The Blue Jackets, Bayside Dragons, Westbury Flashes and the Zippy Zephyrs. They are neither street gangs nor rock groups, but some of the more than 60 skating clubs that called the Mineola Skating Rink their home.

A skating rink that served the community from July 2, 1934 until August. 17, 1960.

But how did this all come about?

In 1918, in Portland, Oregon, a 16-year-old girl named Inez Sibley began her skating career. A 21-year-old named Earl Van Horn, who was a professional skater and rink manager at the Oaks Roller in Portland, met Inez and fell in love. After a year of courting they were married.

Earl taught Inez the art of skate dancing and as a skating team they toured Europe. They were known as "Van and Inez." They performed before royalty and appeared in New York's famous Palace Theatre 22 times.

Due to the popularity of the talking pictures many vaudeville houses were forced to close. This ended the show business career of the Van Horns in 1934.

Disappointed, but determined, they opened the Mineola Skating Rink with their business partner, Harry Bickmeyer.

The rink was located on the fairgrounds in Mineola in the former cattle exhibition barn. This facility was used for approximately six months, improved and on July 2, 1934 officially opened. The Mineola Skating Rink became only the fourth rink in the metropolitan area, the others being Vic Brown's in New Jersey, Fordham Rink in the Bronx and Al Flath's in Brooklyn.

Opening night drew fewer than 50 people. By 1937 the rink employed 44 staff members and attracted 2,000 skaters. In 1948 the rink served 90,000 skaters.

The object of the Van Horns was not only to teach skate dancing, but to create a family-oriented rink. Strict rules applied to both men and women. For instance, short skirts and slacks were forbidden to be worn by women. No jeans or collarless shirts, or T-shirts, were allowed on gentlemen. Men had to wear jackets or sweaters while skating. Collars and ties were also required.

Although the dress code was strict it was supported by the skaters.

During the period, 1937 and 1938, over $80,000 was spent by the owners to improve the rink for skaters' comfort. In addition, a silver ceiling was installed. When the rink floor lights were lowered and the colored lighting system faded in, it created an enhanting, shimmering iridescence that made skate dancing that much more romantic. Sound proofing was added on the walls and covered with blue silk. A Hammond organ provided the music.

Earl developed improvements for roller skates. In 1946 he patented the "Liberty Roller Skate" which sold at the Mineola Rink for $38.50. In addition he invented the Van Horn Model Dance Skate and the toe stop, both produced by the Chicago Roller Skate Company in the 1940s.

In 1945 Earl and Inez divorced, but remained friends. Inez continued to manage the rink and teach dancing. Earl later married skater Jean White. Their marriage produced two daughters, Gretchen and Lisa, and a son, Earl Jr. Inez also remarried. Tragedy struck on October 20, 1954 when, during an argument, Jean shot Earl to death.

Inez and Harry Bickmeyer continued to manage the rink until August 17, 1960 when it was torn down to make room for the Nassau County Building parking lot, an end to a wonderful era. In 1994 Inez and Earl Van Horn were inducted into the United States of America Roller Skating Coaches Hall of Fame. Inez died the following year.

On September 17, 1942 the following poem appeared in the rink's newsletter "Bumps and Grinds":

I

Doors open at eight

Your friends will be skating

Now please don't be late

And don't keep them waiting.

II

Buz! Buz! it's "All Skate"

And around you will go

"Til it's "Couple Only"

Then you look for your beau.

III

When the "Special" time comes

You go thru your paces

A visitor remarks -

There go two aces.

IV

No. 8-"Ladies Only"-

A wonderful sight

See the girls all skating

In their red, blue, and white.

V

You look at the sign-

"Trio" will shine

Now three in a row

Will be mighty fine.

E.N.S.-'42

"The Slim Skating Nurse From Nassau"

VI

The "Fourteen Step" special

You sit out and watch

You are not quite ready

To skate to a march.

VII

Thru the Steps of the "Circle Waltz"

Slowly you glide

And smile at your partner

Close at your side.

VIII

Soon our evening is ended

While at attention we stand

Do honor to the flag

The pride of our land.

IX

To our homes we all go

Each our happy way

And hope to be back

Another day.

X

For pleasure and pastime

Good skating is an art

For this we thank Mineola

Down deep in our hearts.

National Museum of Roller Skating, Lincoln, Nebraska. Long Island Studies Institute, Hempstead, New York. Mineola Historical Society, Mineola, New York.