By Kevin Strong, Writer/Editor
The sounds of teenagers laughing echo off the graceful arches inside “the Club,” Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County’s newest facility for teenage members. CEO Dave Dixon says the organization had been looking to expand for about 10 years, and this new space fit the bill perfectly.
“It was just meant to be,” said Dixon.
There’s a reason he says that, and it has to do with history. This new club fills an old space — a space which has a long, storied history with teens in Weld County. This new club occupies an old roller rink at 1407 2nd Street in Greeley.
“This was once a place where teens came and formed formative memories and unique memories and experiences, and what better way to honor the building’s past than for us to come in and repurpose it for the same purpose; that teens can come in here and form those same unique experiences.”
The skating rink was built in 1948 by Warrick Norcross. He and his wife Helen operated a skating school on the site since the 1930s. Their granddaughter Renee Norcross practically grew up on skates, becoming a competitive skater and teaching many of the rink’s staff how to roller-skate, even though they were older than she was. She says this new life for the old rink couldn’t be any more perfect.