As I get older, I find I’m looking back with nostalgia at things I used to do when I was a kid.  Places I used to go, things I used to see and do – buildings and landmarks I remember from childhood.  If I had a time machine, I would love to travel back to the 40’s and 50’s – a time when it seems as if Hagerstown and the surrounding areas were in their heyday and “golden” years.   Sadly, most of those fantastic and glorious places remembered now through black-and-white photographs or stories are gone, but there are still a few places that have stood the test of time – you just have to know where to look.

Starland Roller Rink

Starland Roller Rink (just off of Park Road in east Hagerstown) first opened in 1946, and it’s still providing family fun and entertainment 71 years later (I was just there last weekend).  Getting buzzed through the doors and into the main skating rink is like stepping through a time portal.  That gloriously smooth and polished wooden surface beckons you to lace up a pair of rental skates and glide counter-clockwise to the music of the last 60 years that is pumped through the building from the DJ booth.  The glitter ball hangs like a sentinel in the middle of the rink, casting prisms of light around the floor and dancing across the walls.  They still do special skates like couples, trios, and the “hokey-pokey”.  It’s hard not to smile while watching teenagers be amazed by their elders, some of whom can still skillfully navigate the floor skating backwards, while they view from the rail and slurp on slushies, turning their lips various shades of blue and crimson.  Open skate nights are still an option for as little as $4 (skate rental included), and believe it or not, you can rent out the whole rink for as little as $250.  Check their Facebook page for hours and events.

Website: Starland Facebook Page

 

Hagerstown City Park

Since 1916, Hagerstown City Park has been providing city and local residents with a tranquil and green escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The park houses a band shell (home to the Municipal Band and many other concerts), the Washington County Museum of Fine Art, the Mansion House Art Gallery, a locomotive display, and the restored home of Hagerstown’s namesake and founder, Jonathan Hager.  A tall forest canopy, winding paths, and peaceful waterways (which are currently being dredged to return to their original beauty) make this a wonderful way to while away an afternoon or summer evening.  Website Escapehere.com even named Hagerstown’s City Park one of the “Ten Best” City parks in the United States.

Website: Hagerstown City Park Website

 

Municipal Stadium

Built in 1930, Municipal Stadium has been home to America’s pastime off and on for over 85 years.  Its historic grounds have been part of the Negro Leagues, multiple Hagerstown professional teams (like the Braves, Hubs, Packets, and the Owls), and witnessed the minor league debuts of such Major League All-Stars as Bryce Harper and Mike Mussina.[1]   Even though it has been renovated three times in its long history, it still retains that small town feel, and fans get an “up close” look at professional baseball by those who play the game for the love of it – not because they have multi-million dollar contracts.  Now affiliated with the Washington Nationals organization, the current Hagerstown Suns offer a great chance to watch the game of baseball in an intimate setting (the stadium holds about 4,600 people but the average crowd for 2016 was just over 1,600.)  Grab some peanuts and cracker-jacks and head for the ball park.

Website: Hagerstown Suns Official Site

What other landmarks from “days gone by” do you remember (and are still around)?  Drop me a note in the comment section below!

 

[1] Wikipedia contributors, “Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown),” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Municipal_Stadium_(Hagerstown)&oldid=743915793 (accessed March 9, 2017)