Candlepin bowling alley inside Wyoming Civic Center boasts history, uniqueness

At the corner of Springfield Pike and Worthington Avenue sits the Wyoming Civic Center. The building is an ideal space for wedding receptions and various other social events.

But a walk downstairs to the basement reveals a candlepin bowling alley, a true rarity in the Midwest.

At first glance, it appears to be a normal bowling alley, but take a look around and its unique features will stand out.

The balls are smaller and lighter. The pins are taller and narrower than their contemporary counterparts. For each lane, there are pencils and a paper scorecard; electronics do not aid in the language that is score-keeping.

Steve Sharrock discovered the alley when his family moved to Wyoming when he was 8 years old. His first encounter was during a birthday party and he has been involved in leagues ever since. Like many others who have played the game, the eccentricity keeps him coming back.

"I just love it. It’s a neat game. I love games, and that’s a really neat, rare game," Sharrock said.

Sharrock played baseball in high school and found that bowling kept his arm loose during the winter. Despite playing baseball at the University of South Florida, he found his way back to Wyoming and the bowling alley. Now, he serves as the commissioner of the winter men’s league. 

The candlepin variety may be unfamiliar to most, but spare an hour or two to experience the game, and you may find that this rare find is right up your alley.

"It's just something that's very unique. I think people like that they keep score with pencil and paper. There's no electronics. I feel like I finally use something I learned in gym class," said Jennifer Pospisil, the civic center's recreation supervisor.

Pospisil has worked there since 2014. Spending time around the bowling alley has taught her about the game's unique aspects.

What is candlepin bowling?

Candlepin bowling originated in Wooster, Massachusetts, in the 1880s. Justin White is credited with inventing the sport, and John J. Monsey helped regulate the game and spread it across the state. The International Candlepin Bowling Association was formed in 1986. Today, the game is most popular in its founding state of Massachusetts as well as New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

Candlepin and 10-pin are similar in form but differ in technical aspects. The pins are taller, more slender, lighter and more spaced out. The balls are smaller and weigh the same as the pins (about two and a half pounds). Because of the disparity, bowlers have three attempts to knock down all 10 pins instead of two.

Oil is spread on the lanes but is intended to protect the floor rather than elicit curvature from the ball. When pins are knocked down, they are not swept off the lane but can be used to knock down remaining pins.

Players are allowed to wear bowling shoes, but also have the option to wear socks.

“People can wear bowling shoes if they have them. Most people don't so we just encourage them to wear socks,” Pospisil said.

The highest score ever recorded was a 254 in 1984 and 2011, a testimony to the game's difficulty. The game itself is a lesson in physics, ideal for a high school field trip. Keeping score, although simple addition, is a lesson in math. 

In between candlepin and standard 10-pin bowling is a variation known as duckpin, which has grown in popularity thanks to local spots like Pins Mechanical Co. and Hoppin' Vines. Duckpin is largely similar to candlepin. The only exceptions are that the ball is slightly larger and heavier, and the pins are miniature versions of those used in 10-pin.

Many refer to candlepin as "real bowling" as opposed to 10-pin. Although less popular among the general population, it takes more skill to knock down the pins, even with one more throw. By Sharrock’s estimate, half of the bowlers in the current league have a background in 10-pin bowling. Despite the differences, the skills translate.

How Candlepin bowling came to Ohio

In Wyoming's case, there are conflicting reports on the alley’s conception. The site of the current civic center was also the site of the previous two buildings, referred to as "Amusement Halls." The first was constructed in 1885 and destroyed in a 1907 fire. The second hall faced a similar fate in 1948, leading to the current building's construction in 1949.

The earliest date associated with the alley is a plaque that recognizes Smith Allen Coffing’s high score of 170 in January 1922. Pin boys used to work the lanes for 10 cents an hour until mechanical pinsetters were installed in 1960. The alley has undergone several renovations, with the most recent one being in 2017. The wooden floorboards were replaced and a full-length mural was installed to commemorate the space.

The Wyoming Public Works staff maintains the alley, ensuring everything is running smoothly during events.

Leagues have always been popular among residents, ranging from those barely old enough to hurl the ball down the lane to older adults who have played for decades. But the alley is most popular with the younger population. Reservation options on the civic center's website include the bowling alley only and the alley for a child's birthday party.

“The two-hour children's birthday party is definitely a popular one. It's generally geared for kids 12 and under, but usually, the adults will be in here playing just as well,” Pospisil said.

The center even hosted a week-long minicamp for kids during the summers. For a few hours each day, kids would show up to play board games, watch movies and bowl. The camp eventually shifted to a Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday format as it became difficult to keep children entertained with the same activities. The camp went on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not returned since.

In the past, there have been open bowling nights, sometimes held in conjunction with the schools’ open houses. Parents could drop their kids off at the school and experience a different kind of open house at the bowling alley. But, like the minicamp, those events have not returned since the start of the pandemic.

While Sharrock was in school, even if the rest of the city was quiet, the bowling alley was always there, ready to host fun times and competition between comrades.

"You used to always be able to count on bowling happening if nothing else was happening," Sharrock said.

Other popular events include graduation parties and corporate events. The adjacent Corral Room has a capacity of 60 people, helping to accommodate such events.

When Pospisil moved into her current role, mostly Wyoming residents reserved the alley. But that has changed, with more non-residents discovering the alley and its history.

“More and more, word has kind of traveled and gotten out. I would say it's probably a 60-40 split. Sixty (percent) residents and 40 (percent) non-residents.” Pospisil said.

Currently, the alley sees most of its use through reservations and a winter men’s league. Pospisil said there have been inquiries about additional leagues and that the center is open to hosting more groups.

Sharrock's league rolls on Thursday nights in the fall and spring. Six teams made of five players compete each week. There are two 13-week sessions that consist of a double round-robin, two "position" weeks and an end-of-season party.

Serving as the league's commissioner does not put Sharrock at a competitive advantage, but he always finds himself at or near the top of the standings.

"I never have the highest average, but my team wins a lot," Sharrock said.

For more information, and inquiries about the bowling alley, visit the civic center's website or call (513) 821-5423.