One of the best memories growing up in Westfield, New Jersey, was winter skating on an iconic pond that sat adjacent to the Municipal Building just east of the town center. What is now a distant memory, this post not only serves to share a few memories but also to build an online tribute photo gallery for the community to view and share (we”ll talk more about that later).
Being fortunate to grow up within walking distance from town, I found winter an exceptional time for me. I’d be walking home from town and see that sign change from “No Skating” to the tape covering the “no.” That sign on East Broad Street would be the indicator that the police have authorized skating on Mindowaskin Pond. I’d run home, tell my mother, and she’d call the police department, where you’d get the message that skating was permitted. I’d grab my skates and hockey stick and literally run back down to get on the ice.
From what I recall, the general rule was that the Police Department would go out and dig a hole in the ice. For some reason, I remember that the ice had to be 9 inches before the PD allowed public skating on the pond. Also, remember the Department of Public Works coming in and installing those red-stained fences around the waterfall, the island with the wooden-lit mini-Presbyterian church on it, and how they’d bring on that mini Zamboni to clear the ice after it snowed. You could call some phone number and get the official announcement that “skating is now permitted.” I can’t remember the number, but I must have dialed it a thousand times.
I also remember that there were a few rules about pucks and hockey sticks. Hockey was prohibited once masses started to gather. You had to wait until nighttime to get the puck out. Does anyone remember losing a puck down the waterfall just past the fence just off Broad Street? I do! In fact, I remember going down there to fetch a few out (it wasn’t a fun task).
I must admit, there was no better place to meet the young ladies. Sure, you could be shy, but there was never a rejection when you just skated into another member of the opposite sex, and they saved you with a full hug embrace. Sure, you’d apologize and maybe get punched, but it sure was fun doing it.
Does anyone remember getting tired and resting on the round pond fountain in the dead center of the pond? What a great resting place that was. Or how about sitting on the bench with that metal skate hook, pulling those laces as tight as possible to ensure your ankles weren’t sore in 10 minutes? As a kid, I didn’t realize that the tightness was actually causing the pain. Thankfully, an older neighbor told me about taping the ankles, which later became a distinct advantage on the ice.
Then there’s the memory of skating behind the island. At night, when you did it, you lost the light of the streetlights around the pond and felt you were in Antarctica. God forbid you skate over towards the little stone bridge, thinking you might actually get lost!
It was Mindowaskin Pond that led to greater things for me personally. I gained a solid skill playing pick-up hockey, which later led me to play for the Cranford Hockey Club and help start the Westfield Hockey Club alongside Rob Cullen and a few others in the late 1970s. Those friendships I made on the ice all started at Mindowaskin Pond. I’m thankful for the memories!
I just want to thank the Internet for providing a spot to share these brief memories that popped into my head.
The Mr. Local History Project listened to Brooks and produced a limited edition wooden artistic keepsake alongside the world-famous Cat’s Meow Village. The pond’s history on the back ties to a broader collection of the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection.
Share a story or a photo for the community to remember what was once an annual winter ritual in Westfield, New Jersey. Click on any image to start the slideshow.
See the form below:
Preserve Westfield’s Local History with this Mindowaskin Park Keepsake
Share a story or a photo so the community can look back and remember what was once an annual winter ritual in Westfield, New Jersey.
Submitted photos will be added to the gallery above. Just tell us the year and participants you know from the picture.
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