All above courtesy of Jean Kramer. Top photo was taken as Star Roller Rink. Sorry no photo of Roller-Drome. You noticed the old fashioned architecture with tiny windows, round corners and door very close to the corner.
Second phone showed interior facing the front corner where the main door was. It appeared to be very country-like with barn posts to support the Arch-Curved. The snackbar and skate rentals were in the extension. If looking at map, it is west side of the building.
Third showed as an advertisement for the rink grand-reopening after what happened to the explosion exactly a month prior. That is newspaper clipping from February 14, 1957 edition of Algora Upper Des Monies. Very nice of the community businesses donated money, materials and workers quickly in cold January and February to fix it up.
Below photo above as Jolly Time. You can see the appearance changed due to the explosion. I could not tell where the door went! But Google Map below showed a new glass door and windows were added in this empty building.
Second phone showed interior facing the front corner where the main door was. It appeared to be very country-like with barn posts to support the Arch-Curved. The snackbar and skate rentals were in the extension. If looking at map, it is west side of the building.
Third showed as an advertisement for the rink grand-reopening after what happened to the explosion exactly a month prior. That is newspaper clipping from February 14, 1957 edition of Algora Upper Des Monies. Very nice of the community businesses donated money, materials and workers quickly in cold January and February to fix it up.
Below photo above as Jolly Time. You can see the appearance changed due to the explosion. I could not tell where the door went! But Google Map below showed a new glass door and windows were added in this empty building.
Google Map taken in 2009. Pretty empty! But like the door and windows now that it disappeared again when it became a dance studio with Sky Blue Steel sheet walls covering the windows.
Roller-Drome 1400 Commercial, Algona, IA
Star Roller Rink 1400 Commercial, Algona, IA
Jolly Time Skating Center 1400 Commercial, Algona, IA
Rainbow Skateland 1400 Commercial, Algona, IA
There were four rink businesses at 1400 Commercial Street, Algona, Iowa which began with Roller-Drome. Unfortunately there is no photos of Roller-Drome with that name however I do with Star Roller Rink. After that, it became Jolly Time Skating Center. Finally Rainbow Skateland.
It began in 1946 in the month of September that L.J. Schmidt applied for a permit to built a rink. The cost was 16,000 USD (212,248.62 in year 2020 USD), There was a rink and as for office and skate room, they were in an annex on the side of the building. Construction started in 1947 but was ordered stopped when the regulations were more discovered that required more permits to construct. It took a while and they finished later that year but completed by Summer with grand opening before the complete of construction which was on July 17, 1948.
The rink was very popular. having booked completely for fellowships held by church and Sunday school groups, gatherings with 4-H clubs, and private celebrations such as birthday parties. It was so popular that it was closed six nights during the first seven months of operation (closed only six days out of 720 days of opened to public and to private groups).
That same season a ladies’ day was established on Wednesdays in which the large group of women had formed a skating club. they founded “Skaters Coffee Gulping Club of Algona.” Qute intersting name! They would gather at 2 p.m. to skate for an hour before taking a break for coffee and lunch, and then resume skating for another hour. Hence the name.
Later, the Roller Drome name was changed to Star Roller Rink a few years prior the purchase by LeRoy and Lola Lau in 1955. That would be difficult for me to figure out when the name changed.
The Accident.
Wednesday, January 16, 1957 evening, as the Laus were closing and skaters were unlacing their skates, an explosion suddenly blew through the front of the building. The damage was quite massive as wooden shelves holding skates were knocked over and large holes blown in the rink floor. Debris was scattered throughout the area. A skate was even found lodged in the ceiling. LeRoy was in the back of the building and was unhurt, but Lola was among the 15 who were injured. A sixteen year old was the most severely wounded with suffering a skull fracture and other injuries.
They said the damage was caused by a gas explosion. Since the building had no gas installations, the incident was investigated. They found that a leaky gas valve was located in a main 12 feet in front of the building where the explosion was. They said that the gas followed a water line into the skating rink where it built up over a few hours. Good thing a school bus load of students from Twin Rivers had left the building just moments before the blast.
Everyone injured were recovered. The rink quickly rebuilt and repaired for 30 days. Exactly 30 days later on February 16th, they reopened the rink again with all repairs done.
Moving on.
By 1967, LeRoy Lau injured to his leg at his other job. With his leg did not heal properly and needed additional surgeries, forcing to retire. So, in 1968, LaRue and Alberta Weaver purchased the rink. They changed the name to Jolly Time Skating Center.
Then in May of 1989, they had attempted to sell the rink due to retirement but had not had any offers. So, they closed the doors and made plans to auction the contents. But the Siferts in time purchased the rink in September that year which saved the rink from gone forever. They renamed it “Rainbow Skateland” and re-opened that month.
However, just turn of the century, they closed and forever, Algona is without a rink.
The Interior.
The area for skating was 60 feet by 132 feet. the rink floor was Maple. The original had a certain look but because of the 1957 explosion, that alter the appearance and you can see that in photos clearly that it was changed. The interior was changed.
The Exterior.
The foundation and walls were of concrete block, the roof was Arched-Curved. The rink front was forever altered after the explosion.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A
Demolished: Still standing, front was damaged on Jan. 16, 1957 but quickly rebuilt and reopened.
