HOULTON, Maine — At the Maliseet Rollerama on Saturday, Chris Hogan of Houlton was watching his 8-year-old daughter McKenzie roller skate for the first time.
She had been anxiously awaiting the grand opening of the rink for more than two weeks, he said during the celebration, as he leaned on the railing and watched as she held hands with her 5-year-old cousin and tried to master the intricacies of in-line skating for the first time.
“I just laugh when I see them try to do that,” he said, nodding at the two girls in the massive white skates with hot pink wheels. “When I was her age, I was already a pro at this, because in-line skating was the hot new thing. But until now, there has not been a place around here to skate. I would have had to take her up to Caribou, and that would have been way too far. I am so glad the [Houlton Band of]Maliseets decided to open the Rollerama up again.”
Clarissa Sabattis, chief of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, said that the tribe has spruced up the interior of the 25-year-old facility and also purchased new equipment. That has included acquiring 71 brand new pairs of skates for use by the public, which include the traditional and in-line designs. They have also hired new staff and will be planning theme nights for the facility in the coming months.
The Rollerama was originally opened in 1994 by Brian Doody and Lisa LaPointe as the area’s first facility designed exclusively for roller skating. Doody’s father, Kenneth Doody, also opened the Melody Roller Rink in Caribou in 1973. Doody and his three brothers worked at the rink as monitors on the skate floor, disc jockeys and sold concessions.
Brian Doody also offered roller skating programs at the Houlton Recreation Department and at the high school gym in Hodgdon.
Jessica Sirois, who also was at the Rollerama with her three grandchildren on Saturday, recalled the early days of the facility.
“I remember being one of the first customers at the Rollerama,” she said. “I was so thrilled when it opened, because I was a huge skater when I was a kid. I was a die-hard traditionalist. I didn’t switch to in-line skates until I was in my late teens. I even taught myself how to do some jumps and spins.”
She said that she “loves” that her grandchildren are interested in the activity.
“The boys just love it,” she said. “And it is wonderful, because they can use it to stay in shape for hockey season. They can skate all winter at the Millar Civic Center and hopefully skate all summer up here.”
Her grandson, Elijah Hogan, agreed.
“This is much better than having to skate on the sidewalks,” he said. “And you have much more room here than at the [Cutting Edge] skate park.”
Morris Friel of Presque Isle was at the Rollerama watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren skate. Although he had no plans to take up the sport again, he had no memories of skating throughout The County as a youth.
“Roller-skating used to be a great place to take your date,” he said. “It was a fun, social activity where you could go and talk and also see all of your friends. I am glad another generation is getting to experience that.”
