THROW BACK TO BOWLING
ASTOR vs. NAVARINO
by Renee LeFevre
If you take a step into a modern bowling alley on a weekend night, a person wouldn't begin to imagine the drastic changes Green Bay has seen in bowling. Just as early bowlers probably would not have expected bowling alleys to become an adolescent hotspot filled with strobe lights and blaring music. However, modern bowling leagues fare quite similarly to the late 1800s through the early 1900s, complete with friendly competition and plenty of beer to boot!
Two of the first, and most dedicated, bowling leagues in Green Bay were teams from the neighborhoods of Astor and Navarino. The late 1800s saw the
introduction to bowling in our area, and over the years the game grew and developed
to the game we know today.
Bowling began in Europe in the 12th century as an outdoor game. In 1840, the sport moved inside and was played on alleys 30-feet wide, made of slate blocks. Alleys changed multiple times, each time getting narrower, and the material changed to wood. It might be hard to believe, but there were many kinds of bowling, including 2-pin, 3-pin, and “cocked hat” bowling. The 9-pin game was standard until the 1890s when it was changed once more into the modern 10-pin game. It was then that bowling's popularity soared.
The history of bowling changed in Green Bay on Feb. 4, 1895, when the Astor and Navarino teams joined for the first rousing competition at the old Hagemeister Park Clubhouse on Cherry Street. Each team had 10 members, some of which were H.B. Thiesen, Nicholas J. Bur, Jr., George Schober, and Frank Van Laanen. As other teams throughout the area formed, several gave themselves team names like the Invincibles, and the Poodles, all of whom then competed at the favored spot, the Elks Club.
Five years after the initial formation, membership settled, and new members generally could only join existing teams if specifically invited or they happened to be the son of a retiring member. Other names on the Astor team included Joseph Kaster, H. Klaus, H. Michael, Mat Bingen, and F. Kaster. The Navarinos included names like F. Gehr, E. Bank, D. Nys, J.B. Theisen, H. Forst, and Frank H. Bender.
Thursday night was typically regarded as bowling night and, as the years went on and other teams failed to commit, the Astors and Navarinos were the only teams to stay dedicated enough to the game to play every week, even into the winter months when other teams tended to abandon it. The love of the game, the friendly competition, not to mention the availability of snacks and beer, were sure reasons to get the gentlemen out of the house one night a week.
Early leagues, like the Astors and Navarinos, focused on camaraderie. Although scores were kept, early get-togethers were more for the fun of the game. Championships at the end of the season were based on total pins knocked down by the teams rather than games won or lost. Annual banquets were held, mostly at Schwalbe's Restaurant on Washington Street and the Beaumont Hotel. The get-togethers started in 1898, and carried on for many years.
The game saw a revival in 1911 with eight teams at the Elks Club. In the years that followed, the game continued to grow, and competition heated up. Popularity grew rapidly in 1915 when the Wisconsin Elks held the first state bowling tournament in Green Bay (Jan. 8—Feb. 8). Competitors from all over Wisconsin attempted to prove they were the best. The Elks’ No. 1 team took first place with a score of 2679.
This was followed by another tournament in Green Bay held by the Wisconsin Bowling Association in 1919. By this time, popular bowling spots included the Knights of Columbus Hall, Moose Club, Elks Club, Conley's Hall, and Hagemeister Park. From then on, more and more competitions were held throughout the state where teams from Green Bay often competed.
These small neighborhood leagues eventually faded out but, as entertainment, bowling still holds a high priority for local citizens, as evidenced by the number of men and women, young and old, who show up for a game with family and/or friends at one of the many local bowling alleys available to Green Bay's residents. A game brought over from Europe more than a century ago has led to friendly competitions, a sense of camaraderie between teammates and, of course, a sense of community over the years. When it comes to the introduction and growth of bowling in our area, we in Green Bay have much for which to thank the men of the Navarino and Astor neighborhoods.
It is a game that is sure not to fade out in our lifetime.
Sources:
Rudolph, Jack, and Elder, Harold. Foley, Betsy,
editor. The Green Bay Area in History and Legend.
Green Bay, WI: Brown County Historical Society,
2004. “The Astors Buck the Navarinos.”
March 2, 1968:242-243.
“Many Outstanding Bowlers Bring Honors
Here Over 30-Year Period.” Wisconsin Tercentenary,
Green Bay Press Gazette. July 1934.