On July 13–14, 1977, two long‑distance roller skaters — Sylvia Haffke and John LeClaire – completed one of the most remarkable athletic feats ever connected to Norwood. What began as a casual bet over a couple of beers turned into a grueling, record‑breaking charity challenge that pushed both skaters to their physical limits.
Haffke and LeClaire, members of the Riverside Rollerway in Agawam, set out to break the Guinness world record for distance roller skating. The existing record stood at 106 miles in 25 hours. Their plan was far more ambitious: skate from Agawam toward the Connecticut state line, then continue north along Route 1 all the way to Norwood – a total of 111 miles.
The rules of the attempt allowed only five minutes of rest per hour, meaning the pair spent nearly the entire journey in motion. They were accompanied by bicyclists and support vehicles, including trucks carrying supplies and club members who cheered them along the route. The physical toll was immense. Haffke later described the exhaustion, the blistered feet, and the constant strain of maintaining pace over nearly twenty hours of skating. When the pair finally reached Norwood Roll‑Land, they immediately soaked their feet in tubs of ice water while supporters poured champagne to celebrate.
Their final time – 19½ hours – not only broke the Guinness record but shattered it, beating the previous mark by more than five hours. The effort raised over $2,000 for muscular dystrophy research, turning their personal challenge into a meaningful charitable achievement.
Haffke, 37, was already a decorated skater: a four‑time North American senior ladies champion and three‑time runner‑up in world competition. LeClaire, 28, served in the Air Force.
Together, they transformed a spontaneous bet into a moment of athletic triumph, community support, and charitable impact.
Their arrival in Norwood was met with celebration — sore feet, ice water, champagne, and the satisfaction of having rolled their way into the record books.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
-
Man Refurbishes 1956 Fire Pumper-This Day In Norwood History-July 13, 1978
Norwood resident Rick Spicer turned heads on Neponset Street and Cherrywood Drive in July 1978 with a unique vehicle parked in his driveway: a refurbished 1956 Peter Pirsche Pumper. The fire truck, which had been retired by the Dedham Fire Department four years prior, had been sold to a local wrecking service before Spicer acquired…
-
Skaters Break Guinness World Record in Norwood-This Day In Norwood History-July 14, 1977
On July 13–14, 1977, two long‑distance roller skaters — Sylvia Haffke and John LeClaire – completed one of the most remarkable athletic feats ever connected to Norwood. What began as a casual bet over a couple of beers turned into a grueling, record‑breaking charity challenge that pushed both skaters to their physical limits. Haffke and…
-
Norwood Beautification Committee Launches Property Contest-This Day In Norwood History-July 11, 1977
Beautification Contest Announced ⠀ On July 11, 1977, the Beautification Committee of Norwood officially announced the commencement of a town-wide contest dedicated to recognizing the most attractive and well-maintained residential and industrial properties in town. The committee is inviting all citizens to participate by submitting nominations for homes or businesses that demonstrate consistent upkeep or…
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.