Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Avenues, Cincinnati, OH Source:
Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Avenues, Cincinnati, OH The location is circled where the rink was. Can you spot the main gate (see next photo) above? It is right by the road on the left. Left of the red circle. Source: Cincinnati Views.
Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Avenues, Cincinnati, OH One of the most disastrously event in the United States during the 20th Century and during the Great Depression. The Great Ohio River Flood of 1937 that the deepest was at a high 79.9 inches of flood water (measured at river). This showed how much water flooded. Sure did ruined beautiful maple wood floor because of the flood. So did every single person's home which caused homelessness and damages. This was in January 1937. Cold icy water, no heat at home because power were knocked out. This prompt a national flood act of 1938 to prevent anything like this again. They did it again with this act for New Orleans after Katerina the Hurricane attack in 2005. Source: Pinterest (I went to original link as it was provided but it would not open, has virus, and dead link actually. So, you are safe because I had to use Pinterest instead to retrieve it).
Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Avenues, Cincinnati, OH. One of the most disastrously event in the United States during the 20th Century and during the Great Depression. The Great Ohio River Flood of 1937 that the deepest was at a high 79.9 inches of flood water (measured at river). You can see the rink there near bottom left with dark roof. Flood water almost camouflage the ground which made it is difficult to read so focus on buildings. Source: Cincinnati Views. 1937.
Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Avenues, Cincinnati, OH. This is the map in 1895 what the park was like. At the time, the trolley company just bought the park from a private owner. Yes, you read that right, it was a sports field inside the track. It was simple a Track-and-Field stadium. No pool yet. No rink, no other big buildings there yet. It was a small park. But the size of track appeared to be half mile. Only half of the property was the park, the other half the repair and warehouse for the train cars. Source: Cincinnati Views. 1895.
Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Avenues, Cincinnati, OH. You can see the map in 2021 that it is entirely different now. It is now occupied by Cincinnati Water Works. You can go in that HQ to see the exhibits in their lobby. Also next door is the Honda automobile dealership which occupy the space as well. Funny thing is the whole thing is irony. The water works occupy now because it was a huge stadium size swimming pool and the park went out of business because of high water bills! I know there is a humor in it. Second part is that the Honda dealership is an automobile dealership replacing the trolleys and train warehouse and repair center. From train to cars! Really funny if you get my drift. Source: Google.
Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Avenues, Cincinnati, OH YoutTube video on the park. The video showed pictures and articles a bit too fast. You might want to freeze to take your time to see each one or to read the article. I was unable to do so. Source: ReelNostalgia/YouTube.
Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Aves, Cincinnati, OH aka
Sefferino’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Aves, Cincinnati, OH
Sefferino’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Aves, Cincinnati, OH
Seff’s Chester Park Rink Colerain and Spring Grove Avenues, Cincinnati, Ohio. This rink was one of William F. Sefferino's and this was at the Chester Park that was operational between 1875 and 1932...ish. William started his first rink elsewhere called Seff's Rollerdrome. This came later after the Sefferino's Rollerdrome was opened in 1921. So, this places after that year. Not too many years because the park closed for good in 1932. Apparently this rink was short lived. William retired in 1956 which was around the time the Chester Park was closed. Maybe 1937 because of the flood really nailed it shut. A few sources said different dates. Needs to be there to do research or someone in Cincinnati who might know more about this or one of the Sefferino Family member can come forward to detail more about it plus photos and any other informations.
According to the United States Geographical Survey (USGS) in 1932, they showed the park but I could not retrieve the photograph of it because it was badly blurred in that old photograph. Film speed exposure at the time were not quick enough as the plane went by. However, thanks to the photograph of the building that has that Stadium design which was rounded edge. Similar to the building that housed a rink then Big Bear where it is now an apartment building for Ohio State University Students living in. Likely it was built by Stadium Oval Company. This one appeared more like a Capsule shaped. Why? The walls itself AND the roof curved.
However, I see the flooding photograph. That was 1937 flood. I cannot image how deep that is thanks to street level car level view of the photographs that Spring Grove Ave was on a hill as I can see on Google Map! Wow, that was a lot of water! The lowest point of the property is the corner right cross the street from where Kroger is now (see modern day top view map above).
And the building appeared differently. I believe this was the original. The newer photograph of the Capsule design you saw in the photos above are rebuilt. Has to be. You see, flood water can damage to anything. Wood, even brick-and-mortar including cinderblocks are subjectable to dangerous black mold. If you knew history of flooding common in river towns like Cincinnati and New Orleans, and bay cities including New Orleans, New York City, among others, they get flooding and damages. I see photographs of beautiful homes that are for sale and why are so cheap.. I mean I enjoy looking at real estate. (this is why I do Dead-Rinks). I see they said it was in a flood and oh man, you can see water damages even in basements up north. No no. Needs to be rebuilt entirely. I know cost a lot. If you can not afford, well.. its hard. I know. Happened to us.
