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!
I Bought Food for a Homeless Man, He Stunned Me with His Confession the Next Day
This story captures the profound ripple effect of kindness, how a simple, heartfelt act can light up a path for someone who’s lost in the dark. It’s beautiful that Greta’s small gesture, something as seemingly ordinary as a meal, became a turning point for Morgan. Her compassion gave him the courage to reconnect with his purpose, to confront the trauma he carried and find a way back to service, this time as a mentor to others who need the guidance he once lacked.
Morgan’s gesture of returning with milk for Greta’s kids is such a touching symbol of his gratitude and humanity. Despite everything he’d lost, he wanted to give back, to reciprocate that kindness in the way he could. And his message—“Keep teaching kindness, Greta. It saves lives”—is a reminder of the impact we each can have, often without even realizing it.
It’s one of those encounters that reminds us of the shared struggles beneath the surface and how reaching out, even just with a meal, can reignite hope. The story is a testament to resilience, the strength of community, and the way kindness can heal even the deepest wounds.
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