By Staff
Harold Schaus, owner of The Ramona Roller Rink of Sister Lakes, was presented a gift by artist Bill Gamble of Dowagiac.
Schaus happily accepted three 18- by 24-inch original oil paintings of The Ramona.
The first painting shows The Ramona Dance Pavilion as it looked in 1928.
The second is The Ramona Roller Rink in 1966.
The third painting is The Ramona as it appears today.
These paintings show how a piece of Sister Lakes history has changed over the past 77 years.
The Ramona opened on July 3, 1928, as the Ramona Dance Pavilion.
Though the building had been added on to before 1962, the original structure still remains.
Gamble was inspired to create the paintings when he learned the history of the roller rink.
While The Ramona is getting ready to celebrate her 77th birthday on July 3, John Reyes celebrated his 90th birthday this past Saturday afternoon at the roller rink.
Reyes over the years brought his children to The Ramona to roller skate three days a week.
Family and friends came from as far away as California, Florida and South Carolina to be with Mr. Reyes to celebrate his birthday.
Family included: daughters, Beatrice Lieberman and Janie Dechert, both from California; grandsons, Jeff and Michael Dechert, along with their wives, Patty and Andi, great-grandson Mikey Dechert, great-granddaughters Winter and Alex Dechert.
Auctioneer John Glassman and his wife Laverne were there from Eau Claire.
Friends Diane Glassman Kish, Paul L. Kish from Orlando, Fla., Jordan Mainer from Florida, Jerry Glassman Jr. from Eau Claire, Bill and Barbara osenberger from California, Tony and Sharon Tavolacci of Coloma, Nina Tavolacci of Watervliet and Jeremy Sapp of Eau Claire also attended.