By Dylan McDonough
In the middle of March my family went to Massachusetts to help my grandmother Mimi with her late Aunt Shirley’s house. After
days of cleaning, we did some fun stuff like play arcade games, perform magic tricks and play candlepin bowling. Now, you may not know this kind of bowling. Candlepin bowling isn’t like regular duckpin bowling you might usually play. Candlepin bowling’s birthplace was in Worcester, Massachusetts (pronounced ‘Wooster’) in 1885. Justin P. White, Jack Monsey and Jack Sheafe were credited for creating this unique game.
Unlike normal bowling balls, candlepin bowling balls are just two pounds and 3 inches in diameter! The original pins were 10 inches high and 1 inch in diameter. The pins were 50 feet away. The pins looked like candles so that’s how it got its name.
Years ha
ve passed and the game has gotten easier and harder. For example, the pins have changed shape and size, are now plastic and are closer too.
I really enjoyed playing Candlepin bowling. The balls were smaller so it made it easier to roll them, but my score was not as high as it usually is when I play duckpin bowling. I bowled a 68 with candlepin bowling while I usually bowl 80 with the bigger balls. Now when I play duckpin bowling, I will always think of this experience.
This game has been around for over 100 years but no one has ever achieved a perfect “300” game. It’s very unlikely for anyone to do this, but who knows? Maybe this is your lucky year!
