News

Kramer's roller rink brings fun times and memories

By Heather Milbrath

07/24/2012

The Kramer roller skating hall has been a hotspot for children in this area since it first opened in the 1930s. After being closed for several years, the roller rink has reopened with a new manager.

Taylor Kersten, of Newburg, always remembered the fun she had in Kramer as a girl. When she was asked by Sharon Seibel, a member of the Kramer city council, if she would be willing to take over roller-skating during the summer, Kersten jumped at the opportunity.

Seibel felt the need for the Kramer roller rink to open again because she feels it is a good activity for the kids, instead of sitting at home and playing video games.

Kersten’s younger sister, Morgan, is also helping run the roller rink for the summer.

“It’s a lot of fun running it, and both Morgan and I are glad others are enjoying it just as much as we used to.” Kersten said.

The largest turn out so far has been 40 people, which kept both Kersten and her sister busy.

“We were very busy, but it was fun to have such a good turnout.” Kersten said, who added the average is around 20 kids per week, but it has slowed down due to the hot weather.

Skaters who show up on Tuesday nights have the option of bringing their own roller blades or renting a pair of retro roller skates.

These skates truly remind you of the history behind the Kramer roller rink, which first started in the 1930s, when steel-wheeled skates were used.

In the early 1940s a new town hall was built in Kramer, which is the building currently being used for skating.

In March of 1965, the Mixing and Mending Homemakers Club decided to ask Harlowe and Hartley Hageness from Towner to bring roller-skating to Kramer on Saturday nights. The Hagnesses agreed, and the Homemakers would serve dinner. This continued for another two years.

From 1967-1972, there was no skating in Kramer. In 1972, the Kretschmars took over the management of the roller rink. They purchased skates from a man in Towner. The skates they purchased were in poor shape and the Kretschmars spent a lot of time fixing them up.

In 1973, the skating hall reopened, with the rental skates on stage, which is the same setup as today. During this time, the skating hall was open early April through the end of November.

In the 1980s, the Kramer District Firemen took over the management of the roller rink. Buelows ran the rink in the late 1990s and early 2000.

Sherri Torno also was in charge for a year, until 2005.

Although the rink has gone through many owners, Kersten, who just graduated from Newburg High School and who is 18 years old, is probably its youngest owner. She has kept much of it the same, charging only two dollars to get in, and candy and pop for only a dollar.

“We still have a few more Tuesdays left so we hope to see a lot of people here.” Kersten said. “There are games, music and concessions which make it lots of fun for everybody.”