Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Laufenberg, Shoemaker
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/05/2011
Pavilion’s History Lives On (Hatfield – 2011)
Having just celebrated its 80th birthday, the roller rink in Hatfield will be taking on a new role soon. New owners Jerome and Hope Laufenberg have a growing list of what the bu8ilding, now known as Lake Arbutus Pavilion, will be used for. While the building is still be used for roller-skating. Hope explained, “We have a building that we know if people need a site for an event, we can probably do it for them.” The Laufenberg’s hope construction will be completed by New Year’s. JoDee Brooke/Banner Journal
By JoDee Brooke
Through the years, the roller rink in Hatfield has been that magical place where couples met, sometime brought together by whoever “was the better skater,” they’ve joked.
After fire left the structure damaged last winter, its fate was unknown for several months. For those with so many of those fond memories, they will be pleased to learn the rink’s new owners, Jerome and Hope Laufenberg, fully intend to restore the building so it will once again bring friends and neighbors together.
Going by the name it was originally given back in 1921, the Lake Arbutus Pavilion’s new owners have a list of plans for the pavilion. “It will, of course, still be a roller rink,” explained Hope. “It can also be used to hold craft, antique, sporting and gun shows, anything you need a big open space for.”
Once a new kitchen is completed, they will be able to hold wedding, anniversary and birthday celebrations. There is going to be a raised outdoor seating area right off the building.
“We plan to have an ice cream and soda shop,” said Hope. “It will be a place where people can stop for ice cream or a cup of coffee. We’re also looking at a Sunday brunch. There will be WIFI access.”
Helping the Laufenbergs are Russ and Lory Shoemaker. “He’s my youngest brother,” Hope explained. “They jokingly refer to themselves as our staff. They are very good at what they do. They know how to have fun. They are the ‘Decades,’ the DJ group. They will gear events as to what type of crowd they’re going to be entertaining.”
“We’ve already been approached about having a sporting goods and ATV show this spring,” noted Hope. “We’re talking about holding a ‘muscle’ car show.”
Laufenberg said they’ve only had a couple of people tell them they’re crazy, but their enthusiasm for what lies ahead for the historic building is obvious. “We found the limbo pole,” she shared. “Did you know the pavilion was originally an open-air structure? Then, they put in a fireplace. The curved end facing the Inwood was added later. It has many of the original beams. There are five layers of wood on the floor. It was initially built for dancing, and I don’t know if, rather than refinishing it, they just put in a new floor or what. It’s painted now, but we are taking the paint off and refinishing it with a material that will be suitable for dancing and skating while also protecting it from when we set up tables, and there are people walking on it.”
“We’re going to skate and dance,” Hope added. “There will be a big screen T.V. for watching the Packers and Brewers. We aren’t going to be open all the time as a bar or a restaurant, but it will be a great event site, and it’s going to keep being a place where memories are made. We might even give those couples that met at the pavilion years ago a coupon or something like that. Not sure about that yet.”
