I, too, skated there. I lived across the street and was there many a Sunday afternoon and some evenings. Moved to California, so never saw the last days before it was torn down to make way for a hotel. Recently celebrated a 75th birthday with a family roller skating party at a rink here in Southern California. No organ music, no dancing, but with the many trips around the floor, watching adult children and grandchildren enjoy an activity some had never experienced. What a way to celebrate 75!
Lived right across the street from Sholes. Spent many a Sunday afternoon and evenings there. Just spent 75th birthday at a roller rink here in Southern California. Great to watch my adult children and grandchildren in an activity some had never experienced. Of course, I, too, was out on the floor.
As a member of the Sholes family, I am so touched to hear of all of the wonderful memories made at the rink. It was always an enormous part of our family, and I'm so pleased that it was also such a large part of everyone else's family. I came upon this page out of nostalgia, as many of the previous commenters probably did as well. I began searching for articles, blogs, and commentary about the rink because I'm so pleased to announce that this afternoon, we celebrated Leonard Sholes' 100th birthday! The picture on the cake was a photo of Lenny, standing alongside the skate-rental, with the caption "Roller-King." I hope that everyone's memories of the rink serve them as fondly and as long as they have for Leonard.
I can vividly remember skating here with my aunt and cousin years ago. I was still young but I've always had an appreciation for older buildings and things, I guess I'm an old soul. Loved seeing some of the old pics. Wish it was still there.
For many years I was an organist in various roller rinks thruout New England. One evening in February, 1999, I drove past Sholes and noticed the lights were on, and there were apparently people skating. I walked in and found it was "dance night" and a small group of artistic skaters were doing set-pattern dances on the floor. Upon hearing I was an organist, the person in charge asked me if I would play for the skaters - it was one of the last nights this type of program would be held at the rink, and they'd like very much to have a "live organist" play for them. I climbed on the bench of the Hammond Organ, and ended up playing the rest of the evening for them. I think they enjoyed it, and it was a lot of fun for me, too.
My grandparents met there, and I spent much of my youth there, as I lived a block away. I wouldn't be alive if it were not for Sholes. I really miss the place and still live within a mile. Too bad...Sholes and Rocky Point amusement park, both torn down within a few years of each other.
My Great Grandfather was Frank Rowe and I am attending a family reunion this Sunday June 25th, 2017 and will ask family for more pictures. My parents moved us to Georgia back in 1996 so coming back to R.I. With my son who is 16yrs old and his sister who is 14 yes old and driving by the old location was sad not seeing it there but I told them what I knew about it and Google help bring this and another blog up about it to give them more information makes me happy. Thank you
It's a hotel now Hampton inn I was staying there a couple months ago and I saw the plaque on the wall in the front lobby. I was shocked use to go to sholes when I was a kid in the 80s. I knew it had closed, but I did not know that it would be torn down, sad very sad. Eileen Cranston , RI
I was born in 1973, Male. todays date is 01-16-2018 ..I can remember,I was only Eleven Years Old little boy..The year was maybe 1984. I use to skate with a girl I meet./or I asked her to skate with me,during a couples song.. She Must have been around 13 Years old.. She use to take me in the back wooden booths, and give me some great tongue Action .. That was probably the first times, in my life- OF ever having a make-out session/sessions. I remember It felt like she was taking advantage of me.. ,I liked it, but also I was shitting myself. I was wondering, what the hell is going on. Not knowing what the heck I was doing.. I also remember seeing a man have a HEART Attack, Then the WARWICK FIRE DEPARTMENT gave this man CPR in the middle of rink. The Warwick Ambulance / Fire Department took this man away. I heard a week later that man died in hospital..That female's name was Melissa that use to take me in the back wooden booths..I even think I use to skate to a song by the kinks, called Lola.. Plus this roller skating rink , use to have a coke machine with Glass Bottles. the year was 1984..
I met my future husband here 27 years ago. Alot of great memories!
ReplyDeleteWas in town day they took it down.
ReplyDeletestarted crying!
And now it's part of the airport. Mom used to go skating there as a teen (she'd be 90). Our CYO group used to have skating parties there, too.
