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The Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley opened in the first week of January
1906.
The
local newspapers at the time were "The Deerfield Valley Echo"
and "The Shelburne Falls Messenger".
(The
images and scans on this page are available in high resolution here.)
The
article below, announcing the opening of C.W. Ward's amusement annex
- now the Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley, ran in the Gazette and
Courier (now the Recorder) - January 13, 1906

The
advertisements below, which were run by the original proprietor
of these lanes - C.W. Ward - are unusual in that they directly target
women.
The
advertisement below ran in the
Deerfield Valley Echo on January 3rd, 1906.

The
advertisement below ran in the
August 7th, 1907
It was at this time that Ward added a garden spot behind the alleys.

SHELBURNE
FALLS MESSENGER ARTICLE
JULY 24,1907
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ARCADE
GARDEN OPENING.
Vaudeville,
Refreshments and Rest Spot to Begin Business Saturday Night.
C.W.
Ward’s new Arcade garden will be opened to the public on Saturday
night of this week. The opening attraction was to have been
the three Marshall sisters, a lyceum trio of musical entertainers
of the best class whom Mr. Ward engaged for tomorrow night.
A misunderstanding of dates, however, necessitated a change
of plan. The Marshall sisters will appear at the garden later
in the season, while the opening of the new amusement place
will be signalized by a dance from 8 to 12 o’clock.
Mr.
Ward plans to present at least one vaudeville attraction each
week, with a dancing party or two on other evenings. There
will be musical attractions every night. During the day the
garden will be open to the public free as a rest place. The
refreshment counter of the arcade will be supplied with ice
cream, soda, etc.
It
would have been impossible to find a finer spot for a refreshment
and amusement garden than that which Mr. Ward has converted,
at a very considerable outlay, from a rather unpromising bit
of waste ground. The space on the bluff behind the Arcade
bowling alleys has been graded and graveled and surrounded
by a rustic fence, and a rustic pavilion, adaptable as a stage
or dancing room, has been built out over the bluff. From this
pavilion a most delightful view of the river is obtainable,
one of the very finest in this vicinity, and if there is a
breath of air stirring it will be found there. About the graveled
court will be disposed settees for the audiences at the vaudeville
entertainments and tables for the serving of refreshments.
A number of young evergreen trees add to the attractiveness
of the place.
On
vaudeville nights and other occasions of similar nature the
seating capacity of the garden will be increased to about
300 by swinging out the movable walls of the bowling alley
building and covering the alleys with a portable flooring.
At other times the bowling alleys will still remain open.
To
a place like Shelburne Falls, which has no public park or
green and no outdoor amusement place to be reached by trolley
this cool and immaculately cared for spot would seem to offer
something greatly needed. It would appear that the only thing
necessary to the complete success of such an enterprise is
the assurance that absolute perfect order will be maintained,
and of that there is no doubt with Mr. Ward in charge.
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This
advertisement ran in the Shelburne Falls Messenger September, 1907.

Don
Emerson - Pinboy -
Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley 1949


Women's
Team 1950

Back
Row: Stella Sobieski, Ruth Guyette Bowen, Dot Spencer.
Middle Row: Elaine Martin Emerson, Thelma Batcheldar, Jean Williams,
Beverly Maynard Allard, Von Stone Martin.
Front Row: Hazel Keating, Olive Martin, Beverly Ward Wall, Eunice
Tobey.
1954-55
State Eagles Bowling Champions from the Shelburne Falls Eagles Club
(also known as the Shelburne Five)
From left, Bill Brufee, Archie Ainsworth, Harold Wheeler, Art
Donelson and Alva Stacy

We
are seeking photos and stories about the Shelburne Falls Bowling
Alley's past. If you have something of interest please contact us,
we'd love to see it!
Continue
the tradition with us!
Come to Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley,
you'll be glad you did.
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Winners
1934 Mohawk League
Shelburne Falls Girls Club Bowling Team
Standing:
Kathleen Wheeler
Isabel Halberg (Captain)
Edna Morrissey
Seated: Kathryn Amstein
Ruth McNeil
Mildred Birch
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