I believe the Capsule was a rebuilt but short lived. Because the photographs I see in 1932 which was the ending of the park was not there. The 1937 flooding showed a different building. The nice Capsule was somewhere in between. The 1956 photo from the USGS showed it was new rectangular building roughly the same spot but closer to the road. They said the flood resulted at 79.9 feet high!
Unfortunately that was the year the Cincinnati Waterworks bought the property and built their headquarters that they have been using since.
I will need more information and which was first in look. For now, this is what I got. Likely opened before
The Interior.
Likely they had Maple floor and was damaged by flood in 1937. Might have had a replaced building on the same spot and had same material. There was third building according to USGS but the 1950s photo showed a new building in pace. Needs more information. Was that a rink again?
The Exterior.
See above. Will get this cleared up.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks - Walled Arena .
Roof: Capsule.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1930s? to 1950s? (Rink)
Chester Park: 1875 to 1932(?)
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
The Cincinnati Enquirer - 17 April 2019 talking about many amusement parks in Cincinnati, Ohio. (PDF)
YouTube - Chester Park. They showed slides on that video too fast that you must freeze to read articles and/or pictures.
The Cincinnati Enquirer - The Great Ohio River Flood of 1937.
Cincinnati Redefined - Chester Park history.
Cincinnati Views - Photos and postcards shown.
Date of issue: 28 December 2021.
For office use only: 6/1.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
According to the United States Geographical Survey (USGS) in 1932, they showed the park but I could not retrieve the photograph of it because it was badly blurred in that old photograph. Film speed exposure at the time were not quick enough as the plane went by. However, thanks to the photograph of the building that has that Stadium design which was rounded edge. Similar to the building that housed a rink then Big Bear where it is now an apartment building for Ohio State University Students living in. Likely it was built by Stadium Oval Company. This one appeared more like a Capsule shaped. Why? The walls itself AND the roof curved.
However, I see the flooding photograph. That was 1937 flood. I cannot image how deep that is thanks to street level car level view of the photographs that Spring Grove Ave was on a hill as I can see on Google Map! Wow, that was a lot of water! The lowest point of the property is the corner right cross the street from where Kroger is now (see modern day top view map above).
And the building appeared differently. I believe this was the original. The newer photograph of the Capsule design you saw in the photos above are rebuilt. Has to be. You see, flood water can damage to anything. Wood, even brick-and-mortar including cinderblocks are subjectable to dangerous black mold. If you knew history of flooding common in river towns like Cincinnati and New Orleans, and bay cities including New Orleans, New York City, among others, they get flooding and damages. I see photographs of beautiful homes that are for sale and why are so cheap.. I mean I enjoy looking at real estate. (this is why I do Dead-Rinks). I see they said it was in a flood and oh man, you can see water damages even in basements up north. No no. Needs to be rebuilt entirely. I know cost a lot. If you can not afford, well.. its hard. I know. Happened to us.
I believe the Capsule was a rebuilt but short lived. Because the photographs I see in 1932 which was the ending of the park was not there. The 1937 flooding showed a different building. The nice Capsule was somewhere in between. The 1956 photo from the USGS showed it was new rectangular building roughly the same spot but closer to the road. They said the flood resulted at 79.9 feet high!
Unfortunately that was the year the Cincinnati Waterworks bought the property and built their headquarters that they have been using since.
I will need more information and which was first in look. For now, this is what I got. Likely opened before
The Interior.
Likely they had Maple floor and was damaged by flood in 1937. Might have had a replaced building on the same spot and had same material. There was third building according to USGS but the 1950s photo showed a new building in pace. Needs more information. Was that a rink again?
The Exterior.
See above. Will get this cleared up.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks - Walled Arena .
Roof: Capsule.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1930s? to 1950s? (Rink)
Chester Park: 1875 to 1932(?)
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
The Cincinnati Enquirer - 17 April 2019 talking about many amusement parks in Cincinnati, Ohio. (PDF)
YouTube - Chester Park. They showed slides on that video too fast that you must freeze to read articles and/or pictures.
The Cincinnati Enquirer - The Great Ohio River Flood of 1937.
Cincinnati Redefined - Chester Park history.
Cincinnati Views - Photos and postcards shown.
Date of issue: 28 December 2021.
For office use only: 6/1.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.