The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-01
Famous Skating Rink of Peter
Smith Doomed.
Mecca of Roller FiendS i'm Hal
cyOn Days of YOre.
MARCH OF PROGRESS
Building Sold to Make Room for
$4,000 Structure.
Topeka Edison Company Buys
Property for $4,000.

The old roller skating rink at 7o0-704
Van Buren, street. which was built in
1879 by Peter Smith and Jonas Lukens
when the roller skating craze first
swept over this portion of the country,
is doomed and in its place will be erect
ed a modern office and storage build-
ing by the Topeka Edison company
which. it is stated. will cost in the
neighborhood of $4,000. The Edison
company paid Mrs. Peter Smith, pres
ent owner of the property, $1,000 for 1t.
One by one the old buildings in the
business portion of Topeka will go,
only to b. replaced by structures of u
modern type. Advance in real estate
values and increased scarcity of suit
able building sites makes this a
necessity.
This old wooden one story building is
of local historical interest. From 1880
to 1884 roller skating was all the rage
and the young people, and many who
were not SO youthful, f1ocked to it TO
enjoy this exhilarating pastime. This
died out completely for a time, only 20
be revived in later years, but in the
meantime the old building was trans
formed into a livery stable.
From a sentimental standpoint 1t
seems as though it were a shame to
tear down the old shacks. but when the
best interests of the city are concerned
one looks upon things from a different
viewpoint.
The new building will be a thorough
~ modern concrete structure-a type
that may well be considered a credit 20
the city.
Its ground measurement will be $50
by 70 feet.
Contractors are now having difficulty
handling work placed in their hands.
There never was a time in Topeka
when there was much general build
ing activity Buildings valued at about
$1,50O.O00 are now in course of construc-
tion and are contemplated. Business
structures and dwellings are to go up
during the year which will aggregate
in value hundreds of thousands of dol
lars.
A feature of the boom is the building
of new homes. From present indica
lions it would seem that during the
year that there will five hundred of
them spring into existence, and this
means growth-growth in population
and growth in material wealth.
Among the business buildings which
viii be completed this year will be an
automobile sales room, the excavation
for which is now in progress at 914
Kansas avenue 1t is being erected by
Frank Wear of Kansas City for the n.
w Wear company and will cost be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000,
This building will be thoroughly fire
proof. the material to be used to be
brick and concrete.
Dimensions of the show room will be
75x25 feet, and there will be a smaller
room at the rear, 40x25, which will be
used as a repair shop. The floors will
be of concrete. A modern front will be
put in in connection with which will be
a plate glass window 12x7 feet D. p.
Scott has the contract. -
Cuthbert & Sons commenced the
work today of putting in the founda-
tion for the Guildford Dudley three story
business building at 827 Kansas ave-
nue. This building, which will be
erected at cost of $1,000. will i'm
prove the general appearance of the 500
block on the avenue.
Another improvement which is I'M
derWav on the avenue is the addition
Of a second story to the A Alva build
ing at 1909 at a cost of $4,000. When
completed the structure will be mod
eru in every respect.