Small bites of news about a big sport
The old-time, hand-set lanes in Potter, Nebraska are in the news again. Someone needs to tell this reporter that they are not the last of their kind.
Western Nebraska Observer – Here’s How Potter Became a Kingdom of Duckpin
This article from 2007 shows that duckpin bowling was probably common on the West Coast. In this case, the location is Portland, Oregon.
The Hendricks Building is on the National Historic Register. It is documented that the building opened in 1897 and housed a saloon, “bawdy rooms”, a card room, and…
…a duckpin bowling alley.
We already know there was a duckpin center in Cannon Beach, Oregon. So there was definitely an interest and participation. What is most interesting to me is the aspect of a duckpin bowling alley being here in 1897. When taken in context of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island having one in its architectural drawings of 1878, the history of the game needs to be rewritten.
Andy Kelemen put together this 8 minute short documenting a group of rubberband duckpin bowlers in the Pittsburgh area. View it free on Vimeo.
The Thirsty Duck has opened its second location and this one is in Milwaukee. Like with the original location in Sussex, WI, the Milwaukee venue also offers mini-duckpin lanes.
The six lanes are about 25 feet in length and use regulation duckpins with manual pinsetters, aka “pinboys”.
Duckpin World 