And the wheels keep on spinning - A Sesquicentennial feature story

At 96 and 92 years of age Warren and his wife Ruth Christensen have fond memories of their 14 years operating Spinning Wheels skating rink in Ogden.

“Gordon, Beverly and Warren always talked about the fun they had at the rink on the edge of Ledges State Park,” said Ruth. “Then one day Gordon and Beverly approached us about being co-owners of a rink to give the young people in surrounding communities a clean place to spend their time. They were always saying there was no place to go and nothing for them to do.” (Times never change.)

In 1960 the two couples purchased three acres of ground at the corner of Fourth and Division Street and built a 70’ x 150’ building. Although Eugene Buckley was the contractor, Ruth recalls a lot of volunteers helping with the project. But she admits they hired a professional floor layer experienced in laying skating rinks, who installed the 11,000 square feet of maple flooring. The boards measured 2 1/4” wide by 1 1/8” thick, and never once in the 14 years of use, need refinishing.

Opening night: Christensen’s determined a date the work would be done then published the grand opening date in the paper.

“Well it wasn’t quite all finished.” Ruth explained that the company was still working on the sound system when they opened that Saturday night. “The rented skates were still in the boxes so everyone who rented a pair was asked to lace them up with Warren and Gordon coming along and adjusting them. The sound system went down. I remember Roger Christensen getting a record player to use until the system was working properly.”

Folding chairs surrounded the rink for non skaters to watch. Skate rental was 25¢ and admission 45¢. When they handed the keys over to Charles and Clara Clark 14 years later, rental was still the same but admission had been increased to $1.50. 

Read more in the Dec. 28, 2016 issue of The Ogden Reporter.