10-8-2023 BG

acrobatic skating. Pat was
a professional skater and
instructor. Neil instructed
the crowd that “skating
was a dress-up sport and
participants were expected
to keep the atmosphere of
dignity and good manners
in effect and still maintain a
place where everyone could
have a good time”. The rink
would be open at set hours,
along with options for group
rentals.
Jack Adams followed
the Johnstons as manager,
and worked for 27 years

Cindy earned first place

in the State Speed Skate

competition but was unable

to go to Nationals due to her

inability to endure long car

rides without getting carsick.

The National Champion

that year for her age group

was the skater Cindy had

defeated to earn the State

title. Cindy’s brother, Jerry,

also represented Lowell as

State Champion one year

and going on to take fourth

at Nationals.

Through the years, the

skating rink was enjoyed

Dancers Barb Adams, Ardis Johnston, Marlene Coors

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ABC’s, continued...

at the rink, now called the
“The Legion’s Big Wheel”.
Many people today
remember the rink as a
social highlight of their
childhood. Bands played
live music, and Sammy,
the Roller-Skating Chimp,
performed for the crowds.
Speed-Skating contests
were popular, as were dance
lessons and competitions.
Local winners went on to
State and then to Nationals.
Cindy Adams Kropf is
one local champion with a
story of lost opportunity.

rink. Jack Adams used an

American Legion bus to pick

up skaters from surrounding

communities to skate, then

brought them home. School

classes and senior-citizen

groups all enjoyed private

skating outings.

Later the rink and

bowling alley would be

sold and run as Rollaway.

Currently, the owner of

the building and land are

working through the process

to put apartments on the

property. The land has seen

an elementary school, a

by the community. Church

youth groups came from

neighboring communities

for outings at the skating

living memorial offering

recreational opportunities to

the community, and possibly

housing in the future.

Lowell

L

P

itho

rinting

&

Gardening

enthusiasts recognize

that fall is not a time

to rest on their laurels.

In fact, fall is a great

season to spend time

in the yard. The Center

for Agriculture, Food

and the Environment

at the University of

Massachusetts Amherst

indicates fall is the

ideal time to improve

the soil for next season.

Amending the soil in

the fall allows it to react

accordingly over time

and reap the benefits in

spring. UMass suggests

getting an accurate

soil test to see what is

needed in the garden.

Samples should be taken

from various areas.

Avoid doing so when

the soil is very wet.

At-home kits can test

for nitrogen, potassium

and phosphorous and

determine the soil’s

pH. Gardeners should

till the soil and add

compost or manure, which

will counteract many

nutritional deficiencies.

Worm castings also are

good to add, particularly

for summer vegetable

gardens. The gardening

company Park Seed says

that worm castings are

high in minerals and

effective at holding water

— so much so that they

even can be used alone

Did you know?

in place of potting soil.

Crushed egg shells,

coffee grounds and

banana peels also can

be added in the fall,

even if they are not

part of a compost pile.

The nutrients will break

down throughout the

fall and winter, and be

available just in time

for summer plantings.

FH