.jpg;w=960;h=640;bgcolor=000000)
According to the Toronto Telegram, in 1901, Barrie was “one of the sportiest towns in the northern country.” They were referring to our baseball, curling, hockey, lacrosse, horseracing, golf, tennis, water sports and lawn bowling.
Interest in tennis picked up around 1902, but no one had really been lawn bowling since about 1900 – both sports suffered a lack of participation because neither had a decent venue to play in. Fortunately, the Barrie Curling and Athletic Club, located at the northwest corner of Sophia and Clapperton Streets (yeah, there really was a curling rink there, where Lion’s Park is now) provided space on their property for tennis courts and a bowling green. By 1904, it was quite common to see these sports being played in the afternoons.
Across the bay in Allandale, the Railroad Y.M.C.A. lawn bowling green began their operation on June 20, 1910. By 1915, a membership in the Y.M.C.A. Bowling Club was $4. The property was located at the northeast corner of Gowan Street next to the train tracks and fronted on Essa Road with a good view of the back of the Webb home and business.
In 1953, the Allandale Lawn Bowling Club gained a new club house designed by R.F. “Dick” Garrett. Garrett was the contractor who will be remembered for his work on the Barrie Tanning Company (1909), the renovations to the Barrie Collegiate Institute (1914), his Capitol Theatre (1923) and the addition to Barrie Collegiate Institute (1929), to mention a few projects. At a ceremony on Sept. 12, the Allandale Lawn Bowling Club of the Canadian National Recreation Association (CNRA), was officially opened. The new clubhouse, which was 40 by 50 feet, had spacious verandahs overlooking the west and east greens. The opening had actually been delayed until the building was fully insulated, the interior finished in plywood and the Marmoleum floors installed. With very few exceptions, all the work had been done by volunteer labour.
The opening was a markedly important occasion in the history of the Allandale Lawn Bowling Club. “All greens were in excellent condition through the work of greens keeper “Eddy” Kahlmeyer, retired CNR engineer, and club member, and flower beds were beautiful, as planned and tended by Frank Goring, club member and CNR engineer. They formed a grand setting for the event which opened with a get-together of mixed doubles, making 24 rinks. With ideal bowling weather, 12 ends were most enjoyable.” Following a luncheon for approximately 101 people and many speeches by Mayor J.W. Hart, several CNR dignitaries and other special guests, Dick Garrett was presented with a solid leather bowling case and a life membership in the CNRA.
The station lands that were once home to the Allandale Lawn Bowling Club are now used for transit purposes. The bust of Frederick Cumberland , a familiar Essa Road landmark in front of the old lawn bowling club, now resides on a terrace at the Southshore Centre, the former Grand Truck Railway’s Master Mechanics building.
