Bowling Statistics was a regular feature in the Chapleau Sentinel during the 1960s as leagues were in full swing pretty well every night of the week at the alleys in the basement of the YMCA. However, bowling was a popular sport played at the YMCA much earlier than those years.
In fact, many long-time Chapleau citizens may recall that Mrs. Mabel Young, the mother of Dr. G.E. Young was still bowling after reaching 90 years of age. And I recall setting up pins in the 1950s.
Ian Macdonald has noted that the YMCA became part of the "social fabric" of the communities served, confirmed by Ron Brown in his book 'The Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore' who observed that they became a sight and activity centre as much a part of the community as the gardens, sitting rooms in the stations or new water tanks.
Bowling was certainly part of the social fabric of Chapleau, and recently I discovered a Bowling Statistics column from the February 3, 1966 edition of the Sentinel.
Here are some of the highlights that for me at least, brought back memories of life and people of Chapleau, as much as their enjoyment of bowling.
In the Monday night Wildcat League, Florent Cloutier with a 262 single and a 729 triple was the top bowler in the 7 p.m. games while D. Martell with a 310 single and Roy May with a 766 triple were the top bowlers.
At this point in the season, Florent Cloutier held the high single with a 358 score while Don Martell held the high triple with 808 and Henry Desbois the high average with 215.
The standings in order were Traders, Hublit Hotel, Len's Taxi, Roadrunners, Millwrights and Lumber Kings.
In the Tuesday night league at 7 pm Georgina Teschke with a 274 single and a 599 triple was top bowler while at 9 pm Gil Turcotte with a 208 single and a 525 triple was tops.
The team standings were Theresa Ouellette, Irene Larcher, Helen Fournier, Georgina Teschke, Denise Bujold and Donna Gervais.
In the Wednesday night Victory Bowling League at 7 pm Lil Janacek with a 239 single and Alice Prusky with a 581 triple were top bowlers while at 9 pm Vi Bromley with a 263 single and Carmen May with a 608 triple were best of the night.
The report notes that on another night in this league's play, Dora Crichton with a 228 single and 642 triple was top bowler at 7 pm while Carmen May with a 209 single and Laura Bucci with a 575 triple were tops at 9 pm.
Team standings were Vi Bromley, Lil Janacek, Laura Bucci, Dora Crichton, Carmen May and Marg Gagne.
In the Thursday night league which appears to have been mixed, at 7 pm Vi Bromley with a 295 single and 590 triple was tops for the ladies, while Frank Bucci with a 265 single and Roland Joyal with a 625 triple were tops for the men.
At 9 pm Georgette Harris and Carmen May with 236 singles and Georgette with a 590 triple and Len Harris with a 209 single was the top bowler for the men.
Team standings were Aurele Lemire, Len Harris, Frank Bucci, Don Martell, George Goymer and Terry Pratt.
In the Friday night Victory League Elianna Desbois with a 225 single and Dianne Gervais with a 544 triple were tops
In Les Bouts En Train League at 7 pm Jeanne Morin with a 205 single and Gert Gaudette with a 484 triple were top bowlers while at 9 pm Gert Rioux with a 217 single and 561 triple was top bowler.
In the Veit's Supermarket League at 7 pm Julie Payette was top bowler for the ladies with a 196 single and 564 triple while Arthur Raymond with a 333 single and 713 triple was tops for the men.
At 9 pm Thelma Greig with a 244 single and Sheila Demers with a 484 triple were tops for the ladies and Ian Clegg with a 231 single and a 610 triple was tops for men.
On another night in the Veit league at 7 pm Betty Edwards with a 242 single and 494 triple was tops for the women and Reg Fiaschetti with 226 single and 509 triple was tops for the men while at 9 pm Velma Morin with a 228 single and 592 triple led the ladies while Bill Payette with a 227 single and 520 triple was tops for the men.
The Chapleau YMCA was demolished in 1971 to make way for the "new" liquor store. My email is mj.morris@live.ca, and in response to requests, yes, I am on Facebook.