History: Bowling in Sheridan

Bowling is an ancient sport, a form of bowling having been played in Egypt from 3200–5000 BC. It came to Europe, but it didn’t become popular in the United States until the mid-1800s. The first bowling alley was opened in New York in the Knickerbocker Hotel in the later 1830s and it had three lanes.

After that, bowling alleys began springing up in other cities. One of the first ones in Sheridan was at Fort Mackenzie, which was built in 1903 as a way to keep the cavalry soldiers entertained so they would not leave the fort and get into trouble in Sheridan. There is no record as to whether this was successful or not. It has one lane, and it can still be seen at Fort MacKenzie, but is no longer in operation.

Bowling consists of a heavy ball that is rolled down a lane, towards a set of ten bowling pins. If all pins are knocked down in the first try, it is called a strike, and scores 10 points. Bowling balls range in weight from 6 to 16 pounds, with 16 pounds being regulation.

Bowling is a sport for everyone, men and women competing in the game. It is easy to learn, as this article shows.

Wyoming Tribune, Cheyenne March 16, 1904 – How to Bowl. A Little Dope on How to Be a “Knocker”and Bowl Correctly. Any one can learn to bowl. In lifting the ball from the runway don’t grab it with both hands; one hand is plenty strong enough to handle it. Turn the ball over until the holes in it are facing upward insert the thumb and second finger, and lift it from its position, letting the arm hang naturally by the side. The primary purpose of finger holes in bowling balls is to provide bowlers with a secure and comfortable grip on the ball.

Then walk to the position you desire behind the foul line. Stand erect, face the pins, and let the weight of the ball rest in your left hand. Start in the center of the alley and throw a straight ball down the center.

Two steps and a slide beginning and ending with the left foot, is the best. This way a man is not awkward, and easily develops his ‘own style. He should keep up the center ball until he is accustomed to the swing and getting the ball away. There is a certain knack to this, but once a man learns it the rest is easy.

The object is to get a bead on the 1-2 pins and endeavor to place the ball right there with all your energy. After the beginner has mastered the delivery he can branch in other directions. He can take up the cross ball from the right hand corner, which is considered the most effective. His first lessons have given him a mastery over starting, and it is not long before he can throw a perfectly straight ball into 1-3.

Then if he finds that the erect or upright position does not suit htm, he can try the stooping position, but the upright start is best for beginners. So much for the first ball. Spare bowling to the true test of a mans ability. ‘Spare bowling is what counts” is an aphorism of the alley.

Straight strikes are better than spares, but it is next to impossible to make many strikes in secession while the science of howling will permit a man to make every frame a spare. And unless strikes do come in succession they are no better then spares.

There are certain balls that are called strike balls, which, if bowled, will result the greatest number of times in strikes, and therein a bowler’s skill is shown. But the fortunes of the game turn a great many strike balls ‘ into the worst of ‘splits” and a great many “split” balls into fluke strikes. The element of chance is not nearly so great in spare bowling, for the majority of spares have to be made In certain ways.

A difficult spare will call for more applause than any strike. They say that it is no longer a spare game that counts, and that a man hasto be a “bunch” bowler to keep up with theprocession. but, If you will notice, the man who gets his spares isgenerally there with a good score when the tenth frame has been bowled.

It in 1903, an article in the Sheridan Post, about Sheridan’s businesses, and the bowling alley was mentioned. – At this time Sheridan is one of the most important cities in the northwest. All lines of business are quite well represented. This is especially true of mercantile and professional pursuits. Sheridan now has seven first class grocery stores, four drug stores, six dry cleanersand clothing houses, three hardware dealers, three jewelers, three furniture stores, two undertakers, three milliners, fourteen saloons, two tailor shops, one China store, four lumber yards, four feed stores, four blacksmiths, two brick yards, where excellent brick are manufactured, live livery stables, two photograph galleries, two dealers in second-hand goods, two steam laundries and several Chinese laundries one stucco factory, where an excellent quality of hard plaster is manufactured, one manufacturer of pop and all kinds oi soft drinks, one brewery, one billiard hall, one bowling alley, one taxidermist, two dealers in Indian curios and art, one music store, three repair shops, two flour mills.

Several towns in the county had bowling teams and tournaments were held.

