Two gentlemen, Mr. Neff and Mr. Loomis, finally secured the land they needed to build their newest venture. The location was on Washington Street (today’s Lincoln Highway) across from the Milne and Loomis Lumber Yard. Construction began on a 50-foot by 84-foot skating rink at Lincoln Highway and Second Avenue. Roller skating was coming to Rochelle. Roller skating had become popular in the 1880s with two advancements in the construction of the skates. Rubber wheels were developed in 1859 and 1863 the four-wheel skate added ease and stability to ability to turn. Roller skating became so popular that many skaters had invested in their own skates. Sadly, the skating rink suffered a disaster only five months after opening. On a bitterly-cold December night the rink caught fire. Mr. Neff rushed to the scene but was only able to save 50 pairs of roller skates, the building was lost.  

The next mention of a roller-skating rink was in 1916 when C.L. Hyde constructed a new rink at Washington Street and First Avenue. Hyde’s Skating Rink lasted only a few years but the desire to skate stayed constant. When Hyde’s closed, skating rinks jumped from one building to another. The Coliseum (Hub City Furniture) opened an area on the second floor for roller skating. By 1922 skating had moved to the Old Foundry Building on East Cherry Avenue. The foundry had been home to Malleable Iron Works in 1876 and later a poultry picking plant. With large open spaces the foundry was used for high school basketball games and roller skating. Again, a major fire put a quick stop to skating in Rochelle. In 1922 the foundry burned to the ground and was never rebuilt. 

Roller skating saw a resurgence in 1930s and Rochelle businessmen responded with the Palace Roller Rink on First Avenue in 1935. The Palace offered skating for 10 cents an hour or 25 cents for the night. Joseph Askvig owned the Silver Gardens Skating Rink at 1072 Lincoln Avenue. At the end of 1940 Walter Stacey stepped in as manager of the Silver Gardens rink. The Silver Garden catered to overflow crowds. 

Another skating rink opened at 617 Lincoln Ave. above Peter’s Garage in 1947. The 55-foot by 60-foot space featured a record player and a soft drink stand. Jim Peters, Glen Taylor, and Robert Ewbanks were the managers of the Peter’s rink. One cannot imagine the shenanigans those fellows initiated. 

It was 1950 when William Kassul decided to install a roller-skating rink and dance hall above the Kroger store on North Sixth Street. This location, 302 N. Sixth St., would be the home of Rochelle skating for the next 30 years. When Kassul opened his rink it was titled Rochelle’s Skating Rink. He noted in his opening advertisement that he was receptive to suggestions for a new name. Over time the skating rink changed hands frequently. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Canella took possession of the rink in 1952 and renamed the facility Rollercade Skating Rink. The Canellas’ spiced the place up with the addition of an organ. The Canellas’ managed the rink from 1952 until 1959 when Glenn and Millie Shippert bought the rink and kept the name Rollercade Skating Rink. After five years the rink was again sold, this time to Jim Wolfe. Mr. Wolfe remodeled the skating rink and slightly modified the name, Jim Wolf Rollercade offered a family-friendly skating experience. 

Roller skating saw another jump in popularity in the 1970s. A crazy new music fad arrived and seemed uniquely fitted to roller skating. If you are over 50 you probably remember the disco ball flashing overhead as you attempted to balance on one foot to impress your friends. 

Don and Fran Salen bought the roller rink in 1971 and the name was changed to Rochelle Roller Rink. Don and Fran had been professional skaters and brought great enthusiasm to the business. The Salens offered a variety of activities including various skating lessons. Many will remember the Muscular Dystrophy Marathon Skate-A-Thon and how cool they felt when they skated to the end. Rochelle Roller Rink officially became Triple R Roller Rink in 1972 and carried that name until the final closing of the doors. The final owner was Fred Bressette who owned the building until 1994. 

The building had been constructed in 1920 as the James Sherlock Garage. After 74 years the building was showing a lack of maintenance. The roof was collapsing and the floors were sagging by as much as a foot. The building was beyond salvage and in 1994 it was torn down. There has not been a skating rink in Rochelle since but for many the memories of flying around the rink still brings a smile to their faces. 

Tom McDermott is a Flagg Township Museum historian and Rochelle city councilman.