Vernon Lanes, known for its vintage charm and long history in the city of Louisville, is one of the oldest bowling alleys in the United States. General Manager Bruce Jarrett took LEO Weekly on an exclusive tour, highlighting the expansive history of the bowling alley and the machinery that helps make the magic happen.
The Vernon Lanes building is a mansion that was built in 1886, and its first use was for the Delmont Club, which operated until 1898. It was then purchased by St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in 1918, using it as a recreational hall.
The original bowling lanes were located downstairs in the basement of the building, as opposed to the ground floor location you see in the space now. The dance floor and more social space was located on the ground floor.
Butchertown, where Vernon Lanes is located, was historically a stockyard area, where workers would take shipped goods off of barges in order to avoid the Falls of the Ohio. The goods would then be transported to Portland to be loaded onto new barges. St. Joseph’s recreational hall served as a way for workers, their friends, and families to take a load off and hang out.
During 1944 and WWII, the recreational hall received funding to rebuild the building. A concrete foundation was added, the bowling lanes were moved upstairs and the social activities were moved below, adding a stage, sound booth with a VIP area, green room, and a small kitchen area, used for fish fries.
Under current ownership, the structure of the building was changed quite a bit. Walls were knocked down upstairs to create room for more patrons and handicap accessibility and a kitchen, bar and new stage area was added downstairs.
During the bowling alley’s stint as the St. Joseph’s social club, there were “pin boys”, who were hired to pick up the pins, reset them and throw the balls back after each frame. They were 10-20 years old and were kids from the parish or neighborhood. Some of the pin boys are still alive and come to visit the bowling alley to this day.
The pin boys lasted until 1969, when new pin setting machines were put in. The pinsetters were manufactured in Chicago in 1968, making them a brand new invention at the time they were installed at Vernon Lanes. Ever since that installation, the pinsetters have remained the same at the bowling alley upon proper maintenance.
The pinsetters are operated by mostly one motor and a series of belts that are similar to ones you’d find in your car. A transmission operates the mechanisms that turn the pin-loading part of the machine, the conveyor that drops the pins into the loading area, and the rake that cleans the lanes and moves the deck up and down. There’s electrical parts that automatically stop the system to prevent jams.
The pinsetters, from their debut in 1968 on, have always included a multitude of safety precautionary features. The machines are built to stop automatically, as if they were to continue, the pins would be smashed and the lanes would be torn apart. There’s also a series of backup cables to prevent anything from falling.
Remnants of Vernon Lane’s history can be spotted throughout the bowling alley. Textured walls from glue that held shag carpets, Brunswick lockers that are still used by regulars, and the original cellar door hung on the wall. The benches are from the 60s, some complete with ash trays. In fact, the newest part of the lanes and bowling area is the wooden parts of the lanes where the balls roll, as they have to be replaced every couple of years to remain operable. Even then, the wood is often repurposed to make bars and tables.
Catch up on some nostalgia and immerse yourself in Louisville history at Vernon Lanes, located on 1575 Story Ave.