The Bowling Alley
by Barry Bauer
This photo that was taken on E. Walker St. shows part of the old Clinton County Republican News office on the left, followed by a building that housed a furniture store that later became Miller’s Furniture Store and the Episcopal Parish Hall.
The old News office is now occupied by the Jackson law firm and the other building is gone now replaced by a parking lot. The top floor of the old News building housed Harmonie Hall.
This facility served as the social hall for St. Joseph parish before their built their “new” church in 1908. Back in the 1980s parts of the old social hall were still apparent. The main hall served as a production room for the newspaper, and old font cases resided in a cloak room. Even the old restrooms were still located in the rear of the building.
The vacant lot in the photo between the Episcopal Hall and the American Legion Post was hidden away by a street level billboard.
Upstairs in the building there used to be a bowling alley belonging to Clark Gregory. There was also a roller rink there at one time.
The photo below shows Orth Tatro throwing another strike. Orth was featured in a local newspaper article for bowling a 300 game.
