Milestones

Lois Stratton of Fayetteville celebrated her 80th birthday on March 24. Lois is well known by many veteran roller skaters and live music fans in Fayetteville. She moved to Fayetteville in 1947 and graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1948. She helped her parents run a roller rink in the 1950s on South School Avenue where City Lumber is now.

Lois and her husband, the late Dayton Stratton, took over operation of the skating rink in 1962 and operated some of Fayetteville’s first live music clubs. Along with musician Ronnie Hawkins, the Strattons operated The Rockwood Club in south Fayetteville from 1958 to 1962. In 1965, the Strattons built The Rink in west Fayetteville. The Rink and The Rockwood Club hosted many well-known acts ranging from rockabilly star Carl Perkins to Tina Turner.

Milestones is an occasional feature of the Free Weekly.