Type of Building: Free Span Arched-Curved Steel Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Arched Curved.
Acres: N/A
Operated:
Roller-Drome: July 17, 1948 to early 1950s.
Star Roller Rink: Early 1950s to Wednesday, January 16, 1957 (due to explosion), February 16, 1957 to 1968.
Jolly Time Skating Center: 1968 to May 1989.
Rainbow Skateland: September 1989 to c. 2001.
Reason for Closure:
Roller-Drome: Same owner but name changed, as rebooted. Then sold.
Star Roller Rink: Forced to retire due to injuries owner had.
Jolly Time Skating Center: Retirement.
Rainbow Skateland: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding more photos I can use, exact dates of open, closed. Also more photos of interior.
Sources: KC History Buff,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Star Roller Rink 1400 Commercial, Algona, IA
Jolly Time Skating Center 1400 Commercial, Algona, IA
Rainbow Skateland 1400 Commercial, Algona, IA
There were four rink businesses at 1400 Commercial Street, Algona, Iowa which began with Roller-Drome. Unfortunately there is no photos of Roller-Drome with that name however I do with Star Roller Rink. After that, it became Jolly Time Skating Center. Finally Rainbow Skateland.
It began in 1946 in the month of September that L.J. Schmidt applied for a permit to built a rink. The cost was 16,000 USD (212,248.62 in year 2020 USD), There was a rink and as for office and skate room, they were in an annex on the side of the building. Construction started in 1947 but was ordered stopped when the regulations were more discovered that required more permits to construct. It took a while and they finished later that year but completed by Summer with grand opening before the complete of construction which was on July 17, 1948.
The rink was very popular. having booked completely for fellowships held by church and Sunday school groups, gatherings with 4-H clubs, and private celebrations such as birthday parties. It was so popular that it was closed six nights during the first seven months of operation (closed only six days out of 720 days of opened to public and to private groups).
That same season a ladies’ day was established on Wednesdays in which the large group of women had formed a skating club. they founded “Skaters Coffee Gulping Club of Algona.” Qute intersting name! They would gather at 2 p.m. to skate for an hour before taking a break for coffee and lunch, and then resume skating for another hour. Hence the name.
Later, the Roller Drome name was changed to Star Roller Rink a few years prior the purchase by LeRoy and Lola Lau in 1955. That would be difficult for me to figure out when the name changed.
The Accident.
Wednesday, January 16, 1957 evening, as the Laus were closing and skaters were unlacing their skates, an explosion suddenly blew through the front of the building. The damage was quite massive as wooden shelves holding skates were knocked over and large holes blown in the rink floor. Debris was scattered throughout the area. A skate was even found lodged in the ceiling. LeRoy was in the back of the building and was unhurt, but Lola was among the 15 who were injured. A sixteen year old was the most severely wounded with suffering a skull fracture and other injuries.
They said the damage was caused by a gas explosion. Since the building had no gas installations, the incident was investigated. They found that a leaky gas valve was located in a main 12 feet in front of the building where the explosion was. They said that the gas followed a water line into the skating rink where it built up over a few hours. Good thing a school bus load of students from Twin Rivers had left the building just moments before the blast.
Everyone injured were recovered. The rink quickly rebuilt and repaired for 30 days. Exactly 30 days later on February 16th, they reopened the rink again with all repairs done.
Moving on.
By 1967, LeRoy Lau injured to his leg at his other job. With his leg did not heal properly and needed additional surgeries, forcing to retire. So, in 1968, LaRue and Alberta Weaver purchased the rink. They changed the name to Jolly Time Skating Center.
Then in May of 1989, they had attempted to sell the rink due to retirement but had not had any offers. So, they closed the doors and made plans to auction the contents. But the Siferts in time purchased the rink in September that year which saved the rink from gone forever. They renamed it “Rainbow Skateland” and re-opened that month.
However, just turn of the century, they closed and forever, Algona is without a rink.
The Interior.
The area for skating was 60 feet by 132 feet. the rink floor was Maple. The original had a certain look but because of the 1957 explosion, that alter the appearance and you can see that in photos clearly that it was changed. The interior was changed.
The Exterior.
The foundation and walls were of concrete block, the roof was Arched-Curved. The rink front was forever altered after the explosion.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A
Demolished: Still standing, front was damaged on Jan. 16, 1957 but quickly rebuilt and reopened.
Type of Building: Free Span Arched-Curved Steel Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Arched Curved.
Acres: N/A
Operated:
Roller-Drome: July 17, 1948 to early 1950s.
Star Roller Rink: Early 1950s to Wednesday, January 16, 1957 (due to explosion), February 16, 1957 to 1968.
Jolly Time Skating Center: 1968 to May 1989.
Rainbow Skateland: September 1989 to c. 2001.
Reason for Closure:
Roller-Drome: Same owner but name changed, as rebooted. Then sold.
Star Roller Rink: Forced to retire due to injuries owner had.
Jolly Time Skating Center: Retirement.
Rainbow Skateland: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding more photos I can use, exact dates of open, closed. Also more photos of interior.
Sources: KC History Buff,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.