Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Skating Rink
Encyclopedia
The Lieutenant Joseph Patrick Kennedy Junior Memorial Skating Rink was an ice skating rink in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts
. It was named after the late Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., who was killed when his B-24 Liberator
exploded during a bombing mission. The facility also doubled as a ice hockey rink for Barnstable High School
. The last public skate occurred on March 22, 2009. It was replaced by the Hyannis Youth and Community Center
.
. This was alright for skating during calm weather, but it was impossible to skate during a storm. Early skaters even had to shovel the ice after a snowfall. This led to it being enclosed in 1965.
Although the rink was enclosed, it was open to the outside warm air. This led to fog forming on some nights. It was also unable to be used during the summer, a thing that most modern rinks do not have to do. This shortcomings led to replacement plans.
For many years, the rink was home to Barnstable High School
's after prom
celebration. The rink was used until 2008, when it was temporarily relocated to the high school because of the demolition of the rink.
. The original plans for the center consisted of a one rink and an adjacent youth center. The plan was eventually scrapped and new plans incorporated the usage of two rinks, one gymnasium, a youth center, and a raised jogging track around the gymnasium.
, while the other will be named after the highest private donor to the project.
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
. It was named after the late Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., who was killed when his B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
exploded during a bombing mission. The facility also doubled as a ice hockey rink for Barnstable High School
Barnstable High School
Barnstable High School is a public high school in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA, Town of Barnstable. It is the largest high school in Barnstable County on Cape Cod. It is divided into 5 "houses", described as "schools within a school". In the 2010–2011 school year, it had...
. The last public skate occurred on March 22, 2009. It was replaced by the Hyannis Youth and Community Center
Hyannis Youth and Community Center
The Hyannis Youth and Community Center is an ice skating rink in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. It consists of two rinks, one being named after the late Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., who was killed when his B-24 Liberator exploded during a bombing mission...
.
Opening
The Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Skating Centre rink opened in 1957 as an open-air skating rink. It was built with funds from the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. foundation, which made the name fitting. In 1960, the rink was extended in length from 185 to 215 feet, with its official 85 foot hockey width. At the time, this made it the second largest in the northeastern United States, behind one in West Point, New YorkWest Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. This was alright for skating during calm weather, but it was impossible to skate during a storm. Early skaters even had to shovel the ice after a snowfall. This led to it being enclosed in 1965.
Although the rink was enclosed, it was open to the outside warm air. This led to fog forming on some nights. It was also unable to be used during the summer, a thing that most modern rinks do not have to do. This shortcomings led to replacement plans.
For many years, the rink was home to Barnstable High School
Barnstable High School
Barnstable High School is a public high school in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA, Town of Barnstable. It is the largest high school in Barnstable County on Cape Cod. It is divided into 5 "houses", described as "schools within a school". In the 2010–2011 school year, it had...
's after prom
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
celebration. The rink was used until 2008, when it was temporarily relocated to the high school because of the demolition of the rink.
Replacement
In the early 2000s, there were plans to replace the rink with one rink next door in the Hyannis Youth and Community CenterHyannis Youth and Community Center
The Hyannis Youth and Community Center is an ice skating rink in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts. It consists of two rinks, one being named after the late Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., who was killed when his B-24 Liberator exploded during a bombing mission...
. The original plans for the center consisted of a one rink and an adjacent youth center. The plan was eventually scrapped and new plans incorporated the usage of two rinks, one gymnasium, a youth center, and a raised jogging track around the gymnasium.
Closing
The rink held its last public skate on March 22, 2009. This brought to an end 52 years of skating at the rink. The rink was eventually torn down, with a marker was placed in the spot of the former rinks center court. One of the rinks will carry on the name of Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.
Joseph Patrick "Joe" Kennedy, Jr. was an American bomber pilot during World War II. He was the eldest of nine children born to Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Sr., and Rose Elizabeth Kennedy....
, while the other will be named after the highest private donor to the project.