Elf Bowling Tribute
Jeremias Resendez
Honoring our loved ones can be so beautifully achieved through a personalized tribute. This one honors the love of bowling. If you are interested in our designers creating a custom tribute for your loved on to honor their favorite hobby, please contact us at the shop 505-247-8650.
The Dust Bowl isn't just about bowling. It's a unique entertainment destination that can accommodate a variety of parties, corporate events, birthday parties ( kids & adults ), class reunions, bachelor / bachelorette parties, game watches, holiday parties and group outings.
Since October 1946, SICSIC have promoted school spirit around the campus of Bowling Green State University and beyond. To celebrate its 75th Anniversary, BG Memories Apparel is proud to offer this one-of-a-kind tribute t-shirt celebrating all the years of SICSIC Spirit In Your Face at BGSU!
Bowling alleys have had a prominent place in the City of Anacortes' history from its very early days. In June of 1891, the one-month-old city passed Ordinance No. 9 "to provide for licensing and regulating the keeping of gaming tables and bowling alleys" for hire, and set the fee at $10 per alley per year. Offering free play did not provide an exemption. The ordinance stipulated that if players bet on the outcome, requiring the loser to buy a round of drinks or cigars from the host establishment, then the alley was deemed "for hire" and subject to the licensing fee.
It took more than a decade before a truly modern bowling alley was established in town. The first mentioned in the Anacortes American was Ernest Rhine's $1,700 Brunswick bowling alley, which opened in November of 1904 on 5th Street "near Judd's photograph gallery." This was to be a wholesome operation. "Mr. Rhine will at all times maintain the best of order and ladies will be admitted at any and all times," the American reported on Nov. 24, 1904. "There will be no rowdyism, the alley will be conducted as a strictly moral and first-class place." By September of 1905 Rhine had added a third lane. His brother Bert was soon operating the business, and sold it to Gene Woodin in 1907.
In late 1908 Glen Wilkins (a local bowling champ) and Lea Dodge began construction of a 25x100 foot building on 5th Street between Commercial and Q, with three No. 1 Brunswick-Balke hard maple alleys. This is probably the structure behind the Majestic Inn that was demolished a few years ago. Wilkins and Dodge sold their interests the following year. The town's initial bowling mania in town cooled after the early 1910s, at roughly the same time the state's voters enacted liquor prohibition.
In January 1914 a bowling alley at 303 Commercial was removed to make way for a second-hand furniture store. That year, construction plans for the Elks Club's new lodge at 6th and Q included a provision to add a future bowling alley, then the mention of bowling disappears from the pages of the American for the rest of the decade and into the 1920s. Bowling was one of the activities conducted in the Elks Home, which later served as a community building and then City Hall.
In February of 1925 Glen Wilkins tried once more to establish a bowling emporium. The Anacortes American reported that he was installing bowling alleys, billiard and pool tables, cigar cases, and a soft drink bar in the old Rose Theater. But by Nov. 1, 1928 the paper reported that the Rose Theater was to be demolished.
San Juan Lanes opened in the early 1950s on the second floor of the Phillips Building, 918 4th St., and old photos show the iconic neon bowling pin sign at this location. San Juan Lanes was successful enough to expand into a roomier facility, and construction began on the bowling alley at 2821 Commercial (the former site of the Nelson School) in August 1960. A drawing from that era shows architect Don McKee's concept for the building. This site served bowlers, arcade lovers, and connoisseurs of hearty American breakfasts for generations, until it closed its doors in October of 2020.
Nonetheless, the Lemmings put in a dominant display with the bat, amassing a total of 199 runs in just 25 overs. Claire Taylor led a wag from the middle order when the momentum dipped, guiding her team to a formidable total that would test the skills of the Invitation XI.
As the Invitation XI padded up to chase down the target, the effect of a heavy lunch and substantial liquid refreshment took its effect. They were met with a disciplined bowling attack led by the three brothers Baker (James (Maths, 1992), Matthew (Maths, 1998), and Peter (Maths, 2000), who, in addition to confusing the scorer with their bowling changes, kept the runs in check and applied pressure on the opposition batsmen, stifling any chance of building momentum.
The weather was idyllic, the pitch played perfectly, John Pheasant (Modern Languages, 1972) and Jervis Smith (Jurisprudence, 1978) umpired throughout, and the atmosphere in the marquee was filled with a mix of nostalgia and excitement as the large crowd cheered on their favourite players. With every wicket that fell and every run scored, the presence of Martin Edwards was felt throughout the match, reminding everyone of his passion for the game and the joy and encouragement he brought to all who knew him.
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