December 2010 |
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Most New Yorkers don’t realize there are other ice skating rinks besides the iconic one at Rockefeller Center. Our love for ice skating pre-dates the specially designed rinks built in the 20th century. Ponds and lakes throughout the city’s park system were used instead. Today there are many ice skating venues throughout the boroughs. In Manhattan alone there are Rockefeller Center, Wollman and Lasker rinks (in Central Park) and our most recent rink in Byant Park. What could be better during this holiday season than "chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack frost nipping at your nose" as you twirl around the rink, or like the Briggs Team, whip and try to spin off the last skater. Enjoy a look back on some historic ice skating sites and "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" to all our family and friends |
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Before Central Park was completed in the 1870s, this section, at
72nd street, was
opened to ice skaters and quickly became a top attraction.
Meanwhile, other bodies of water were used for ice skating
throughout the park system. Note the Dakota Apartments
looming in isolated splendor, hence its name since it was so far
north of city center.
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The first facility devoted to ice skating was the New York City
Building in Queens' Flushing Meadows Corona Park, originally
constructed for the 1939-40 World's Fair. The rink was used for ice
shows during the Fair, and afterward was converted to an ice and
roller skating rink that operated from 1941 to 1946. |
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In 1923, the year this photo was taken, what we know as today's
Roseland was an ice skating rink called Iceland. Iceland went
bankrupt in 1932 and the rink re-opened as the Gay Blades Ice Rink. It
was later converted into a roller skating rink. In 1956, Roseland
Dance City, originally located at 51st and Broadway, moved to the
Iceland location at 239 West 52nd Street, where it's been ever since.
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In Brooklyn, skating sites existed at McCarren Park, Prospect Park, Sunset Park, and Commodore Barry Park. In the photo above skaters enjoy the ice on Lullwater Pond in Central Park. In fact, ice skating was so popular in the 19th century that a tradition of "raising the red ball" on Brooklyn streetcars was created to indicate favorable skating conditions at Prospect Park. The Victorians would skate to the latest waltzes and polkas in very formal outer winter wear. |
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Briggs Inc. - 1501 Broadway - New York, NY 10036 - 212-354-9440 Copyright Briggs Inc. © 2010 |