Interesting history of our church from this article written in 1973, during Clio’s centennial celebration. It was always common knowledge that the church has always had a skating rink, and they built one at Bethany because of that, but never knew that they actually started meeting IN a skating rink. So THAT is why we still have a skating rink today. FUN!!!
We shared this in our private Facebook group recently and several members commented with their own memories. Here’s a few memories from our membership.
I remember well on a rainy overcast afternoon when the corner stone was set at the new Vienna Street Church. I was 7 years old. My Great Grandfather, Arthur Jewell, Grandfather, Lyle D. Brown, my father, Lyle J. Brown and I were in attendance for that ceremony. It was a breathtaking event even for a 7 year old.”
Nanette Brown Kuhlmann
I started skating at the Wesley Methodist church in early 1950’s, before Ruby (Merchant) and Harold Boyse were married.”
Karen (Shelley) Nichols
I learned to skate in the basement of the old Wesley church. My mom taught fifth grade and they had a skating party each year that I was allowed to tag along to. When I reached junior high age, many of us went weekly.”
Betty Short
Harold & Ruby Boyse are credited with building this legacy in our community. The skating tradition was carried on by their son Dan Boyse and his wife Debbie. Today, Dan & Debbie’s son Bryan Boyse is a leader at roller skating and you can usually find him in the middle of the skate floor with his referee shirt on. What an incredible legacy of roller skating the Boyse family has provided to the community of Clio.
Did you learn to skate at Bethany UMC (or any of our previous locations)? Share your skating story in the comments!
And, no matter your age, if you want to relive or revisit your skating memories, come and join us on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. We continue the tradition of teaching the people of Clio to roller skate to this day. Even if you aren’t sure you want to step into skates anymore, it’s fun to come and see the young people learning to skate and offer a word of encouragement.
I, too, learned to skate at the Wesley church when I was 5 or 6 years old! The last time I put on skates, I was over 50 and with my Dad, my daughter and her three kids!!! May have to try it again!”