It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to the East Street Skate House. For decades, generations of Hingham Residents have celebrated the winter season in one of the best ways possible: getting out on a pond and skating until the sun goes down (and sometimes even after that). One of our favorite spots has been a Hingham landmark longer than most of us can remember. After so many years of faithful service, the Skate House has finally let us know that it is time to close the doors.
When asked whether skating would be permitted in the future, Hingham Recreation staff told the Anchor that they do not control the pond and therefore can not prevent skating, should conditions permit.
The Hingham Recreation team also let us know that while they hope to one day rebuild, there are no plans in place at this time.
Continue to follow the Anchor for updates.
So sad. I met many a boyfriend there.
Did anyone know that this was happening?
Really that’s what you chose to say about the skating there. Geez.
NOO!!!
I think we all did Dar. 😥
This is very sad..the end of another era..can anyone explain why and without warning?
Very crummy!
I played a lot of pickup hockey it here when I was in high school. Sad.
The Hingham Skating Club was such an important part of my childhood in the 50s. My friends and I would meet up every weekend when the ice was safe and spend hours skating around on the ice. The girls would congregate in one area and practice their jumps; while secretly glancing over at the boys who were playing hockey, and totally concentrating on their game.
When we went inside to warm up, we would enjoy a hot cup of cocoa and a five cent candy bar from the front desk, while putting our wet woolen mittens near the fire which burned brightly in the middle of the building.
Even all these decades later, the smell of wet wool and wood fires make me smile and say: “Ah, it smells like skating in Hingham!”
The Skating Club is a cherished part of the childhood memories of those of us who were lucky enough to grow up in those halcyon days in Hingham.
The building may go, but the happy memories of decades of Hingham children will always live on in our hearts.
On point. And I love those memories too. I’m actually a bit upset that no one else will have a chance at the same memories. Was this ever brought up at town halls? Did anyone have a clue? How much funding do you need to reenforce a shack? A donation box out front? Things like this being left by the wayside is a sign of a community in decline. At least we know Christmas in the square isn’t going anywhere. It’s good for business. Turns a profit. If it didn’t that would get chopped faster than you could say Hingham statehouse. I guess I’ll go Netflix and chill… a healthy wholesome pastime
What you said above is so true. What a wonderful time!
Is there an alternative/a community/volunteer run skate house? Same building?
So sad! We lived down the St. My sons were there at 6am with Red Hernberg. We lived a few houses away. Win/Win for hockey players. Warm fireplace there met great friends and warm memories. Change is life. Cherish the memories. 🏒🥅🛷⛸
When is the last day?
I always took my kids there when they were little…loved it!
Now that you’ve announced. you might want to hear from those that would support. Just saying…
That’s what I was thinking. I would take it over and run it for the winter. We will have to look into speaking to someone about this. No way I’m letting go that easy. No one lived down there more than myself and my 2 brothers. Winter and summer. We went fishing there everyday during the summer and every day skating in the winter till they shut off the lights. Let’s figure something out.
I think we all did Dar. 😥
I love the pick up hockey games
I agree.
Now that more people now about this, maybe some type of fundraiser to raise money?
Is this a possibility?
You can build a useless beach house at the bathing beach why can’t they build a new red barn?!!!just take all the fun out of this town
That was such a fixture in my childhood. Loved skating there and warming up inside near the wood stove. Wish it were being updated and kept
Guy Mellgren must be spinning in his grave… Bertha Stringer, too. Ask an old Hinghamite, they’ll explain…
During my time with the Rec Dept. I spent many days checking the ice, selling hit chocolate and snacks and lacing up a lot of skates. tending the stove and matching stray mittens were a constant chore. Families skated together. Pick up hockey games were everywhere. Fresh air And wholesome fun were had by all. The skating club was a treasure.
Thanks to you I was also able to help lace up skates, sell hot chocolate and tend to the fire! I have so many great memories from there and I know my brother and dad do, too.
Although we lived in Quincy during the early sixties, my older brother Paul would bring us to the Hingham Skating Club to play hockey with his good friend Steve Dowling who would go on to Captain the Boston College hockey team. Upon moving to Hingham in the 70’s my family and I spent many great days skating there. Cannot believe the Town is letting it end. Restrooms, fire,
hot chocolate, nothing better!
That’s what I was thinking. I would take it over and run it for the winter. We will have to look into speaking to someone about this. No way I’m letting go that easy. No one lived down there more than myself and my 2 brothers. Winter and summer. We went fishing there everyday during the summer and every day skating in the winter till they shut off the lights. Let’s figure something out.
Start a campaign and raise funds, get CPC to match and RESTORE/REBUILD!!!
Fight this … !!!!!!!
This is a staple of life in Hingham during the winter. Something that brings families together, gets people out and about and it’s good fun/exercise. That place is magical. But speaking dollars and cents it’s a shack. How much funding does it possibly need to become sound. It’s nice to see people saying they’ll step up. And I’m confused why no one knew this was happening. It’s a mark of a community in decline when things like this are ‘cut’. It’s important. And if people can’t see it we need new people making decisions. We’re there fireworks by the harbor this year? Is Christmas in the square the next to go? Of wait that’s actually good for business. So it’s not going ANYWHERE. I know money is usually tight but let’s be honest. Hingham has some tax dollars going for it. I’m glad the schools and roads are great but what good is that when there’s not enough holding families together. Maybe I should just Netflix and chill… I think a new Starbucks is in the works
Is the building unsafe? I was in there last winter and was amazed how it was still exactly the same as I remember as a kid. The Skating Club is a Hingham landmark and resource for family-friendly recreation. Seems like for short-money and with possible student/parent workers (volunteers?) it could be maintained during winter months when (climate change permitting) there is ice thick enough to skate!
I grew up at 374 East st and my three sisters and I skated there every winter, a season pass was $2. It wasn’t until many years later that heard about “pond” hockey since it was the only kind of hockey that I knew of. Playing “pond” hockey and skating behind the cemetery on the frozen swamp we called paradise are truly great memories.
Also memorable was being pushed off the deck next to the bubbler (where there was no icee) by Ruth Duff for some forgotten reason and walking home soaking wet.
Sad to hear this. I had many fantastic days of hockey with my Dad and Brother at the Hingham Skating Club.
I started skating at the Skating club when I was three years old. I lived on East Street and remember walking to the club whenever it was open. The smell of the woodstove, the sound of skates on the wood floor, walking down the ramp onto the ice, gliding across the pond, teaching myself to spin and dance on the ice are all memories I will always treasure.
It was a place to meet friends like Janet Higbee and Thalia Melgren. We had a sense of freedom and responsibility at a place that always felt safe and welcoming.
I have memories of my father taking out his old skating sail (canvas strung on wood) and sailing across the ice.
My family has a Holiday Card taken in 1955 (or 1956) of the (then) three Stein children (Debbie and Robert) piled on each other on the ice at the Skating Club. When my younger sister, Lauren, was born, I remember taking her to skate when she was 4 or 5. It was just that kind of place.
So true ,Liz. Me and Joey Zona built the small extension on the barn in 1978, to store firewood. Great place for memories and fun. Danny B is right on re: new beach house etc.