Roller-Skating In Tombstone

By George Self

Introduction

Roller skating swept the country in the early 1880s, and Tombstone was no exception. While the Turnverein Hall hosted occasional skating parties, the town also had a dedicated roller-skating rink that served as one of its most popular social venues. The town formally recognized the business under its 1880 Business Licensing Ordinance, which set the monthly license fee for roller skating at $2.50.

The rink operated under the name Bauer & Baron, and the Epitaph advertised it regularly throughout the 1880s. In January 1886, the paper reported a costumed carnival at the rink that drew some notable guests, including Cochise County Sheriff Bob Hatch, who arrived dressed as Geronimo. By December 1891, the rink had changed hands and was being run by new managers named Blewitt and Templeton.

The rink's most prominent regular patrons were the Tombstone Social Club, a by-invitation organization of businessmen and professionals who held their weekly meetings and seasonal masquerade balls there, and who also opened the floor to schoolchildren on Saturday afternoons. The first mention of a skating rink in the Epitaph was in the late fall of 1882, and it was last mentioned in October 1895. While there were many one-line advertisements in the Epitaph over the years, here are a few more detailed accounts.

Newspaper Accounts

The skating rink will be open this afternoon from 2 to 4 o'clock for the accommodation of schoolchildren. Skating is a most healthful pastime, and an opportunity, such as will be presented today, should not be unheeded by parents who have the welfare of their children at heart.

Tombstone Epitaph, December 16, 1882, Page 3 (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95060906/1882-12-16/ed-1/seq-3/)

There was a long gap in the record, and the skating rink was not mentioned again until 1891. Perhaps it closed for several years, or something else happened, but here are two excerpts from the 1890s.

Something New.

The new managers of the skating rink, Messrs. Blewitt and Templeton, have lots of fun in store for next Saturday night at the rink. There will be a free for all one mile race for the prize of a fine fat turkey. At 9:30 a greased pig will be turned loose, which will be won by the one who catches it and succeeds in skating three times around the rink with it. In addition to these, other sports will be introduced. It is needless to add that seats in the gallery will be preferred by lady spectators. Admission to the floor will be 50c. Spectator's tickets 25c. Doors open at 7:30

Tombstone Epitaph, December 19, 1891, Page 8 (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95060905/1891-12-19/ed-1/seq-8/)

The Domino Ball. The Domino ball at the Skating rink last night, given by the Tombstone Social Club, was a grand success. The many maskers in their picturesque costumes gliding merrily about presented an enchanting scene. The rink was well crowded, and to the tuneful strains of the Tombstone string band the light fantastic was tripped until a late hour, everyone present enjoying themselves hugely. The floor was placed in excellent condition and the decorations added to the brilliancy of the occasion.

The Tombstone Social Club comprises 30 members, and as its name implies is an organization for mutual social pleasure. Weekly meetings are held and the evenings spent in skating or dancing, while every Saturday afternoon the rink is thrown open to the school children to skate at pleasure.

The Domino ball is the opening event of the dancing season and Tombstone will doubtless have other similar occasions during the winter.

Tombstone Epitaph, October 6, 1895, Page 4 (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn95060905/1895-10-06/ed-1/seq-4/)

Sources

  • "Skating Rink," Tombstone Epitaph, December 9, 1882, p. 1.
  • "Skating Rink," Tombstone Epitaph, December 16, 1882, p. 3.
  • "Something New," Tombstone Epitaph, December 19, 1891, p. 8.
  • "The Domino Ball," Tombstone Epitaph, October 6, 1895, p. 4.
  • Underhill, Lonnie E. "'If You Go, You Must Dress Up': Tombstone's Social Life," Journal of Arizona History, vol. 57, no. 3 (2016). Source for business licensing ordinance and Tombstone Social Club description.
  • "Hell on Wheels: When Roller-Skating Took Western Towns by Storm," HistoryNet. Source for Bauer & Baron rink name, January 1886 costumed carnival, and Sheriff Bob Hatch's Geronimo costume.

Location

I’ve been unable to find the skating rink on any map and the Epitaph articles do not give a clue to its location. If I find out where it was located, I’ll update this page.