Thatcher Company Orchestra (1904) Logan Roller Skating Rink (1951)

This historic structure was constructed in 1904 by the Thatcher Company Orchestra as an open-air pavilion, dance hall, and social gathering place. The building was home used as an armory and was later converted into a roller rink beginning in 1951. It was also used at times by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for Sunday meetings and social gatherings. The building was sold in 2006.

On the northern part of Center Street at the corner of 100 East and Center Street in downtown Logan, Utah in Cache Valley stands an old wood-constructed building painted white. The only clue to the building’s identity are signs that have been embedded in the wood where the old neon signs once hung, proclaiming “Logan Skating Rink” and “Skating.” Reporters and other curious investigators have attempted to reconstruct the role of the building and its cultural significance to the people of Logan. Since the building has remained empty for an extended period, the Rink has diverged from being a once popular social and family gathering place and center of enjoyment for the locals and has become a ghost of its former self.

The building dates to 1904, but little has been connected to the lives of the people from the past before the building became a Roller Rink. Up until 1914, the building was a formal meeting place and dance hall and band stand also known as “The Thatcher Amusement hall” or “The Bowery.”5 The plot of land the building was built on changed hands several times over the years before the building went up in 1904 after the land sold to a group known as the Thatcher Company Orchestra, the present-day owners of the Thatcher Opera House in downtown Logan. In 1904, The Thatcher Company Orchestra built the open-air pavilion at a price of $10,000. That is estimated at $260,000 in today’s money. 6

The building was open-air to accommodate a band and dancers and help keep them cool as there was no air conditioning during the early part of the 20th century. The pavilion was a success as the attendance numbers were high during the early years of its use. The building was also used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a meeting and social gathering place on Sundays. However, despite the enthusiasm, “The Bowery,” as it was known, began to struggle by 1914. According to an article in 2015 in the Herald-Journal, the building was sold to the National Guard in 1915 who added walls to the building so it could be used as an armory. It was abandoned in 1927 by the National Guard and sat vacant until 1951, when Keith Spencer purchased the building and then leased it to Kay Randall, who turned it into the Logan Roller Rink.

The floor was developed from maple wood, and the doors and side wall wood panels would be manually opened for the breeze to cool the interior during sweltering summer season for the skaters and dancers. The floor is surrounded by a balcony around the north end of the rink and was added in the 1920s.8

During the lease period, the “Logan Rhapsody Rollers” performed shows on roller skates, musical groups got to perform in the building, and it also highlighted ballroom dancing and figure skating with spectators watching from the balconies and different sides of the building.9

The rink was functional from 1952 until the beginning of 1995. The owner, Mr. Spencer, sold the building in 2006 due to the steady decline of attendance by the local people for skating. The downfall of the building as a Roller Rink was due to the construction of malls, movie theaters and other venues such as arcades around Cache Valley, which offered activities other than skating for young people to do.10 As a result, the rink sat empty from 1995 until about 2004 where it was opened for one more year as a Roller Rink in 2005. The building was sold again in November of 2009 to Hillary Lin.12

Currently, the building is owned by Living Stone Downtown Property, LLC and the LIN Family Property, LLC. The building went through reconstruction mainly on the interior and was converted into a meeting hall and social venue and the wood floor was replaced with concrete. The building hosts private events for family and friends under its new management and is used by the Chinese Baptist Church at times. Presently, the building exterior and interior surfaces communicate different intentions which can be seen in the pictures below. The interior has been redone in brilliant white paint and beautiful panels while the outside still looks much as it has for the last 100 years. The sides of the building have an exquisite wood-clad gable with panels that open allowing for the circulation of air. It has white color on the panels and windows. The panels will also open to allow the breeze to enter. Currently, the building is painted all white and is listed as a landmark as part of the historic district of downtown Logan, Utah listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Details of the design for its interior and exterior aesthetics are discussed below.

During its peak time in the 1970s, the front façade had a big neon sign reading “Skating.” Over time, the lights fell and the sign broke due to negligence and lack of constant renovation of the building. However, the historical design keeps its unique structure and remains a historical site for the locals and tourists visiting the area. The Roller Rink was an important structure in the community throughout its life. For example, the junior high that is located next to the Rink did not have a good gym, so the rink management allowed the students to have a week of skating classes at the Rink during school time throughout the 1950s, 60’s and 70’s. In the 1960s, during its twilight years, Valerie Steadman attended the rink and described her experience as special.

She had fun while dancing and singing on roller skates. She encouraged the younger generation to embrace skating and pull stunts and tricks on their skates. Cindy Maugham, who at the time was an older teenager and is now a local amateur historian, described the importance of the roller rink. She emphasized that it is not only a recreation site but also a place where the locals would meet and socialize. At its prime, parents used to take their teenage children to the Rink for them to socialize, meet new friends and then pick them up later at night. Early on in its life, the Rink had few competing businesses to cater to the teenagers.

The roller-skating business declined during the mid-1990s and the rink eventually closed in 1995. The building is currently used by family and friends of the owner for private events. Also, the Chinese Baptist Church uses the place for occasional meetings.

Timeline

Pre-1904: Land was vacant.

1904: Eric Lehi Olsen builds and sells to Thatcher Company Orchestra. June 1,

1904: Opens for concerts and dances and is used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a meeting and cultural center.

1920s: Business declines and sold to Utah National Guard; turned into an Armory.

1927: National Guard abandons the building. Sits empty until 1952.

1952: R. Keith Spencer buys. Spencer leases the building to Kay Randall, who opens Logan Roller Rink. Kay Randall operated the rink from the 1950s-1980s. Kay Randall sold it to Jerry Harris in 1990 who eventually closed it in 2005.

