Did you know once upon a time that Ridgeway had a roller rink? Over New Year’s weekend in 1928, Bill and Nora Leonard opened the Ridgeway Roller Rink for that year (Stanberry Herald – Headlight, Jan 05, 1928, page 2). That first weekend was full, and Mr. Leonard thought that if there hadn’t been other things going on, the rink would have been over capacity. It was advertised as a “good, clean amusement” for young and old alike. I am not sure when exactly the rink first opened, but it must have been before 1926 as the owners were selling part of the equipment for 50 cents on the dollar in February 1926.
The couple also operated the “Leonard Company Players”, a theater group that performed in tents and leased theaters and opera houses all over Northwest Missouri. According to an article in the “King City Chronicle”, they had already been together eleven years when they performed “The Tiger and the Lamb” at the Lucille Theatre in 1916 (“The King City Chronicle, September 29, 1916, page 8). The company operated until 1935 when Bill Leonard passed away. He and his wife had made their home in Ridgeway and were active members of the community. He is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery. (“Maryville Daily Forum”, Nov 27, 1935).
