In January 1863, the New York Skating Club was organized. For the first two years, its members skated on a small pond within Central Park at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue known as the Conservatory Pond. There they erected the first NYSC clubhouse at a cost of $2000.
Club Meteorologist and "Father of American Figure Skating"
In 1865, owing to a misunderstanding with Central Park's commissioners, the Club moved to the Fifth Avenue Pond, managed by Mr. Oatman and located on the east side of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street. The Club skated here until 1868.
For the winters of 1871 and 1872, club members skated on McMillans Pond located on the east side of Fifth Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets. This stereopticon view from NY Public Library collection shows the clubhouse that may have been at this location. A club carnival was held here in 1871
Champion Irving Brokaw Tells of Graceful and Skillful Movements on Blades
This was the first of three rinks in Manhattan to be so-named. Located on the east side of Broadway and 53rd Street, it was converted from an old roller rink in 1916 and operated until 1922, when a new “Iceland” was built.
The face of NYC figure skating during the early 20th century. Brokaw and Cheever won Gold for their 10-Step at the 1920s Nationals
Irving Brokaw joined with the Iceland partners and built this new rink which measured 80’ x 200’. The New York Skating Club clubhouse was located in this building at 261 West 52nd St. Sonia Henie first skated in New York City at this Iceland when she was 17 in 1929. The rink was a subject of foreclosure in 1932 and re-opened as the Gay Blades Ice Rink. The building is now the Roseland Ballroom and is slated for demolition in 2014.
Club member Beatrix Loughran wins the first of her 3 Olympic Medals - the Silver medal in Ladies Singles in 1924. She is the only American to win three Olympic medals in figure skating (1924 - Ladies Silver, 1928 -Ladies Bronze, 1932 - Pairs Silver). She won three World’s bronze medals, Ladies in 1924 and Pairs in 1930 and 1932. She is a six-time National champion (1925–1927 in singles, 1930–1932 in pairs). Her Pairs partner was Sherwin Badger.
3-time US pairs medalists Grace Munstock and Joel Liberman won US silver in 1924 and took home bronze in 1925 and 26.
