LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

Photos: Oakville Consolidated School and a scene from “Rollermania’, in the old gym.

It comes to life on Friday nights around 7:30 p.m. in the little town of Oakville. The old gym, now known as “Rollermania”, quickly fills with around 60 youth, all eager to sport their skates for an evening’s entertainment. The average age of the young patrons is junior high and under. The music is loud, the candy is plentiful, and the theme is fun and friends.

This describes yet another unique use for an old school facility in Louisa County.

Allen and Rice Enterprises, consisting of Charles Allen and Darryl Rice of Mediapolis, took over the business at the beginning of 1995. “Rollermania” is open on Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m., as well as on Saturday afternoons from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The skating is supervised, giving area students a place to go for a safe evening out.

The owners are exploring additional uses for the facility. Country line-dance classes and roller hockey are being considered, and open skating is being planned for a few more evenings during the week. The addition of a video arcade is scheduled in the near future.

For a bit of history… From 1899 to 1910 a school was located on six lots in Downey’s Second Addition, owned by the Town of Oakville, formerly by John Downey and Lizzie Downey (brother and sister).

In 1910, a brick school was build, referred to as Oakville Public School. In 1918, the Oakville school district was reorganized and consolidated thereafter referred to as Oakville Consolidated School.

In 1954, the Oakville Consolidated School became a part of the Wapello Community School District, and the school building at Oakville was known as Oakville Attendance Center.

The gymnasium was built I the 1950’s.

On July 10, 1980, the Wapello Community School District decided to sell the Oakville School site to the City of Oakville. In September of 1980, the City sold the school and gym to Earl Dean and Marilyn Young.

Dean and Young opened “Young’s Skateland” in the fall of 1980. Mr. Dean passed away in September of 1981, and with the help of her friends, Marilyn operated the rink during 1981 and 1982. The rink was then closed in the spring and remained closed until Earl Dean’s sister, Delpha Blint, and her children reopened the business under the name of “Rollermania”, in October of 1984.

The main school has been used mostly for storage. The basement area was used for a time as a ceramic business for a few years, and Mrs. Blint opened a flea market for a time. The kindergarten room over the roller rink area has been an apartment used by family to stay over on the weekends. In 1994, it was renovated as a studio apartment.

Blint and her family operated the business continuously until it was sold to Allen and Rice Enterprises.

The new owners hope to add apartments in the main building and quite possibly rent out some spaces for business/office areas. The first floor may be left open for auctions and flea markets.