Casino Roller Skating Rink
The Casino Roller Skating Rink opened in 1885, and briefly was reinvented in 1886 as the Casino Opera House. In 1895 it became Bolton Hall.
Detail of map showing Casino riverside between (One Hundred) 6th and 7th streets from
Beers, F. W. “Portion of Rensselaer County and Cities of Lansingburgh & Troy.” Atlas of the Hudson River Valley from New York City to Troy. NY: Watson & Co., 1891.
—P. J. Marsh has sold his residence at State [Second Avenue] and Van Schaick [102nd] streets to George W. Oliver on private terms. It is announced that a mammoth skating-rink is to be erected there. Mr. Marsh, it is understood, will build him a residence nearer the centre of the village.
Lansingburgh Courier. May 31, 1884: 5 col 3.
—Work on the mammoth new skating rink is progressing rapidly, though hampered by the difficulty in obtaining suitable timbers for the foundation. A gang of 40 men are now at work, and the contractor expects to have it opened to the public by January 1st. Tickets will be sold, entitling the holder to a round trip from Troy on the horse cars and admission to the rink for 25 cents.
“Real Estate.” Lansingburgh Courier. November 29, 1884: 3 col 3.
—Mrs. William Allen, residing on Congress street while skating at the Casino rink Wednesday slipped and felt. Her left wrist was badly fractured. Dr. Capron attended.
“Personal.” Lansingburgh Courier. February 21, 1885: 3 col 2.
—The Casino rink continues to present attractive features each week, and its throng of delighted patrons wane not in expressions of appreciation of the manner in which this favorite resort is conducted. The grand carnival hop Wednesday evening was a pronounced success.
—The first absolutely public roller skating rink in this country was established in Cincinnati in 1867, and the amusement took a firm hold there. They had a newspaper devoted to the interests of roller skating, published in Cincinnati in 1877, called the Skate Roll.
“Amusements.” Lansingburgh Courier. May 9, 1885: 3 col 2.
—A bronze representation of the Bartholdi statue was much admired at the Casino rink Saturday night, and will be on exhibition until further notice. The statue is seven feet high, and well executed. A social hop will be given Wednesday evening. Skating sessions are held morning, afternoon and evening.
“Guides to Glee.” Troy Daily Times. October 19, 1885: 3 col 3.
—The Bartholdi statue is attracting crowds at the Casino rink. Manager Oliver is untiring in his efforts to please the public. The usual hop will be held to-morrow night, with skating until 10 o’clock.
“A Round of Gaiety.” Troy Daily Times. October 19, 1885: 3 col 3.
—The Troy amusement association, limited, has elected the following:
President, C. H. Davenport; vice president, C. A. Boutwell; secretary, C. W. Tillinghast, 2d; treasurer, L. C. Brown.
The association conducts the Casino rink at Lansingburgh, and was incorporated a year ago.
“City Notes.” Troy Daily Times. November 16, 1885: 3 col 1.
—Usual Wednesday evening hop at the Casino. Lots of fun. Music, dancing, skating.
“Home Matters; Village Notes.” Lansingburgh Courier. November 21, 1885: 3 col 2.
—At the Casino rink to-morrow night a game of base-ball on skates will be played by clerks from the Albany stores of W. M. Whitney & Co. and J. G. Myers. The game will be called at 9 o’clock.
Troy Daily Times. January 11, 1886: 3 col 3.
Trustee Demers moved that the resolution taxing the Casino rink $25 a month be rescinded, and that a special committee be appointed to ascertain what steps are proper in the premises. The motion was carried, and the president appointed Trustees Demers, Van Kleeck and Brooks.
Troy Daily Times. January 26, 1886: 3 col 6.
Trustee McCabe moved that any license that may have been given to the Casino rink be revoked. Carried, 5 yeas.
Trustee VanKleeck moved that the board require the proprietor of the Casino rink to pay a license of twenty-five (25) dollars per month from date. Carried, 5 yeas.
“Trustees Proceedings.” Lansingburgh Courier. January 30, 1886: 2 col 2.
There will be a grand union camp fire of the several Grand Army Posts of Troy, on April 9th, the anniversary of the surrender of Gen. Lee to Gen. Grant. It will no doubt be held in the Casino rink, Lansingburgh, and it is expected that Gen. Burdett, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the United States, and Gen. W. T. Sherman will be present. It is intended to have a banquet with covers for 2,000.
Lansingburgh Courier. February 20, 1886: 3 col 3.
Parties who recently wagered money on a race at the Casino skating rink and lost, yesterday procured a warrant for the arrest of the winner, charging grand larceny. The matter will come up for investigation in police court to-day.
Lansingburgh Courier. March 20, 1886: 3 col 2.
The craze for roller skating has at last entirely given out, and the Casino held its final session Thursday evening. It is to be reopened in the fall as a variety theatre.
Lansingburgh Courier. August 21, 1886: 3 col 4.
