Roller skating has been a beloved pastime enjoyed by generations of kids and adults alike. It’s hard to believe that the first use of roller skates was in a London stage performance way back in 1743!
John Joseph Merlin, a London resident in 1760, deserves the credit for inventing the first skates. Roller skates have certainly come a long way since then!
In the United States, roller skating gained popularity as a pastime in 1935. But it wasn’t until the introduction of skating rinks playing disco music in the 1970s that roller skating became a huge trend. It seemed like everyone wanted to hit the rinks and groove to the music!
Speaking of roller skating, let’s take a trip down memory lane. Do you remember those heavy metal skates that you could attach to your shoes? They were quite the fashion statement back in the day. But there’s something else that you might remember if you were a skater before the 1970s – the iconic skate key.
This copper-colored object was an essential accessory for anyone with roller skates. At first glance, it may look like a bottle opener or some kind of tool, but it is actually a skate key. With the skate key, you could adjust the size of your skates by fitting it into the back of the pair. And to make sure they didn’t get lost while skating, most people wore the key around their necks. It was a small but significant part of the roller skating experience.
Skate keys were such an integral part of roller skating that there have even been songs written about them! They symbolize a time when roller skating was a cherished activity, filled with fun and memories.
So, do you remember skate keys? We’d love to hear your skating stories on our Facebook page. Let’s share this delightful blast from the past with others who may have fond memories of roller skating and skate keys too!
They Adopted A Pit Bull From An Animal Shelter, But What The Dog Did One Day They Were Shocked
In a quaint Minnesota town, a family’s journey took an unexpected turn when they welcomed Joy, a pit bull mix, into their fold from a local animal shelter two years ago. Little did they know, Joy would soon become more than just a pet; she would emerge as a guardian angel for their two children, Emilly, 6, and Jonas, 10.
The bond between the kids and Joy was instantaneous and unbreakable. Days were spent in joyous companionship, with playful romps, leisurely strolls, and even shared bedtime stories. But it was the special connection between Jonas and Joy that truly warmed the heart.
One fateful evening, as the family basked in the tranquility of their backyard, a sudden commotion upstairs jolted them from their reverie. Jonas’s mother, sensing something amiss, hurriedly made her way to investigate, her heart racing with apprehension.
What she discovered in the bathroom sent shivers down her spine. Jonas lay unconscious in the tub, perilously close to slipping into the water. And there, amidst the chaos, was Joy, frantically barking and tugging at Jonas’s hair and hands, her instincts kicking into overdrive.
In a moment of sheer terror, Jonas’s mother realized that Joy was not the cause of distress but rather the beacon of hope in their darkest hour. With trembling hands, she dialed 911, and within moments, paramedics were on the scene, whisking Jonas away to safety.
It was Joy’s unwavering determination and quick thinking that saved Jonas’s life that night. Gratitude overflowed in the family’s hearts as they reflected on the miraculous turn of events. “Without Joy, I shudder to think what might have happened”, Jonas’s mother remarked tearfully. “Her heroism knows no bounds, and for that, we are eternally grateful. She deserves all the steaks in the world.”
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