Strike!

The swirling clouds of burning tobacco went up in smoke years ago. That was when the "shop leagues" rolled the balls and made the candle-pins drop at Springfield's only surviving manual bowling alley.
http://www.eagletimes.com/news/2015-11-7/Front_Page/Strike.html

Strike! Good times still roll at vintage bowling alley By Allan Stein allans@eagletimes.com Andrew Bladyka, director of the Springfield Community Center, takes his best shot at knocking down 10 candle pins at the center's vintage manual bowling alley, built in 1919. — ALLAN STEIN Andrew Bladyka, director of the Springfield Community Center, takes his best shot at knocking down 10 candle pins at the center's vintage manual bowling alley, built in 1919. — ALLAN STEIN SPRINGFIELD — The swirling clouds of burning tobacco went up in smoke years ago. That was when the "shop leagues" rolled the balls and made the candle-pins drop at Springfield's only surviving manual bowling alley. The 10 candle-pin bowling alley — six hardwood lanes hidden away in the basement of the Springfield Community Center — is today a functioning monument to one of the town's favorite past-times at the turn of the century. "My own father, who was born in 1918, was in high school in the 1930s. He used to set up pins for the men's leagues," said Community Center Director Andrew Bladyka. "I think it is a really neat piece of Springfield's history. I can't tell you how many people have called to tell me stories of working set-up for the leagues," said Bladyka. In 1919, the Springfield Manufacturers Association built the candle-pin bowling alley in the building at 139 Main St., in what is now the community center. Back then, the factory workers used to gather after work to bowl a few strings while enjoying conversation and smoking cigars and cigarettes, which was still allowed at the time. Bladyka said the bowling alley has been in its current location for as long as he can remember. As a child he used to spend time playing in the lanes. Each hardwood lane measures approximately 60 feet in length and is numbered and flanked by gutters on each side. The wooden scoreboards, chalk bowls, candle pins and benches are all original. There are no moving parts. So, after knocking down the pins, players have to go and set the pins back up and roll the balls back up to the front. "This is old school. It's the way bowling should be," said Eric Brammer of Claremont, formerly of Perkinsville. "There is a good, comfortable feel to it. My first memories of bowling were in coming here." As director for the past 19 years, Bladyka said he's invested a few community center dollars purchasing candle pins and some 50 bowling balls from other bowling alleys that have gone out of business. A few years ago, as part of a community project, the bowling alley was installed with new lights and the walls were given a fresh coat of green and yellow paint to brighten the lanes. "We have people who come in here four days a week. They just love it," said Bladyka. Donna Hall, executive secretary to the town manager, said she too has fond memories of the old candle-pin bowling alley. "I did play there, when I was younger. It was on Saturday afternoons. It was fun — until you got sick of having to set the pins back up," said Hall.