175 Years of Philadelphia Skating Club & Humane Society

Our club traces its roots to the joining of two organizations: The Skater’s Club of the City and County of Philadelphia and the Humane Society of Philadelphia. Here are some highlights from our history:

The Humane Society of Philadelphia, patterned after the Royal Humane Society of London (a “Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned”), was organized in 1770 to rescue people from drowning.

Founded in 1849, The Skater’s Club of the City and County of Philadelphia was the first skating club in North America.

At that time, members skated on frozen rivers and lakes in the Philadelphia area. The club’s objectives were instruction and improvement in the art of skating, cultivation of friendship among skaters, and the rescue of people who fell through the ice.

Years later, when the Humane Society ceased to function, its organization and responsibilities were acquired by the Skaters Club of the City and County of Philadelphia.

On February 28, 1861, The Skaters Club of Philadelphia became The Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society (PSC&HS). In the subsequent decades, club members skated on the Schuylkill River and enjoyed their clubhouse in Fairmount Park.

In 1910, the club moved its activities to the Philadelphia Ice Palace, located at 45th and Market Streets in Philadelphia.
There we hosted the United States Figure Skating Association National Championships in 1924 and 1934.

In 1937, the PSC&HS bought land from Haverford College to build our present club-owned facility in Ardmore. This facility, opened in 1938, has since been expanded and upgraded for year-round-skating and energy-efficient cooling and heating.

In 1941 and 1949, we hosted the North American Figure Skating Championships.

Between 1923 and 1945, PSC&HS members held 16 national titles. Since then, we have had four national title holders and numerous national medalists and competitors.

Two of our most famous competitors are Dick Button (North American, European, World and Olympic Champion) and Scott Hamilton (National, World and Olympic Champion).

Learn more about the rich history of the club can be found in the US National Archives.