THE ROLLER RINK REMEMBERED

Roller skating rinks have a long history in Algona.  There were two competing facilities as early as 1883.  Often featuring live music from the Algona Cornet Band or the Algona Harp Orchestra, they were all the rage.  Exclusive sessions were held for children, women, singles and couples.  Special events such as costume parties and skating contests complete with prizes and awards were often held.  Although the early rinks were popular, ownership and management changed often making them short-lived.

Some area clergy found them to be demoralizing institutions.  In 1906, a sermon by Rev. O.H. Holmes of the Congregational Church in Algona entitled “St. Samson, the Patron Saint of the Bowling Alley, Billiard Hall and Skating Rink” was advertised in advance.  The service was well attended—including by a local news man.  In the news article reporting on the sermon, it was said that Rev. Holmes spoke to the young people of Algona “exhorting them to not throw their lives away, to beware of reaching that point where nothing at home fireside pleases and where nothing but the billiard hall, the skating rink and the bowling alley will do.”  Guess they weren’t considered family entertainment.

Although I was never very good at it, I enjoyed spending time roller skating with friends when I was growing up in Algona.  My oldest brother and older sister were the “star” skaters in our family doing fancy turns and skating backwards without skipping a beat (or falling as I was most likely to do).  They went to the rink so often that they each had their own pair of skates complete with pom-poms.  I’d love to know how many miles were put on those skates over the years.

I think for most of us who grew up in and around Algona in the 1950’s through the 1990’s, the skating rink that will always be a part of our memories was located at the corner of Roan and Commercial Streets and was most commonly known as the “Star Roller Rink” and later as “Jolly Time Skating Center.”  Here is its story.

THE "ROLLER-DROME" 

Star Roller Rink in 1960

In September of 1946, L. J. Schmidt of Bode applied to the Algona City Council for a permit to build a roller rink at a cost of $16,000.  He had purchased a tract of land right at the north end of Diagonal Street for the facility.  The area for skating was 60 feet wide by 132 feet deep.  An office and skate room were located in an annex along the west side of the building.

Construction began in 1947 but was halted when certain government regulations came to light which required further permitting.  Building resumed later that year and was completed by mid-summer of 1948.  The foundation and walls were of concrete block, the roof was arched and the skating rink was solid maple.  It featured a state-of-the-art music sound system as well as a soft drink bar. 

The grand opening of the new “Roller-Drome” was held on July 17, 1948 beginning at 8 p.m.  Young people from all over the area laced up to try their skills on the new floor.  The rink was soon booked solid for parties held by church and Sunday school groups, 4-H clubs, and private celebrations such as birthday parties.  The facility proved to be so popular that it was closed only six nights during the first seven months of operation.

That same fall a ladies’ day was established on Wednesdays.  Soon a large group of women had formed a skating club.  They called themselves the “Skaters Coffee Gulping Club of Algona.”  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.

STAR ROLLER RINK 

Inside Star Roller Rink looking
toward northwest corner - 1957

In 1955 the rink was purchased by LeRoy and Lola Lau who moved to Algona with their two daughters, Deanna and Barbara.  LeRoy had been born and raised at Garner.  They had previously owned a sporting goods store in Grand River, Iowa.  The name of the rink had been changed to Star Roller Rink several years prior and the Laus continued to operate it under that name. 

Saturday night was always busy at the rink.  Open from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., it was a popular destination, especially for teenagers and young adults.  Activities like the Hokey Pokey and the limbo were loved by the crowds.  One of the favorite parts of the evening was when the “Couples only” skate was announced.  Romantic music would fill the air, perhaps a ballad by Elvis or “Blue Velvet” by Bobby Vinton.  You would glide out on to the floor hand in hand with your sweetheart and begin to circle the rink.  The main lights would dim so that the glow of the neon star and the flash of the mirror ball on the ceiling provided just enough illumination for a private moment in a crowd. 

Many romances began at the Star Roller Rink including that of my brother, Mike, and his wife, Carole.  Mike passed away several years ago, but Carole shared some of her favorite memories with me.  She enjoyed waltzing and performing other dances while on skates—especially to such tunes as “I Want to Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles or “The Twist” by Chubby Checker.  Sometimes Mike would twirl her so fast that she was sure he would not be able to hold on to her.  Perhaps her favorite memory is that of the last dance of the evening when they would skate to a song by the Drifters before packing up their skates.

On Wednesday, January 16, 1957 as the Laus were closing for the evening and the last skaters were on the benches unlacing their skates, an explosion suddenly ripped through the front of the building.  The damage was extensive – wooden shelves holding skates were knocked over from the force of the explosion 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.  Sixteen year old Argyle Pettit was the most severely wounded, suffering a skull fracture and other injuries. 

It appeared that the damage was caused by a gas explosion, but since the building had no gas installations the incident was investigated.  A leaky gas valve was eventually located in a main 12 feet in front of the building.  It was theorized that the gas followed a water line into the skating rink where it built up over a few hours.  All those who were injured made a full recovery, but the results could have been so much worse.  A bus load of students from Twin Rivers had left the building just moments before the blast.

Algona Upper Des Moines
February 14, 1957

It didn’t take long for the rink to be repaired.  Just one month later, on Saturday, February 16^th, it re-opened and began doing business as usual.

JOLLY TIME SKATING CENTER 

In 1967, LeRoy Lau sustained injuries to his leg at his other job at Weidenhoff.  When his leg did not heal properly and required additional surgeries, he determined he could no longer operate the skating rink. The following year LaRue and Alberta Weaver purchased the Star Roller Rink and moved to Algona with their children, Sandra and Steve.  The children were competitive skaters and the parents had helped out at the rink where they had skated in Des Moines.  When LaRue decided to leave the Iowa National Guard, the family decided to buy the skating rink and run it together. 

Jolly Time Skating Center

They changed the name of the rink to “Jolly Time Skating Center.”  Daughter Sandy gave lessons and some of her pupils went on to perform in various competitions.  LaRue did all of the repairs around the facility including keeping the skates in good repair.  With hundreds of pairs available for rent, that was almost a full time job in and of itself. Besides regular business hours they hosted numerous birthday parties and other gatherings over the years.  They were always happy to fashion the music to the crowd and took requests for favorite skating tunes.

RAINBOW SKATELAND

In May of 1989 the Weavers decided to retire.  They had attempted to sell the rink but had not had any offers.  They closed the doors and made plans to auction the contents.  But the building’s life as a skating rink was not quite over yet.  By September Kay and Pat Sifert had moved back to Algona from Texas and decided to purchase the facility.  They renamed it “Rainbow Skateland” and opened shortly after Labor Day.  Kay Sifert continued to operate much like her predecessors with public skating available at scheduled times and holding special events by reservation.  School children came for classes or physical education classes during the school year and special classes were held for the Algona Rec Department.  The Siferts operated the rink until shortly after the turn of the century at which time it closed for good, leaving Algona without a skating rink after more than 50 years.  In later years the building has served in several capacities, the latest as a dance studio.

Dance Connection - 2020

Racing, dodging, twirling, gliding – round and round the rink we went – it was freedom on wheels.  Such fun to reminisce!

Until next time,

Jean

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