Gay Lanes – Tiffin Bowling History

Links

Gay Lanes – Black Rail Lounge / Heritage Lanes – Steamer’s

History

Gay Lanes, probably the most familiar bowling alley in town. Located at 747 W. Market Street. We think, but not verified, they opened sometime in the mid-fifties, according to records we found (1955) and closed circa 2017-2018.

Gay Lanes changed their name to Heritage Lanes when they did a major remodeling sometime in the 2000’s (we think, not sure when). The Lounge was renamed Steamer’s in honor of Stan Smith, the long time owner. He was known as Steamer. One of the greatest guys who ever walked the planet.

Most of the historians we have gathered here bowled at Gay Lanes, including a couple of people who worked there over a couple of generations. They have a wealth of knowledge and will be a great help. Thank you all.

NOTE: All images on this website are collected in several ways. To give proper citation, they come from the following sources; Tiffin Seneca Public Library digital library, various editions of the Advertiser-Tribune, Social Media such as Facebook and Twitter, The Tiffin Historical Society, and random individuals who scanned or photographed what they may have. We will cite pictures as we post them and if someone wants to remain anonymous, we will respect that as well.

This site is

Follow the links on the left to each Bowling Alley. The top link “How we got here” explains how this project and site came about. Under each bowling alley we will document the history of each establishment and add whatever memorabilia is submitted in our History / Records / Scrapbook section, along with what we know we already have.

Anyone wishing to submit a picture, scan, or article please reply to submissions@tiffinbowlinghistory.org. General questions or communication can be done through tiffinbowlinghistory@gmail.com.

Records & Scrapbook

Like the picture on our main page, years ago we kept score with some kind of trick pencil and a projector to the scoreboards hanging from the ceiling. Years later they went to automatic scorers (not sure when – someone will know) and things once again changed. At the same time, some things still stay the same, as we will see here. Somewhere around 1980 many of these records became documented in what was known as the yearly average book, created and published by the Tiffin City Men’s bowling association. They can now be digitized. Taking a picture of paper, in this case a printed paper, or hand written on a nightly scorecard.

All leagues turned in a scoresheet at the end of the night. This established handicaps, standings, and of course records. Not only all time records, but everyone’s average from the year before, which was used for out of town tournaments. Our test sample Average Book is from 1993/1994. About 17 pages, and really ugly. Well, it lived in the bottom of a bowling bag for 30 years. The one we have says 14th annual, so they were produced for at least that long and no idea how long after that.

Click on the below thumbnail and you will be taken to a slideshow to view the entire book page by page.