News

A creative idea which brought a community together to enjoy life

By Scott Wagar

03/12/2013

When it comes to social activities in Bottineau during its early years as a community, rinks played an important part in the town’s history.

At the turn of the twentieth century in Bottineau, so many individuals skated in Bottineau that it was recorded in the Bottineau Courant’s “I Remember, I Remember” during the city’s centennial year that every block in Bottineau had an outdoor skating rink for adults and children alike to enjoy.

In 1911, one of the most interesting skating rinks ever to grace Bottineau’s landscape was constructed and became an instant success.

In that year, Jacob Ohmart, a local owner of a gas station in Bottineau, constructed a distinctive rink, a circular rink, a perfect oval, for the local townspeople to enjoy.

What was even more intriguing about the rink was that it had a warming house located in the middle of the rink; and, from the front of the street, it had only one way to get inside the warming house, an enclosed bridge which started on the street, went over the ice surface and into the warming house.

“Jacob Ohmart opened his unique and commodious circular rink on Tuesday evening and had a breaking attendance,” stated The Bottineau Courant in December of 1911. “There were a very large number of skaters and the big spectator room in the center of the rink was filled with people who came to observe.

“The circular rink is a novelty here. Aside from the large ice surface and the absence of sharp turns, the feature of the place is the big warming room with a ladies dressing room adjoining and the band room above,” The Bottineau Courant added in the story. “The rink is well lighted with electricity. The big room in the center is reached by an enclosed bridge across the ice on the side of Fifth street.”

During the opening night, an honorable group of men entertained those who came to Ohmart’s creation.

“The Bottineau Military band was present and maintained their reputation for excellent music,” The Bottineau Courant stated.

The exact location of the circular rink on Fifth street isn’t known at the present time. More so, the longevity of the rink in the community also appears to be lost in the town’s history book.

However the town’s love for recreational skating, figure skating and hockey stayed strong in the community, which showed in 1922 when Bottineau’s residents constructed the first enclosed arena in the state of North Dakota.

The rink was located where the armory and fire station stand today, but the roof collapsed during a spring snow storm in 1948, causing the town’s leadership to make the decision to construct a new arena.

A year later, the present day community arena was built where it stands today.