Courtesy of The George-Anne newspaper, Page 6, April 12, 1984. Of course, Black-and-White photo in newspaper, common used in B/W. Anyway, likely this was taken from the U.S. 301 because of the width of the road and the turn left on the road because it would lead skaters and college students to turn left from North onto the university campus main entrance. Photos below are taken from other side-- the Forest Drive side which is where the front of the new ROTC building is located. The front for the rink is not seen because of the photo was taken on back side of the rink facing 301. Yet, the sign that said, "Skating" or in that context is barely seen in the photo by the right side Gable roof section of the building. The trees are seen from cross the street on Forest Drive where now it is a parking lot and a GEMA, a FEMA type of agency is located.
Courtesy of Statesboro by Delma E. Presley and Smith Callaway Banks. True frontage of the rink that faces Forest Road, not U.S. 301 S. Likely that man in the photo with his back to the camera looking up to his creation is none other than Nathan Foss. Interesting to note the Cape Cod house next door on the left was there and of course, demolished to make way of another entrance to the growing university at the time.
Courtesy of Georgia Southern University yearbook. Enchanted by Mark Falso. I attempted to clean up the blurred picture from online. I did my best with the advertisement on back page. It appeared to be a business card submitted to the yearbook for publication. A lot of students and the university had collaboration with the rink through out the years.
Bottom four are of Google Map. From top to bottom: 2012, 2016, and ON parking lot in 2016 and of course, 2018 showing a new military science building.
Courtesy of The George-Anne (page 6). Article. If it is bit difficult for you to read, please click the newspaper name link and go page 6. You can read the rest of the story. I totally agree with the AHA advertisement in this era of COVID and post COVID but also skating is the best safest health fitness for your heart. So it is a coincidence the ad was placed by this article about roller skating and fitness.
Skate-R-Bowl U.S. 301 South, Statesboro, GA
Georgia Southern University Rink 301 South, Statesboro, GA
Georgia Southern University Rink 301 South, Statesboro, GA
Skate-R-Bowl was a rink on U.S. 301 South, Statesboro, Georgia right on the property of Georgia State University. This much storied rink had a beginning when Nathan Floss began building the rink in 1945 but had grand opening in June 1, 1946. It took him a while to built the rink for a year.
Nathan Floss designed this rink on his drafting table using drafting technique he knew how. He designed it to be 12,000 Square Feet rink. Not a big rink (photos show it appeared to be doubled the size).
He bought old hardwood Maple floor from an old tobacco warehouse in Metter, GA for 1,800 USD. He brought them all piece by piece and reattach them on his new facility in 1945-6.
Because of the new rink and uniqueness of it, people came as far as Savannah and soldiers from Fort Stewart Army Base.
Nathan Floss was a physical education instructor and this is likely why he established the rink for students to exercise.
Many skaters met each other and married at this rink.
In later year, the university need more room and they were considering as storage. I do not know what the fate of late this is now.
The location is where this Georgia Southern University ROTC Army Department is currently located.
One note is that there are articles and other mentioned the place was so focused on roller rink. They had a bowling alley there too. Perhaps half of that building because of the roof design. I have no idea how many lanes they had.
The Interior.
Unknown but had hardwood Maple floor bought from an old Tobacco warehouse.
The Exterior.
The building was a double Gable Barn-like building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Likely in late 1990s, after 1996 transfer of ownership to college. It became parking lot then now a military building which was built in around 2017-18.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable doubled
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A.
Roll-R-Bowl: June 1, 1946 to May 1984.
Georgia Southern University rink: December 1983 to 1996. (overlapped due to slow transition of management).
Reason for Closure:
Roll-R-Bowl: College's interest in the rink, signed a lease-purchase agreement in December 1983, a 12 years agreement then by end of that term, it is completely owned by the college in 1996. Likely owned and demolished.
Geogia Southern University rink: Age of building or contract ended freed up college's goal to use grounds for somethng else (originally parking lot and now the military).
Wanted: Information regarding more photos and if any color photos. Interior, exact date of closure, What became of it and where was it exactly?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The George-Anne, Georgia Southern University e-Yearbook, Statesboro Herald, Ouida Foss-cofounder of rink--Obituary, Statesboro (GA) ebook through Google.
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Nathan Floss designed this rink on his drafting table using drafting technique he knew how. He designed it to be 12,000 Square Feet rink. Not a big rink (photos show it appeared to be doubled the size).
He bought old hardwood Maple floor from an old tobacco warehouse in Metter, GA for 1,800 USD. He brought them all piece by piece and reattach them on his new facility in 1945-6.
Because of the new rink and uniqueness of it, people came as far as Savannah and soldiers from Fort Stewart Army Base.
Nathan Floss was a physical education instructor and this is likely why he established the rink for students to exercise.
Many skaters met each other and married at this rink.
In later year, the university need more room and they were considering as storage. I do not know what the fate of late this is now.
The location is where this Georgia Southern University ROTC Army Department is currently located.
One note is that there are articles and other mentioned the place was so focused on roller rink. They had a bowling alley there too. Perhaps half of that building because of the roof design. I have no idea how many lanes they had.
The Interior.
Unknown but had hardwood Maple floor bought from an old Tobacco warehouse.
The Exterior.
The building was a double Gable Barn-like building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Likely in late 1990s, after 1996 transfer of ownership to college. It became parking lot then now a military building which was built in around 2017-18.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable doubled
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A.
Roll-R-Bowl: June 1, 1946 to May 1984.
Georgia Southern University rink: December 1983 to 1996. (overlapped due to slow transition of management).
Reason for Closure:
Roll-R-Bowl: College's interest in the rink, signed a lease-purchase agreement in December 1983, a 12 years agreement then by end of that term, it is completely owned by the college in 1996. Likely owned and demolished.
Geogia Southern University rink: Age of building or contract ended freed up college's goal to use grounds for somethng else (originally parking lot and now the military).
Wanted: Information regarding more photos and if any color photos. Interior, exact date of closure, What became of it and where was it exactly?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: The George-Anne, Georgia Southern University e-Yearbook, Statesboro Herald, Ouida Foss-cofounder of rink--Obituary, Statesboro (GA) ebook through Google.
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.