¶ … history of bowling, and talk about and describe an alternate form of bowling called "Candlepin." Bowling is one of the most popular sports in America today, but its' origins lie far back in time, and it has changed quite a bit throughout the years.
Modern bowling could have developed as early as the stone age, but historians do know that in the Middle Ages, some Germans played the sport of "kegling," where they "tossed round stones at anywhere from three to nine standing clubs" (Hurley 110). Today, bowlers are still often called "keglers" because of this. Variations of this game spread around Europe and the world, and it is certain early Americans enjoyed some form of it. As Germans immigrated to the country, they brought a love of the sport, and helped it develop in the mid-1800s. Throughout the nineteenth century, the sport grew, and became quite fashionable. Historian Hurley notes, "Elite antebellum summer resorts from Saratoga to New Orleans invited guests to cavort on their outdoor bowling lanes. Some of the earliest indoor bowling lanes were to be found in elegant gentlemen's clubs, while private lanes were installed in the homes of some...
However, the elite eventually tired of the sport, while it remained quite popular with the general public. In fact, the company that today dominates the sport, Brunswick, began as a billiard table company that sold tables to saloons and taverns. They began to sell bowling equipment as a sideline to help draw customers into the bars (Hurley 112). These bowling alleys were often underground, dingy, dirty, and filled with smoke and heavy drinking. It was not until the mid-20th century that bowling got more respectable, and large bowling alleys began to be constructed. The ten-pin bowling we know today developed in the 20th century, and the familiar, heavy weighted pins we use today began to be used in the mid 1800s. It was not until the mid 1900s that bowling really became an acceptable sport for women. Today, bowling is still one of the country's most popular sports, and league bowling accounts for a major portion of bowling revenue and participation. A game consists of ten frames, and balls can weigh anywhere from 10 pounds on up depending on the bowler and their abilities.
Candlepin bowling…
