Sinking Spring Skatarena, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania

• Operator: Wm. M. Koziar & C. Russell Kline[1] (1965 USARSA Nationals Ad)
• Manager: George "Doc" Yoder[2]
• Pro/Coach: Charlotte Yoder[3] (1956 USARSA Nationals Ad), Margie Schaler[1] (1965 USARSA Nationals Ad)
• Organist: Carl Henke[4], William Clark (1952-1960)
• Floor size: [?]
• Floor type: Wood.
• Primary reason for closing: "the expense of the collapsing roof repair was way too much"[5]
• Opened for skating: 1938?
Exact closing date not yet known, but the last ad found was from Dec 1989.
Rink was torn down in 1994. See photo link below, courtesy Sandie Feger Unger.

"A bit of History...
Built in 1929 as a Socialist Dance Hall. Then it became a Skating Rink. My Mom met my Dad there in the early 40's skating. I met my husband there in 1958 when we were in 7th grade. We were always there. We are now married 57 years. Our oldest daughter met her husband there when they were in high school. We skated and competed as a family thru the 70's. We tried to save the rink along with Doc Yoder, but the expense of the collapsing roof repair was way too much, and we watched as the Amish took it apart piece by piece. We saved a piece of the floor for our remembrance. There were 3 layers of wooden floors built on top of each other and it was built on trolley rails.
Today it is a picnic grove for events."[5]
-Courtesy Sandie Feger Unger. Sandie, thank you for your memories.


1951 USARSA Nationals Ad




1956 USARSA Nationals Ad


Doc Yoder awarding 1st Place winners after the Men's 24hr marathon.
Left to right - Chester Krisio, Raymond Jenkins, and Merlin (Moonie) Unger.
Courtesy, Sandie Feger Unger.





From the FRRP FB Group:
[Bill Leighton to Sandie Feger Unger] "please post pictures, my wife, Ruth Tinker Mueller skated competitively their and would enjoy seeing the pictures.
Sandie Feger Unger, I figured you were married to Tinker. Yes, she knows us. We all skated for many years together. I sent her a photo of us girls in 1962 standing in the middle of the rink all in same skating outfits. The windows in the background at the track were all open.
Courtesy, Sandie Feger Unger.


1965 USARSA Nationals Ad


Last ad found the Skatarena.


Now known as Willow Glen Park.
Where the rink was is a picnic grove for events.


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Sources

(1)1965 USARSA Nationals Ad
(2)1952 Roller Skating Directory
(3)1956 USARSA Nationals Ad
(4)Reading Times Sept 30, 1938
(5)Courtesy Sandie Feger Unger. Sandie, thank you for your memories.

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