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Upstate New York circa 1905. "Bowling alley. Paul Smith's casino, Adirondack Mountains." Our second look at this resort's recreational facilities. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company. View full size.
To quote Mr. Plainview, "I'm Finished!"
I bowled these exact lanes back in 1970 while attending Paul Smith's College. White Pine Camp was used by as a student dormitory for Forestry students up till 1983 and really was never fixed up.
I stayed at the camp in my second year. Built in 1907 and expanded in 1911, it served as Calvin Coolidge's 1926 summer White House. It was built in 1907 and expanded in 1911. Now privately owned and completely refurbished. You would never recognize the place.
What goes around comes around, I guess. It still sure looks great in Craftsman and Prairie style residences 100+ years later.
The Boys Club in my old hometown had a pair of alleys like these. Even in the mid 70's we were regularly using the lanes. I often ended up being the pin setter. The backstop you see was made of very thick black leather and stuffed with leather shreds. At the end of the lane before the backstop is a pit for the pins and the ball to bounce into.
The ball knocking down the regulation size pins makes quite a racket, especially when you are right above the action. Once the dust settled I'd jump the three feet down and step on a pedal, this would cause 10 metal pins to pop up from the floor of the lane. Quickly picking up the ball and sending it back, I'd pick the pins up 2 at time and place them on the pins. I got good at it because some of the more sadistic boys would be sending a ball down sooner than expected just to mess with me. I learned to jump up to my perch quickly to avoid injury.
I wondered about the all the previous generations of "Pin Setters" before me, this alley dated from around 1900 as well. I remember telling my grandfather about my experience, well he laughed and recalled his experience was no different than mine! I was around 9 or so like a lot of my predecessors, but unlike them I didn't make a living of it become deaf by the time I was 15.
"I drink your milkshake!"
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