George W. Oliver, carpenter and builder, made an assignment this morning to Frank E. Howe. The assignment directs first, the payment of the expenses of the assignment; second, the payment of employés wages; third, the payment of borrowed money to Nina Oliver, and fourth, the payment of all other creditors pro rata. Mr. Oliver was the lessee of the Casino rink. The liabilities and assets are not known. Several liens on Mr. Oliver’s interest in contracts for erecting houses for Delia M. Hotchkin, the Smith estate and William F. Burden, the liens being in favor of creditors, were filed in the county clerk’s office to-day. Mr. Oliver’s failure is ascribed to his inability to give his business personal attention, he having been ill the last five weeks at his residence in Lansingburgh, and also to the trouble experienced in making collections. He was hard-pressed by creditors and, unable to meet their demands, he decided on the assignment. Mr. Oliver holds $,700 worth of stock in the Casino rink, and has, besides, $10,000 invested in the building in the way of alterations, improvements and skates and other personal property. He recently added a stage and scenery for theatrical purposes, but the venture was unsuccessful. The claim of Nina Oliver, his daughter, is said to be about $500 and is for borrowed money.
Troy Daily Times. January 11, 1887: 3 col 2.
—The Casino skating rink will be reopened to-night, with music by Doring’s band.
Troy Daily Times. February 27, 1887: 3 col 6.
THE undersigned for benefit of creditors of George W. Oliver will sell at public auction at the carpenter shop recently occupied by said Oliver on Mechanic street, Troy, on Thursday, February 24, 1887. at 10 o’clock, A.M., all the property in said shop belonging to said Oliver at the time of the assignment. The said property consists of pine, hemlock and hardwood lumber, ash ceiling, nails, screws, carpenters’ tools, machinery, belting, benches, etc.
I shall also sell on Friday, February 25, 1887, at 10 o’clock A.M., at the barn occupied by Mr. Oliver, rear of No. 57 Second avenue, Lansingburgh, all the property in said barn formerly belonging to him; and immediately thereafter at the Casino skating rink, all the personal property therein. The property at the barn consists of two horses, two lumber wagons, one phaeton, one sidecar buggy, one two-seated dsleigh, robes, harness, etc. The property at the rink consists of skates, chairs, scenery, pictures, curtains, etc., the rink being one of the best furnished and equipped skating rinks in the country.—Feb. 11, 1887.
2-12-td FRANK E. HOWE, Assignee.
The sale at the shop is adjourned to Friday, February 25, at 2:00. The other will take place at the rink, as advertised.
Troy Daily Times. February 27, 1887: 3 col 7.
GRAND
This (Thursday) evening, Feb. 24. Music by Doring. Disreputable persons not allowed.
1t* H. F. LOCKWOOD, Manager.
Troy Daily Times. February 27, 1887: 3 col 8.
The Casino rink opens Saturday, in honor of St. Patrick’s day. Skating will be enjoyed this afternoon, and the evening from 7:30 to 9:30 o’clock. Dancing will follow the roller skating.
Lansingburgh Courier. March 17, 1888: 3 col 2.
—At the Casino rink to-night, a special go-as-you-please race of one hour for a gold medal valued at $50 of one hour will be held in which members of the fire departments of Lansingburgh, Cohoes, Troy and vicinity will enter.
Lansingburgh Courier. October 13, 1888: 3 col 2.
—The Methodist meeting at the Casino rink to make arrangements for the new church in the fourth ward will be held Tuesday evening. The matter of starting a Sunday school in that vicinity at once will also be decided.
Lansingburgh Courier. May 11, 1889: 3 col 2.
—
Casino Rink, Lansingburgh,
NOW OPEN.
LANSINGBURGH,
NOW OPEN.
THE GRANDEST PLACE OF AMUSEMENT IN THE WORLD!
Producing the Greatest Novelty ever introduced in America, the
ROLLER TOBOGGAN SLIDE!
Cars making two circuits of the Rink at lightning speed, passing through Hoosac Tunnel, A DELIGHTFUL SENSATION!
Also a Mammoth Carousal of Life-like Flying Horses, operating by steam and accompanied by massive Orchestrian.
Also Roller Skating, Rifle Ranges and several other minor attractions.
FARE on all roads running from Troy, West Troy, Cohoes and Waterford to the Casino 5 cents each way.
Admission 10 CENTS, which includes two rides on the Toboggan or Carousal. Open from 2 to 6 P. M. and from 7 to 11 P. M. GEO. SKINNER, Manager.
Troy Daily Times. October 24, 1889: 3 col 9.
—Arrangements are being carried forward for the presentation of the stars and stripes to the five public schools, the academy and SSt. Augustine’s parochial school. The presentation exercises will occur in the latter part of February, on the 21st it is expected, and will be held in the Casino rink. Post Bolton, G. A. R., has started the ball rolling by appointing a committee of arrangements composed of the following gentlemen: Abram Longstaff, chairman, Eugene L. Demers, Edward Wait, John D. Durgen, John R. Engel and Crumby Bolton.
Lansingburgh Courier. January 18, 1890: 3 col 1.
