Wednesday Wanderings in the Archives: In 1954, after three years of service in the South Pacific with the Marines, Adams County native Ernie Hollabaugh purchased the Mary Jane Inn on Old Harrisburg Road in Huntington Township with the hopes of earning enough money to one day build and own a roller rink.

The inn, built in 1924, had become famous in the area for its chicken and waffles. As Hollabaugh recalled in a 1996 Gettysburg Times article “The inn was a favorite place for locals…we had good food, reasonably priced liquor and a live country band.” The one day came sooner than expected for Hollabaugh a few years later when Huntington Township voted to become dry.

So, with a few renovations, the Mary Jane Inn became the Mary Jane Roller Rink and was opened on September 1, 1959 (nine days before the birth of this Wednesday Wanderer) with about 200 area residents in attendance. For many years, the Mary Jane Roller Rink provided recreation to area residents. And, we’re sure many memories as well.