- Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society
Infobox skating club
clubname= Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society
caption=
location=220 Holland Avenue
Ardmore PA 19003-1292
rink=
president=Ann M O'Keefe
director=Maude Hammer White
coach=
establish= 1849/1861
contact=
website= http://www.pschs.org/The Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society is the oldest
figure skating club in theUnited States . Its predecessor organization, called "The Skater's Club of the City and County of Philadelphia", was founded in 1849, and merged with the assets of the Humane Society of Philadelphia in 1861. The latter organization was patterned after theRoyal Humane Society ; the original purpose of the club was to patrol outdoor skating areas around the city ofPhiladelphia , such as theSchuylkill River , in order to rescue skaters who had fallen through the ice. Club regulations still require members to carry a reel of stout twine for lifesaving purposes while skating outdoors.In 1921, the Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society was one of the seven original clubs which formed the
United States Figure Skating Association . It is one of the few clubs in the United States that owns its own rink, located inArdmore, Pennsylvania , and which opened in 1938. Like theSkating Club of Boston and a few other long-established clubs in North America, it retains something of its highbrow traditions, with a selective membership process, initiation fees, and off-ice social events.Notable skaters who have represented the club over the years include
Dick Button and Scott Hamilton.External links
* [http://www.pschs.org/ Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society web site]
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