling of a mall-like center court because of high exposed steel beams, long windows that wrapped wall to wall on one side to allow lights above the lower roof-ceiling where skaters can rest, sit, watch, eat, or drink and bathroom in that section. But the photos showed it feels more like a mall because that was the look at Mid-Century shopping malls. One to mind is the world's first modern climate controlled indoor shopping mall, that is, Southdale in Edna, Minnesota--just blocks from Mall of America. Many malls followed that Mid-Century appearances of high ceiling, exposed long windows above the roofline copied from Southdale Mall. That style at Southdale began the Mid-Century Modernism by Victor David Gruen. Many Architects took that. Considering this rink was built in 1963, not far off from Southdale first opened in October 8, 1956. The interior was very attractive compared to outdoors and they kept this until their closure in the year 2000.
The Exterior.
Flat roof with a side "front" for the rink showed it was a step style Flat roof. It appeared to be very 1960s plain Minimalist design. All monochromic-- White look.
It was renovated after the rink closed to accommodate business needs. Currently the largest liquor store in the New England region in that very former Roll-Land spot. To visit, well, I am sure you have to buy something I dont approve at all.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 70' x 170'. Floor: Maple? Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1963. Demolished: Renovated in 2015 now a mini-plaza..
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock-Walled Commercial storefront Building.
Roof: Flat with multi-level Flats.
Acres: N/A.
Architect: N/A.
Contractor: N/A.
Interior Designer: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
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.
Operated: Thanksgiving Day November 24, 1938 to July 2000.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
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:
Internet Archives - Norwood High School Yearbooks (link shown for 1963)
Wikipedia- Southdale Center (architectural reference)
Norwood Then and Now
Norwood Historical Society - Anniversary of the fire that destroyed rink.
Date of issue: 29 December 2020.
Update: 10 June 2023.
For office use only: 16.
Worth to visit:
None. They just closed in 2020. You might see the building but not the rink.
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.
It was first business built in a lot surrounding all farmlands. Sound familiar. It was common for businesses back in 1800s and early 1900s up to 1950s that they would built a storefront or a business in middle of farmlands away from other businesses in the neighborhood. Well, Roll-Land roller skating rink was one example of thousands of businesses practiced this way. Today, seeing on Google Map, I see they do have plenty of businesses on that street now. All commercial in that area.
But on June 9, 1942, they had a fire. But quickly repaired and shortly after repairs, it was reopened. That was a 25,000 USD damages. Small potatoes compared to the one that was really destroyed the rink on March 1, 1962. This fire that fire fighters could not battle well and it was totally destroyed and burned to ashes except for the front wall remained intact. Completely gutted.
However, the owners did not give up and rebuilt into more modern more commercial like building. The main door was on the side toward the back as the front was a different business. Perhaps a business tenant to help the mortgage.
They continued with the rink but new ownership was added. Charles' nephew, John Maddocks was added to the co-ownership.
The dimension for the floor I got was not clear. Which building? The original Cape-Cod style or the new rebuilt store front style building? I leave both dimensions in both sections (see below).
Original building (1938 to 1962) --
The Interior.
It appeared to be Maple wood floor that is Rotunda which is hard to see in the photo above which was shown on the program booklet. Exposed ceiling that was arched!? The roof outside was Hip.. Sometimes ceilings can be that shape and outside roof can be different.
The Exterior.
Very stylish Cape-Cod building with Gable and Valler roof style. I am not sure if that is really Gable in the photo. It could have been Hip roof similar concept to the Mid-Century Modernism HJ's Restaurant Orange Roof design. It was more like original HJ's than the entire updated long slung roof design. The original was beautiful and homely for skaters at the time.
In 1957, Miniature Golf courses were added outside behind the rink.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 70' x 170'. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1938. Demolished: Fire March 1, 1962.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss? Wood-Walled Cape Cod house style Building.
Roof: Gable and Valler.
Acres: N/A.
Architect: N/A.
Contractor: N/A.
Interior Designer: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: Unknown how many lanes.
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: Yes. Used Logs as course borders.
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.
Rebuilt- (1962 to closure in 2000) --
The Interior.
The interior gave a feeling of a mall-like center court because of high exposed steel beams, long windows that wrapped wall to wall on one side to allow lights above the lower roof-ceiling where skaters can rest, sit, watch, eat, or drink and bathroom in that section. But the photos showed it feels more like a mall because that was the look at Mid-Century shopping malls. One to mind is the world's first modern climate controlled indoor shopping mall, that is, Southdale in Edna, Minnesota--just blocks from Mall of America. Many malls followed that Mid-Century appearances of high ceiling, exposed long windows above the roofline copied from Southdale Mall. That style at Southdale began the Mid-Century Modernism by Victor David Gruen. Many Architects took that. Considering this rink was built in 1963, not far off from Southdale first opened in October 8, 1956. The interior was very attractive compared to outdoors and they kept this until their closure in the year 2000.
The Exterior.
Flat roof with a side "front" for the rink showed it was a step style Flat roof. It appeared to be very 1960s plain Minimalist design. All monochromic-- White look.
It was renovated after the rink closed to accommodate business needs. Currently the largest liquor store in the New England region in that very former Roll-Land spot. To visit, well, I am sure you have to buy something I dont approve at all.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 70' x 170'. Floor: Maple? Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1963. Demolished: Renovated in 2015 now a mini-plaza..
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblock-Walled Commercial storefront Building.
Roof: Flat with multi-level Flats.
Acres: N/A.
Architect: N/A.
Contractor: N/A.
Interior Designer: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
10 Pins Bowling Lanes: None.
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.
Operated: Thanksgiving Day November 24, 1938 to July 2000.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
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:
Internet Archives - Norwood High School Yearbooks (link shown for 1963)
Wikipedia- Southdale Center (architectural reference)
Norwood Then and Now
Norwood Historical Society - Anniversary of the fire that destroyed rink.
Date of issue: 29 December 2020.
Update: 10 June 2023.
For office use only: 16.
Worth to visit:
None. They just closed in 2020. You might see the building but not the rink.
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.