Paul Spruell in action on May 11, 1965, at the Lakewood Ice Arena. He competed in the Novice men category in 1965. Paul was practicing for the "Ice Capers of 1965" presented by the Lakewood Winter Club later in the month. In January, 1966, Paul, 16, would compete in the U.S. Ice Skating Championships in Berkeley, California. It would be his first time at nationals. Photograph ordered by Lakewood Winter Club. (TNT 5-16-65, D-1, TNT 1-23-66, B-12)

Ice skating--Lakewood--1960-1970; Skaters; Spruell, Paul;

Hockey season closed with Griffin Fuel finishing first against Alt Heidelberg at Lakewood Ice Arena. L to r: Fred Kislingbury, Captain Bill Anderson, Wenatchee Apple Queen Lois Ross, Ed Griffin, and Norton Clapp. (T. Times, 4/2/1939, p. 14)

Ice hockey--Lakewood--1930-1940; Ice hockey players--Tacoma--1930-1940; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Kislingbury, Fred; Anderson, Bill; Ross, Lois; Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955; Clapp, Norton, 1906-1995;

Alex Babbitt skating party at Lakewood Ice Arena. A woman wearing a floral costume with an orchid in her hair receives a piece of cake from two women, also in costume and wearing skates. The event occurred on November 25, 1939.

Cakes--Lakewood; Costumes; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Parties--Lakewood;

Tacoma Ice Hockey players at Lakewood Ice Arena. This goalie, representing the Medosweet Dairies team, is ready at net in this November of 1940 photograph. Maskless, he is wearing enormous pads and thick gloves and clutching his stick. No helmets were worn in this era so the goalie needed to be alert and agile to avoid incoming pucks. [Also dated 11-15-1940.]

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Ice hockey--Lakewood--1940-1950; Ice hockey players--Lakewood;

Diane Dapper invited her friends for a skating party at Lakewood for her 10th birthday party. Diane is 9th from the left in a white skating outfit. She was the daughter of Mathias J. and Adah H. Dapper. Fourteen girls, all friends at Annie Wright Seminary, pose by the barrier at the Lakewood Ice Arena wearing various skating outfits. A snowy mountain scene made of plywood is seen above them. (TNT, 12/11/1950, p.4)

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Dapper, Diane; Birthday parties--Lakewood--1950-1960;

George and Leah Mueller pose for an October, 1942, publicity photograph inside the Lakewood Ice Arena, with its pseudo Bavarian decor. The German couple were well known in skating and replaced John Johnsen when he left for war duty in 1942. Prior to coming to Lakewood, the couple had taught in Boston, Toronto, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Long Beach, California. Initially booked only for the 1942-43 season, they stayed six years, enjoying the Northwest and the arena's talented group of young skaters. In a nod to World War II anti-German sentiment, the couple was introduced to Tacoma as the "Millers." ("A History of Figure Skating in Pierce County;" T. Times 10-19-1942, p.2)

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Ice skating--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1940-1950; Mueller, George; Mueller, Leah;

Western Washington ice skaters were gathering together at the Lakewood Ice Arena in January of 1949 to raise money to support young skaters working towards National, Coast and Northwest events. View of hand-colored black and white photograph of Diane Jacobsen, student at Lincoln High School and a champion ice skater. Diane performed in the Lakewood Ice Club ice skating fundraiser (T. Times, 1/16/49, p. 14 & 1/20/49, p. 16). ALBUM 15.

Ice skating--Tacoma; Ice skating rinks--Lakewood; Winter sports--Tacoma; Athletes--Tacoma; Skaters; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Jacobsen, Diane;

This action shot of Marlene Jackson, caught in a swirl of ice particles as she leaps high above the ice, was taken in late February of 1949 at the Lakewood Ice Arena. Marlene, age 14, was a native of Tacoma and was a student at Mason Junior High School. In March of 1949, shortly after this photo was taken, she won the Pacific Coast Junior Ladies figure skating championship at San Diego. Earlier in the season she had won the Northwest Junior Ladies and free skating titles. She had placed high at the national championship at Colorado Springs the year before in her first appearance there. Marlene was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Jackson, 4501 N. 28th St. ( T.Times, 3/28/1949, p.8- alt. photograph)

Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Jackson, Marlene; Ice Skating--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Marianne Beeler may have been in the process of completing a jump at the Lakewood Ice Arena on November 29, 1956. She has her arms extended, along with one leg, while the other leg is bent. Her attention is focused off to the side. Marianne is dressed in a button-up sweater over a black skating dress. Photograph ordered by Al Beeler.

Beeler, Marianne; Ice skating--Lakewood--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood);

Interiors Lakewood Ice Arena. Several young skaters and what appear to be instructors watch while a more experienced skater makes a graceful curve on a thin blade of steel. The building formerly known as the Oakes Ballroom and briefly as the Towers was purchased by developer Norton Clapp, future Weyerhaeuser chairman, in 1936 and converted into the Ice Arena in 1938. The building was remodeled to resemble a Swiss chalet with murals on the walls and a draped ceiling approximating clouds. The Lakewood Figure Skating Club at the Ice Arena produced many champions through the years. The building itself however went through some trying times. In 1948, the roof collapsed and the building had to be restored. There was a major remodel in 1959 and in 1974 a temporary closure by the fire marshalls. In October of 1982, the roof caved in once more, forcing the demolition of the historic building. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena")

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Lakewood Figure Skating Club (Lakewood); Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of the Lakewood Ice Arena. Lakewood industrialist Norton Clapp purchased the old Oakes dance pavilion on the shores of Steilacoom Lake in 1936, largely due to his wife's interest in ice skating. After two years as a private party place, it was remodeled to resemble a Swiss mountain chalet and opened to the public in 1938. It had parking space for 500, an attractive glass enclosed "Wirtschaft" (snack bar) and spectator seating for 600. The opening crowds were so large that the opening went on for 2 days. Over the years, the Lakewood Ice Arena became known as the "Home of Champions" due to the large number of world class figure skaters that its club produced. In 1974, the building was closed temporarily as a fire hazard. On Oct 1, 1982, the roof and the west wall collapsed; a few months later the building was demolished. ("History of Figure Skating in Pierce County, Lakewood Arena") TPL-9322

Ice skating--Tacoma--1950-1960; Lakewood Ice Arena (Lakewood); Lakewood Figure Skating Club (Lakewood); Ice skating rinks--Tacoma--1950-1960;