Did you ever wonder ?

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Mar 23, 2008

This week we're inviting readers to share some memories and history about the Manitou Springs roller rink and the strange sidewalk near the Air Force Academy.

Here are the questions:

MANITOU SKATING RINK:

I'm a studio artist at the Business of Art Center in Manitou.

I've heard it was a skating rink in the 1950s. Do any of your readers know the name and/or know where I can photos of it as a skating rink?

John Venezia

- Indeed it was a popular skating rink, and we're guessing some of you have memories you would share.

SIDEWALK TO NOWHERE: Traveling north on I-25, just past the Air Force Academy exit 156, there is what looks like an old sidewalk on the right hand side.

It stretches from the exit for about one mile almost reaching the Baptist Road exit.

The land adjacent to the sidewalk is empty, but it appears that buildings or other structures might have once occupied the empty space. Any information would be appreciated.

Richard Johnson

- There were several small towns in the area that have disappeared. The Air Force Academy is helping with our investigation. Readers, can you help?

FIRST CITY HANGAR: The Peterson Museum is on the site of the first Colorado Springs Municipal Airport established in 1926.

One of our historic buildings is the "Old City Hangar," which was the first permanent structure built at the airport in 1928.

Who actually built the hangar? We have a copy of a list from the City Engineer dated June 12, 1928, that shows the bids received to build the hangar: The low bid was W.L. Ross, $9,983; high bid was LV. Martin, $13,937.

Jeff Nash, assistant director and

curator, Peterson Air and Space Museum

c Our thanks to Jody Jones in Special Collections at Penrose Library. The library had a June 13, 1928, Gazette that

reported that the municipal hangar contract was let to N.L. Ross for just less than $10,000 ($9,983). City councilmen wanted the hangar finished immediately.

According to the article: "Councilman Douglas Jardine drew attention to the fact that a big California air liner could not make the trip from Denver to Colorado Springs carrying delegates to the A.P.I. convention because of the lack of hangar facilities, and deplored such conditions."

He also wanted the hangar finished before an air meet in August.

The hangar, the story said, had a capacity of four or five planes, depending on their size.

In a June 17, 1928, story a writer was aghast that "air ships" were arriving here at a place where there were no "housing accommodations for these ships and it was found necessary by the owners to stake the valuable airplanes down in the field."

The article also announced that The Broadmoor hotel would start a hangar of its own for the convenience of its guests who arrived here in their private planes.

CONTACT THE WRITER: Puzzled about something

in our area? "Did You Ever Wonder?" is here to

help. Send questions to linda.navarro@gazette.com

with "Column Question" in the subject line; mail

to "Did You Ever Wonder?" P.O. Box 1779, Colorado Springs 80901; blog at gazette.com. Queries must be signed. No personal replies; because of limited space,

not all questions will be answered.