1952 to 1972: a group known as the Logan Roller Rhapsodies performed skate shows.

2005: the owner, R. Keith Spencer, sold it in 2005 to a doctor but the building began to fall apart due to non-use. Owner sold the building in 2009.

2009: A new owner bought the building, put back on market in August 2009. Then, in November 2009, Hillary Lin purchased the former rink.

2010: Living Stone Property LLC. owned the property.

Present: Currently, the building is owned by Living Stone Downtown Property, LLC. and the LIN Family Property, LLC. The building was converted into a meeting hall and venue and the wood floor was replaced with concrete. The building hosts private events for family and friends under its new management and is used by the Chinese Baptist Church at times.

[1] Falso, Mark. “Logan Roller Rink - Logan, UT.” DEAD RINKS, 2019. https://dead-rinks.weebly.com/logan-roller-rink---logan-ut.html.

[2] Falso, Mark. “Logan Roller Rink - Logan, UT.” DEAD RINKS, 2019. https://dead-rinks.weebly.com/logan-roller-rink---logan-ut.html.

[3] Falso, Mark. “Logan Roller Rink - Logan, UT.” DEAD RINKS, 2019. https://dead-rinks.weebly.com/logan-roller-rink---logan-ut.html.

[4][1] Giles, David. “The Old Logan Roller Rink.” Bear River Heritage Area, April 13, 2017. http://bearriverheritage.com/old-logan-roller-rink/.

[5] Giles, David. “The Old Logan Roller Rink.” Bear River Heritage Area, April 13, 2017. http://bearriverheritage.com/old-logan-roller-rink/.

[6] Giles, David. “The Old Logan Roller Rink.” Bear River Heritage Area, April 13, 2017. http://bearriverheritage.com/old-logan-roller-rink/.

[7] Opsahl, Kevin. “Friends, Family Remember Kay Randall, Former Owner of Logan Roller Rink.” The Herald Journal, February 25, 2014. https://www.hjnews.com/allaccess/friends-family-remember-kay-randall-former-owner-of-logan-roller-rink/article_f8c2f43a-9dc4-11e3-aac6-001a4bcf887a.html.

[8] Falso, Mark. “Logan Roller Rink - Logan, UT.” DEAD RINKS, 2019. https://dead-rinks.weebly.com/logan-roller-rink---logan-ut.html.

[9] “Roller Rink Revisited.” The Herald Journal, September 18, 2009. https://www.hjnews.com/opinion/friday_finishers/roller-rink-revisited/article_774999b0-47a3-5463-bbb8-3aa468466d37.html.

[10] Falso, Mark. “Logan Roller Rink - Logan, UT.” DEAD RINKS, 2019. https://dead-rinks.weebly.com/logan-roller-rink---logan-ut.html.

[11] “Roller Rink Revisited.” The Herald Journal, September 18, 2009. https://www.hjnews.com/opinion/friday_finishers/roller-rink-revisited/article_774999b0-47a3-5463-bbb8-3aa468466d37.html.

[12] Burgess, Kim. “Memories for Sale.” The Herald Journal, September 5, 2009. https://www.hjnews.com/news/memories-for-sale/article_98fa9d68-c4b6-5ede-b1e1-e626105cfc12.html.

[13] Giles, David. “The Old Logan Roller Rink.” Bear River Heritage Area, April 13, 2017. http://bearriverheritage.com/old-logan-roller-rink/.

[14] Giles, David. “The Old Logan Roller Rink.” Bear River Heritage Area, April 13, 2017. http://bearriverheritage.com/old-logan-roller-rink/.

[15] Giles, David. “The Old Logan Roller Rink.” Bear River Heritage Area, April 13, 2017. http://bearriverheritage.com/old-logan-roller-rink/.

[16] Falso, Mark. “Logan Roller Rink - Logan, UT.” DEAD RINKS, 2019. https://dead-rinks.weebly.com/logan-roller-rink---logan-ut.html.

[17] Cannon, Kelly. “Old Roller Rink in Logan under Renovation for Private Events.” The Herald Journal, July 5, 2014. https://www.hjnews.com/allaccess/old-roller-rink-in-logan-under-renovation-for-private-events/article_6a10f332-03f3-11e4-96b4-0019bb2963f4.html.

[18] Falso, Mark. “Logan Roller Rink - Logan, UT.” DEAD RINKS, 2019. https://dead-rinks.weebly.com/logan-roller-rink---logan-ut.html.

[19] Logan Rolling Rhapsodies. Photograph. Logan, n.d.. Bear River Heritage. Date of photo and photographer unknown

[20] Maughan, Kylee Ann. “Old Roller Rink Venue Logan Utah: Cache Valley Photographer: Logan Temple.” Kylee Ann Studios | Logan Utah Wedding Photographer |, May 25, 2017. https://kyleeannphotography.com/cache-valley-wedding-photographer-old-roller-rink-venue-logan-temple/.

[21] Maughan, Kylee Ann. “Old Roller Rink Venue Logan Utah: Cache Valley Photographer: Logan Temple.” Kylee Ann Studios | Logan Utah Wedding Photographer |, May 25, 2017. https://kyleeannphotography.com/cache-valley-wedding-photographer-old-roller-rink-venue-logan-temple/.

[22] Giles, David. “The Old Logan Roller Rink.” Bear River Heritage Area, April 13, 2017. http://bearriverheritage.com/old-logan-roller-rink/.

[23] Front of Roller Rink, Photo Taken by Author. April 3, 2021. Photograph.

[24] Roller Rink, Photo Taken by Author. April 3, 2021. Photograph.

[25] Roller Rink, Photo Taken by Author. April 3, 2021. Photograph.