These images were submitted by Tim Sturgill, one of our all-star cast. Tim worked at Gay Lanes and when they started to sell everything in order to demolish the building, Tim bought the “stuff” from the old Pro Shop. As we can see from other pictures, one of the things Gay Lanes offered was a Pro Shop. Bowlers would decide to buy a new ball and would get a ball custom fitted and drilled by someone at Gay Lanes. The picture shows the drill press used to drill the balls, the spinning machine that was used to round the sharp edges, and the ball with a bunch of hole that was used for finger sizing and span. It was quite a process, and in those days people would travel for miles to get a ball drilled by who they though were the best.

Also in this slideshow Tim gave us a couple of the last pictures from inside the building before they started selling everything off. Below the slide show is a video Tim took of what might be the very last ball and strike ever thrown at the place.

There is more to tell about the Pro Shop, the pin-setting machines, which Tim worked on, and the bowling alley in general over the years Tim worked there.  We will let him tell the story as only an insider like Tim can. This page is yours Tim. 

click on the link below to get a bigger image