The Rollodrome was originally "Fortin Bowlodrome" which was founded in 1947. It was a state-of-the-art bowling alley with automatic pin setting and a rich decor. The Rollodrome first opened its doors for roller skating in June of 1954 by Alice Mailhot, the original owner, her son Donald Larrivee, and other family partners.
In 1957, an electrical fire destroyed a large portion of the rink. The repairs were made by adding 40 ft. of length to the structure. The rink was a popular place with Sim's Diner, well known for their lobster rolls, across the street. The 1960's showcased many local bands. Saturday nights featured skating for the first half, and dancing to live bands until midnight.
The 1970's was a cool era. Bell Bottoms, beads, and long hair faded away into the disco scene. The rink installed flashing lights, mirror balls, and rolled into the 1980's. This was a more difficult era for us with the passing of its founders, Alice Mailhot in 1980, and Donald Larrivee in 1982. The business was now operated by Pauline Larrivee and her two children Rachel and Dan. Skating was not as popular as in the past decades but we stuck with it!
April 1st of 1987 was not a good day for business along the Androscoggin River. A serious flood threatened our rink. With the help of friends and relatives, and non-stop sand bagging we were able to save our floor.
Ahhh... the 1990's. With the development of in-line skates (rollerblades) it was once again cool to be on skates. Roller skating birthday parties became very popular and things went pretty well for most of this decade.
Then again, on January 15th 1999, tragedy struck the Rollodrome. A large winter storm starting with wet, heavy snow which eventually turned to several inches of rain and ice proved more than the old roof could handle and gave way under the extreme weight. We thought this was the end of the family skating business. Thankfully, our insurance, a good local contractor, and 8 long months later, the Rollodrome had a grand re-opening. The Rollodrome now had a new roof, bathrooms, heating, electrical work, and a sanded and re-finished floor.
As we roll through the new millennium, kids and adults are still enjoying this old Lewiston/Auburn landmark, so come see us and be a part of the Rollodrome's history!
