Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

I remember the bowling alley (behind Wedgewood Crane and Connolly) where the T station is now on College Avenue (it was in the back and to the left of the train in the picture). There was a pretty bad fire there that basically destroyed it. The day after the fire, my friends and I actually went inside exploring.

Bowling a few strings on a Saturday afternoon back in the day used to make for a fun day. We used to go to Sacco’s Bowl Haven on Day Street in Davis Square. It’s still there, minus a few of the alleys, and now The Flatbread Company is there also. The pool tables are gone, where my friend, the legendary Boston Shorty, used to rack ‘em up. I remember many hours of fun bowling on Day Street. They used to let kids bowl in their stocking feet. I can’t remember exactly what the cost was, but I know it was really cheap. I think a buck covered a few strings plus a snack.

There was a bowling alley in the basement of Anthony’s Function Hall on Highland Avenue, but I was never there (someone said it was called Ralph’s).  I was on the Embassy Lounge bowling team in the ‘70s. I still remember my friend Denny screaming for the ball to “get over…get over!” We had team shirts and everything. We bowled at The Ball Square Alleys back when Herbie ran it.

“There was one on Winter Hill, down the alley in back of Leone’s Sub Shop. Can’t remember the name,” my friend Darlene tells me. “There used to be one on Prospect Street on the Cambridge side.”  Even though it was in Cambridge, a lot of Somerville bowlers hit the bowling alley that used to be next to the Stephen James House on Davenport Street behind the Porter Square shopping center. Mary C. remembers an alley on lower Broadway that had four lanes. We’ve heard that there were lanes in the basement of The Knights of Columbus hall on Highland Avenue, too.

Fact of fiction? “There used to be a bowling alley on a side street off of Mass. Avenue in Central Square that allowed you to bring in beer. I bowled there for the old Studley’s team, and we won first place. We all got large trophies,” Cheryl said.” I remember there were lanes in the College Avenue United Methodist Church.” George chimes in with, “You might add the Turnpike Bowladrome on the Concord Turnpike (Route 2). Expanded in 1959, it was very popular with the Somerville crowd as it was near the drive-in theater (Fresh Pond) and fast food outlets and swimming at Jerry’s Pit on Rindge Avenue.” I think he is referring to what is now Lanes and Games. Here’s a cool story:  “My father always took us to Day Street to bowl and then to the Coronet barroom (now Redbones) for chips and a coke with cherries in it. Shhhh, don’t tell Mom!”

Jeff shares this: “My grandfather owned a bowling alley in Teele Square. It burned down in the early ‘50s. My mom and aunts were pinsetters then. I believe it’s where Jumbo Lounge ended up. I have no idea what’s there now. It’s been over 17 years since I’ve seen the area.” Ian Judge tells us that there was a six-lane bowling alley in the basement of the Somerville Theatre. Let’s wrap it up with a memory from my pal Warren.

“In the forties, I set pins in the cellar of the Hobbs Bowling, Billiards and Pool Hall (the same building that housed and still does house the Somerville Theatre),” he said.

So try to keep your ball (and your mind) out of the gutter, and I may see you in the alley. Don’t forget to return the rental shoes!