—There was a large attendance at the Casino rink Tuesday evening on the occasion of the annual concert and ball of the Fake hook and ladder company. Doring’s band of twenty-five pieces gave a fine concert after which terpsichore held high carnival until the early morning hours. One hundred and twenty couples participated in the grand march. The company cleared nearly $150 from the entertainment.
Lansingburgh Courier. May 8, 1890: 3 col 2.
—John E. Wool Council, O. U. A. M., enjoyed a picnic at the Casino rink Saturday that was well attended and greatly enjoyed.
Lansingburgh Courier. September 25, 1890: 3 col 1.
—Miss Nellie L. Kirkpatrick, aged 12 years, of 365 Fourth avenue, was adjudged the prettiest school girl at the entertainment in the Casino rink Saturday afternoon, and Prof. Huffman presented her with a handsome card album.
Lansingburgh Courier. January 22, 1891: 3 col 2.
—The Casino rink will close Saturday for the season, and the toboggan slide will be removed to summer quarters. […]
—The striking collar girls are perfecting arrangements for a ball to be given at the Casino rink next Monday evening. The rink will be none too large to hold the large crowd that will undoubtedly turn out to give the girls a rousing benefit.
Lansingburgh Courier. January 29, 1891: 3 col 2.
—The Fake Hook and Ladder company drill corps will meet at the Casino rink every alternate Friday evening for practice. […]
—O. Boutwell & Son resumed ice cutting on the river near the Casino rink Wednesday morning. The ice is being stored in the basement of the rink.
Lansingburgh Courier. February 4, 1891: 3 cols 1-2.
—The sale of the Casino rink in this village by the O. Boutwell estate to Charles McCarthy, of Troy, is announced. The price paid was $9,000. Mr. McCarthy states that the building will be converted into a manufactory in which pins and other articles will be made, giving employment to a number of hands.
Lansingburgh Courier. January 7, 1892: 3 col 3.
—The sale of the Casino rink to Chas. McCarthy has not been consummated. It appears that the Troy Amusement society, the owners of the property, are unable to give a clear title, on account of their failure to file articles of incorporation with the county clerk as required by law.
Lansingburgh Courier. January 21, 1892: 3 col 1.
—The concert and reception to be given at the Casino Rink on the evening of April 26 under the auspices of the Fake Hook and Ladder company, will be a brilliant affair. The boys are making great preparations for the event. There will be a concert by Doring’s military band and an exhibition drill by the drill corps, after which dancing will be in order.
Lansingburgh Courier. April 14, 1892: 3 col 1.
The concert and reception of the J. S. Fake Hook and Ladder company at the Casino rink Tuesday evening was a most gratifying success. From 8 o’clock until 10 Doring’s band gave a delightful concert, every piece being heartily enchored. At 10 o’clock the floor was cleared and the drill corps appeared, headed by the drum corps. The appearance of this disciplined body of men was the signal for a round of applause that made the building shake. After marching around the room the drum corps dropped out of the line, and Captain Wike then put his men through a most severe drill. Every difficult movement was accomplished with a precision that hardly seemed credible, and the frequent bursts of applause showed that an appreciative audience was keenly watching the drill. Although this was the first public appearance of the drill corps this season but a very few trifling mistakes were made, and these will be easily remedied. Capt. Wike is rigorous in enforcing the rules of discipline, and under his guidance the drill corps of ’92 will make a better record than ever before.
Dancing was indulged in after the drill, and it was well along in the morning before the rink was deserted. The attendance was over 1,700.
Lansingburgh Courier. April 28, 1892: 3 col 3.
—The river is all clear in front of the village. The ice went out Sunday night just before midnight. The Troy Yacht club house was considerably damaged. The piers that supported the west end of the building were carried away, rendering the building unsafe. It will require nearly $1,000 to put the building in shape. The Casino rink also suffered somewhat. When the water receded it left the ice piled high on the banks of the river, but it was easily disposed of by dumping it back into the water. But little regret is expressed over the disappearance of the ice.
Lansingburgh Courier. March 16, 1893: 3 col 2.
—The Fake hooks drill corps held a drill at the Casino rink Monday evening.
Lansingburgh Courier. April 6, 1893: 3 col 2.
—The fifth annual concert and reception of the J. S. Fake Hook and Ladder company at Casino rink Tuesday evening was a most emphatic success. The attendance was nearly 2,000, and to say that everybody was well pleased would be stating but the truth. The Fakes never do things by halves, and they certainly kept up their record Tuesday evening. The members of the organization looked well to the comfort of their guests. After an excellent concert by Doring’s military band an exhibition drill was given by the drill corps that was so near perfection that the mistakes if any were invisible to the eye. Every difficult evolution was heartily applauded. Dancing commenced at the close of the drill, and it was kept up until the early hours of the following morning. It was a success of the most pronounced character.
Lansingburgh Courier. May 4, 1893: 3 col 2.
There had also been a Casino Rink in Saratoga, and in Hoosick Falls; the latter had, like Lansingburgh’s, become the Casino Opera House. There does not appear to have been any ties between them beyond the name.