The 1880s Roller Skating Craze

A roller skating craze swept the country in the 1880s. Opinions were divided on whether roller skating rinks provided the public with “healthful amusement” or were “pits of perdition” as some preachers claimed.¹ Regardless, roller skating was so popular that rinks were built in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Mt. Holly and Shippensburg.

The first roller rink in Carlisle was opened in the Sentinel Opera House in November 1883. An experienced manager was on hand to teach those who wanted to “learn the art of roller skating,”² and 150 pairs of skates were ready for the opening on the evening of November 27.³

A purpose-built-rink was erected in Carlisle in 1884. It was located in a one-story wooden building on South Street between Hanover and Pitt. In expectation of an opening on Thanksgiving Day, the interior of the rink was described in detail in the November 24, 1884 edition of the Carlisle Sentinel.

“The floor is finished, with the exception of the final sandpapering, and the steam pipes will be put in to-day. Seats for visitors will be erected on both sides under which the steam pipes will run, so that those looking on will be comfortable. A stand has been erected in the center of the building above the floor for the use of the band or orchestra. Rooms have been partitioned off for the offices, skate rooms, and for the accommodation of skaters.”

Three skating sessions were held daily. Admission to the morning session was ten cents and the skates were free. The afternoon session cost ten cents and the skates ten cents also. Admission to the evening session, from seven to ten o’clock, cost 15 cents, and the skates were ten cents. Objectional persons were not admitted.

Carlisle also had a “colored” skating rink located on West North Street. In March 1885 they held a fancy dress carnival one evening,⁴ and in September 1885 the Magic Lantern Company was tapped to entertain. The newspaper urged “every person” to go.⁵

The Grand Central skating rink in Mechanicsburg was formally opened on January 15, 1885. The Sentinel newspaper reported that “the evening trains brought large numbers of skaters from Harrisburg and Carlisle,” and those from Carlisle brought the Carlisle Band with them. “The visitors were met at the depot by the Singer Coronet Band and escorted to the rink where soon hundreds were gliding gracefully on the now popular roller skate.” A grand parade was begun at 9 o’clock when Miss Martha Kauffman of York led one hundred and fifty skaters “through many intricate evolutions.” About 600 persons attended the opening which was deemed a great success.⁶

Four days later the rink was destroyed by fire. It was believed to have been arson.⁷ A new skating rink was built and opened in February. The verdict of the roller skaters was that the new floor “was one of the best in the state.”

Jumping on the band wagon, in March 1885 John Stonesifer announced that he had rented the Odd Fellows Hall in Mt. Holly and was opening a roller skating rink.⁸ Unfortunately, due to a lack of patronage it was only open for one week.⁹

Shippensburg also opened a skating rink in March 1885. The Sentinel newspaper ran an article about the rink titled “Shippensburg Wild.”

Shippensburg’s skating rink was opened last evening to the anxious populace. The burg was a little late catching on to the popular craze, but they have it now and the fever has struck them bad. The building is a very fine one, with a splendid floor. The Shippensburg Band furnished the music and the rink was crowded to its utmost capacity. A great many strangers were present from both ends of the valley.¹⁰

Because not everyone who went to a roller rink skated, the managers booked attractions to entertain the spectators. Miss Minnie Douglas, aged seven, the “Champion Child Skater of the United States and Wearer of the Diamond Medal for Fancy Skating,” appeared at the Carlisle Skating Rink for two nights in January 1885. In addition to the dances she performed on roller skates, she did impersonations, handkerchief tricks and rope jumping.¹¹

As with most crazes, they have their time and place. Duke’s roller skating parlors were still operating in Shippensburg in 1896, but the newspaper remarked that “Shippensburg is one of the few towns that still keeps the skating rink craze in force.”¹²

Note: Sanborn & Co. Fire Insurance Maps of Carlisle show every building in the borough. The buildings are color coded as to the type of materials they were made of, etc. The number of stories in each structure as well as further information is included. The Carlisle Roller Skating Rink appears on the 1885 Sanborn Map of Carlisle. The Cumberland County Historical Society has a large collection of Sanborn Maps.