Little Norway, on The Isle Of Que

The Swiss Chalet at Little Norway, in 1964

Little Norway Skating Rink was constructed at the abandoned boat yard along the canal, in 1938, on the Isle of Que, Selinsgrove Pa.     A Chalet was constructed in the early 1940s, and soon a snack bar and "wine cellar" were added.  The chalet survived several floods, standing until 1976, when it was torn down to make way for the new 11 & 15 bypass.

Little Norway II , a new skating rink, stands today - at a different location.

 

Colsher and Moyer Boatyard and Sawmill, looking S from Pine St.

When the Colsher and Moyer Boatyard and Sawmill boat yards were closed in the 1870s, the practical use of the basin ceased, leaving the area as a swampy breeding ground for mosquitos.

"The site of Little Norway was the log pond during the boom days of the old Pennsylvania Canal.  Part of the old spillway still stands near the Patriotic Order, Sons of American building, immediately to the east of the ice rink.  Logs were floated in the pond for stage.  Later they were selected and taken to the boat building yards, then located at what is now the boro building.  Water in the pond in those days was 10 feed deep, and a high retaining wall seperated the log yard from Penns Creek.  Little Norway's area retains water well today, because of the water that flowed over the land when it was used for storage" - Times Tribune, 1941

Over 150 skaters , beneath the Pine Street Bridge.  1901.

The Pine Street Bridge was a covered bridge until 1902, when it was damaged in a flood.  It was replaced with a steel bridge.

In 1902 the new iron bridge extended beyond the bank of the creek to the alley, replacing the footpath along the rail fence at the head of the building.

 In 1938, J. Howard Burns formulated the plan for the Isle of Que Skating rink. He had a team of horses plow the plot along the the old canal bed.  Barbara Burns and her brothers cleared away the brush, erected a shed, flooded the basin, and called the rink Little Norway.

The rink opened in late December of 1938.

The original office for Little Norway, shown before the Chalet was erected.

"The name was selected of course, because of the popularity of Sonja Hense and other Norwegian skaters at the time of establishment.    The first skating lodge was merely a wooden hut capable of seating 60 persons, but in quite congested manner. The wooden structure was used at the rink for two years." - Selinsgrove Times-Tribune, 1942

1942

In 1940, a two story building, equipped with ample heat, and a large seating capacity, was constructed. It was a replica of a Norwegian chalet.  

1963 

In 1942, a wine cellar was added to the chalet, "for no chalet would be complete without its wine cellar."  Candy, Norwegian Sausage, soft drinks, and hot chocolate were served in the wine cellar, attended by Mrs Robert Wendt of East Pine Street.

1945

The chalet was originally built on stilts, the wine cellar was added in the 1940s.

Truck advertising Little Norway

Description of skating apparel at Little Norway, in 1946

In this 1948 photo, looking east towards the Susquehanna River,  the old IOOF building is seen to the left rear of the 'Chalet'.

"In the mid-1940s and 1950s, Carolyn, a talented amateur painter, was the cocoa maker at Little Norway's wine cellar. Little Norway was the town's local 1 1/2-acre skating pond on the Isle of Que, owned and operated by the Burns family." - From the obituary of Carol Burns, 2014

In March Of 1950, Mary Elizabeth Slichter, one time queen of the ice capades, came to Little Norway.  She regularly skated there in the 1940s as well.

Grant Yerger, who lived on Water Street, could often be seen gliding across the ice.  Yerger also skated in the Hershey Ice Show.

In 1961, Little Norway had been completely remodeled for the upcoming ice skating seaon.  The rink and adjoining building had been rented by a The Explorer Post 2402, an older group of boy scouts, from Miss Barbara Burns, who had formerly operated the site.  A public telephone had been installed, the lodge had been cleaned and painted, and carpet had been laid to protect skates and flooring.  Girl Scouts were to operate the refreshment stand, offering hot and cold foods and beverages. Gas heating had been added to the building.  

In 1963, the Selinsgrove Times Tribune reported that " the pond originally attracted crowds from a wide area, but has become a local gathering spot as more and more communities opened their own rinks.  For the first time this year [1963] Little Norway, with its attractive lodge overlooking the pond, is available for hockey during the morning hours and for skating lessons and private parties by special arrangement."

Inside the chalet, 1963

The swiss style "chalet" was located at the end of the Pine Creek bridge. 

The porch was reshaped in 1964

The Swiss Chalet and Little Norway in the 1964 flood.

1970

In February of 1972, there was a fire in the "former skating lodge".

1964

In 1975, locals were still skating there.  

 Severely damaged in the 1972 flood, the Chalet building was removed for the bypass in 1976.

Historical Sign for Little Norway, hung along Market Street during the Bicentennial.

Little Norway II was  later constructed at  S Water St. &  Sassafras streets

The Mural on the back of the building at Little Norway II portrays the Chalet at the original Little Norway.

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