ReplyDeleteI, too, skated there. I lived across the street and was there many a Sunday afternoon and some evenings. Moved to California, so never saw the last days before it was torn down to make way for a hotel. Recently celebrated a 75th birthday with a family roller skating party at a rink here in Southern California. No organ music, no dancing, but with the many trips around the floor, watching adult children and grandchildren enjoy an activity some had never experienced. What a way to celebrate 75!
ReplyDeleteLived right across the street from Sholes. Spent many a Sunday afternoon and evenings there. Just spent 75th birthday at a roller rink here in Southern California. Great to watch my adult children and grandchildren in an activity some had never experienced. Of course, I, too, was out on the floor.
ReplyDeleteAs a member of the Sholes family, I am so touched to hear of all of the wonderful memories made at the rink. It was always an enormous part of our family, and I'm so pleased that it was also such a large part of everyone else's family. I came upon this page out of nostalgia, as many of the previous commenters probably did as well. I began searching for articles, blogs, and commentary about the rink because I'm so pleased to announce that this afternoon, we celebrated Leonard Sholes' 100th birthday! The picture on the cake was a photo of Lenny, standing alongside the skate-rental, with the caption "Roller-King." I hope that everyone's memories of the rink serve them as fondly and as long as they have for Leonard.
ReplyDeleteYour families rink helped get me into art thanks to all the cartoons on the walls. Thank you so much.
DeleteI can vividly remember skating here with my aunt and cousin years ago. I was still young but I've always had an appreciation for older buildings and things, I guess I'm an old soul. Loved seeing some of the old pics. Wish it was still there.
ReplyDeleteAnother great place to hang out at on the weekends. Does anyone remember "ladies choice" or skating in the opposite direction?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFor many years I was an organist in various roller rinks thruout New England. One evening in February, 1999, I drove past Sholes and noticed the lights were on, and there were apparently people skating. I walked in and found it was "dance night" and a small group of artistic skaters were doing set-pattern dances on the floor. Upon hearing I was an organist, the person in charge asked me if I would play for the skaters - it was one of the last nights this type of program would be held at the rink, and they'd like very much to have a "live organist" play for them. I climbed on the bench of the Hammond Organ, and ended up playing the rest of the evening for them. I think they enjoyed it, and it was a lot of fun for me, too.
ReplyDeleteTim Holloran
Cumberland
My grandparents met there, and I spent much of my youth there, as I lived a block away. I wouldn't be alive if it were not for Sholes. I really miss the place and still live within a mile. Too bad...Sholes and Rocky Point amusement park, both torn down within a few years of each other.
ReplyDeleteMy Great Grandfather was Frank Rowe and I am attending a family reunion this Sunday June 25th, 2017 and will ask family for more pictures. My parents moved us to Georgia back in 1996 so coming back to R.I. With my son who is 16yrs old and his sister who is 14 yes old and driving by the old location was sad not seeing it there but I told them what I knew about it and Google help bring this and another blog up about it to give them more information makes me happy. Thank you
ReplyDeleteIt's a hotel now Hampton inn I was staying there a couple months ago and I saw the plaque on the wall in the front lobby. I was shocked use to go to sholes when I was a kid in the 80s. I knew it had closed, but I did not know that it would be torn down, sad very sad.
ReplyDeleteEileen
Cranston , RI
I was born in 1973, Male. todays date is 01-16-2018 ..I can remember,I was only Eleven Years Old little boy..The year was maybe 1984. I use to skate with a girl I meet./or I asked her to skate with me,during a couples song.. She Must have been around 13 Years old.. She use to take me in the back wooden booths, and give me some great tongue Action .. That was probably the first times, in my life- OF ever having a make-out session/sessions. I remember It felt like she was taking advantage of me.. ,I liked it, but also I was shitting myself. I was wondering, what the hell is going on. Not knowing what the heck I was doing.. I also remember seeing a man have a HEART Attack, Then the WARWICK FIRE DEPARTMENT gave this man CPR in the middle of rink. The Warwick Ambulance / Fire Department took this man away. I heard a week later that man died in hospital..That female's name was Melissa that use to take me in the back wooden booths..I even think I use to skate to a song by the kinks, called Lola.. Plus this roller skating rink , use to have a coke machine with Glass Bottles. the year was 1984..
ReplyDelete