The Enterprise, February 1, 1907 – Sheridan Bowlers Win Large Crowd Attends Interesting Game at the Alleys last Night. A large crowd of enthusiastic patrons greeted the Billings Bowling Team at Luce’s popular bowling alleys in this city last night. The occasion being the. second of a series of match games between a team from that city and a home team. The games were interesting but fate had decreed that Sheridan should be victorious.

The Daily Enterprise, Number 201, May 23, 1910 –Acme Beats Sheridan in The Bowling Game – Interest in bowling in Sheridan is again looking up and devotees of that game will watch the further progress here and among the coal mining camps. Last Saturday evening occurred a bowling contest at the local alley in Sheridan between teams representing the town of Acme, which was won by the latter,

Following is the score: Acme. David Henderson, 157 164 222, James Sampson 136 123 188. Hugh McLeod 111 161 199, Wm Brim 150 154 175.

Sheridan, A. Mlddleton 149 168 204, Norman 148 148 201, Frank 121 156 165, Kimmel 125 168 171.

The Enterprise, February 1, 1907 – Sheridan Bowlers Win Large Crowd Attends Interesting Game at the Alleys last Night. – A large crowd of enthusiastic patrons greeted the Billings Bowling Team at Luce’s popular bowling alleys in this city last night. The occasion being the. second of a series of match games between a team from that city and a home team. The games were interesting but fate had decreed that Sheridan should be victorious.

Built in 1907, there was the Palm bowling alley on the first floor of what later became the Hotel Rex. The second floor served as the Palm Theater, boasting a “canvas scenery curtain.”

The Semi-Weekly Enterprise, November 1, 1907

In 1918 it became Hotel Rex and was possibly the most well-known and longest running house of ill repute in Sheridan.

Then, ten years later, Sheridan opened another bowling alley.

The Sheridan Post, April 8, 1913 –To Open New Bowling Alley – An announcement was made yesterday; that a high class bowling alley will be opened about May 1st at 44 North Main at the Ball Clothing company’s present location by H. B. McDonald, formerly of the H. & M. Boot Shop, and H L Wickerham formerly of the “Smoke Shop. ‘ Four Brunswick-Blake alleys are to be installed. A complete line of candies and cigars will be by the new firm.

The alleys are to be kept in first class conditions, and only the best trade solicited, according to the proprietors. Ladies can be assured of courteous treatment, and provisions made for their accommodation.

Over the years, bowling gained a lot of followers, as this story from the Laramie Republican Jan. 14, 1918 shows. –Bowling is in Lead – Excels All Other Sports in Total Number of Participants. Reports Furnish Positive Proof That Pastime Has Now Surpassed All Other Indoor Games— Also More Money Invested. (By Thomas O. Jones, Secretary Atlantic Coast Bowling Association.) Reports from all sections of the greatest bowling country in the world —the United States of America—furnished positive proof that howling has now surpassed all other Indoor athletic games. There is more money invested in the bowling game today than perhaps any other, and the game has more actual participants than any other sport or game.

There has been an increasing interest in all bowling associations’ annual tournaments for the last seventeen years, and the 1917-18 season is no exception, unless the exception is a larger increase than any previous season.

I claim that with proper organization we can and will within a short time interest the great majority who do not participate in recreation of any kind, and with the continued support of the representative men now at the head of our different associations, we will make good our claim that bowling is no longer a luxury, but is now considered a necessity. We must all give more time to organization. No game or sport or business can be made a success without proper organization—bowling is no exception.

Every man who bowls ought to be connected with a bowling association and assist in enforcing its rules. We have been very successful here in organizing, not only in the Atlantic Coast Bowling association, but local chapters in almost nil of the eastern cities.

They have formulated rules and are enforcing them, preventing the games or tournaments from being top heavy, eliminating from competition the so-called “star team,” usually composed of alley owners and managers. Local leagues, as well as the annual A. C. B. A. International tournaments, are catering to the masses and not the few, and from present indications they will, and within a few years, secure the support of the bowlers located in this territory. This will enable the association to hold annual tournaments and will test the capacity of any building available, and we still have the great Madison Square Garden. We are slowly but surely uniting all of the bowlers and with the continued support of bowling journals and daily press, we will, within a few years place bowling where it belongs—at the head of all other athletic sports.

Photo courtesy of Sabrina Rhoades. Thanks

Today, bowling continues to be popular, and there are two bowling alleys in the area, Cloud Peak Lanes in Sheridan and Buffalo Bowl in Buffalo.

Feature photo – bowling alley at Fort Mackenzie. Vannoy photo