September 4, 1930 – A big crowd turned out for the first night of roller skating at the skating rink on the southwest corner of Lansing and Ukiah Streets. The Beacon reported that “The opening night was well attended and there were a large number of skaters on the floor most of the evening.” The skating sessions, managed by Joseph Scheper, would operate on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights for the next month.

Buildings along an unpaved street
View of Lansing Street in Mendocino, looking north up the hill from just south of Albion Street, 1923-1930. Power poles line the unpaved street that was, at this time, the Coast Road or Highway 1. The building on the left is known as the Shell Building and was built as a garage in 1923 by George Daniels after he demolished the old stables building. The walls are clad in metal stamped to mimic cut stone blocks. The roof is corrugated tin. The building next to the garage, known at this time as Skating Rink Hall and later Kellieowen Hall, has a sign for a “Free Reading Room” in the building, which was operated by the Girl Scouts. Its false front is also clad, like the Shell Building next to it, in faux stone stamped metal siding. Going up the street, the Masonic Lodge with its rooftop statuary is on the left, and at the top of the hill is the first Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church, before it was destroyed by fire in 1930.

This building was originally constructed in 1887 by William H. Kelley as a dance hall and skating rink, and was known as “Kaze Hall” in its early days. At that time, the Beacon called the 40’ x 90’ structure, “the largest hall in the county.”

In addition to the large, open area used for dancing or skating, many different businesses occupied this building over the next 60 years: restaurants, saloon, poolroom, movie theater, candy shop, grocery store, and the Girl Scouts’ Free Reading Room.

Kelley’s daughter, Daisy MacCallum, had the structure remodeled in 1950, and she renamed the building Kellieowen (pronounced Kelley-Owen, a combination of Daisy’s and her mother’s maiden names) Hall. This hall was then used as a community meeting place and the home of Mendocino’s community library for many years.

When Daisy’s heirs sold their Mendocino real estate holdings in 1974, the library had to leave this building. “Corners of the Mouth” opened here in 1975, before moving to its present location on Ukiah Street the following year. In 1976, Rosemary Henes took over the main space, remodeling it for her business, “Personal Expressions.” Several businesses occupied this space afterward, including Slade’s Pacific Union House, Foghorn Tavern, and Rainsong Clothing. In 2022, the business in the main area of the building is “The Study Club.”

Photo: View of Lansing Street in Mendocino, looking north up the hill from just south of Albion Street, 1923-1930. Power poles line the unpaved street that was, at this time, the Coast Road or Highway 1.

The building on the left is known as the Shell Building and was built as a garage in 1923 by George Daniels after he demolished the old stables building. The walls are clad in metal stamped to mimic cut stone blocks. The roof is corrugated tin.

The building next to the garage, known at this time as Skating Rink Hall and later Kellieowen Hall, has a sign for a “Free Reading Room” in the building, which was operated by the Girl Scouts. Its false front is also clad, like the Shell Building next to it, in faux stone stamped metal siding.

Going up the street, the Masonic Lodge with its rooftop statuary is on the left, and at the top of the hill is the first Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church, before it was destroyed by fire in 1930.

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