Stepping into Putnam Street Lanes in Fitchburg is like stepping back in time, but with a cosmic twist. My recent venture into league bowling here, alongside my father, was intended to revive my social life. I chose bowling thinking it was low-pressure and fun, regardless of skill level. However, joining “The Scramblers,” a team in the Friday night league, quickly challenged that assumption. My teammates, seasoned bowlers with decades of experience, take the game seriously at Putnam Street Lanes. Every gutter ball I threw was met with a cross-armed expression of mild dismay, and my game scores were, shall we say, humbling.
While there were a few younger faces in the league, it became clear that camaraderie was secondary to competition. Like their older counterparts, these bowlers were focused on the game, creating a tense yet exciting atmosphere within Putnam Street Lanes.
Gary Therrien, the owner of Putnam Street Lanes, confirmed that leagues are the heart of the business. “The leagues are basically the whole business,” he explained. “At one time there used to be a lot of open bowling, but now it seems like it is mostly leagues that people focus on.” He further elaborated on the league bowlers’ mindset: “They [league bowlers] take it more seriously. They want to do something where they can get into competition and be awarded for winning.” This dedication is palpable within Putnam Street Lanes, adding to its unique character.
Putnam Street Lanes: Reflecting Bowling History and Trends
Bowling’s golden age peaked in the mid-1960s, with a surge of new bowling alleys nationwide. However, the industry has seen a decline over the years. Between 1998 and 2013, the number of bowling alleys in the US decreased by approximately 26%, according to a 2011 study cited in a 2015 USA Today article, “Is bowling in its final frames or will it roll on?”. Despite this national trend, Putnam Street Lanes has adapted and maintained its presence in Fitchburg.
Historically, bowling alleys were considered a working-class pastime, even dubbed the “poor man’s country club” in a 1958 report by The American Society of Planning Officials, as mentioned in the same USA Today article. As societal shifts occurred, bowling alleys like Putnam Street Lanes evolved to attract a broader customer base, including white-collar workers. This evolution led to a trend of upscale and trendy bowling experiences.
Therrien embraced the “cosmic bowling” trend in the early 2000s at Putnam Street Lanes. This involved incorporating blacklight-responsive décor throughout the alley. “Cosmic bowling is you do different things to your center, you put chemicals into the floor to make it a light blue, you put black lights in so that anything and the rug is cosmic,” Therrien detailed. The cosmic aesthetic, featuring candlepin images and neon galaxy-themed rugs, remains a distinctive feature of Putnam Street Lanes today, adding a fun, retro vibe to the bowling experience.
Putnam Street Lanes and the Broader Social Context of Bowling
Another significant trend in the bowling world is the decline in league participation alongside an increase in open bowling. This shift is famously discussed in Harvard Professor Robert Putnam’s influential 1995 paper, “Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital.” Putnam argues that the decrease in league bowling reflects a broader social disengagement in America, stemming from societal changes in the 1960s that impacted civic engagement and community membership.
Putnam highlighted this trend with striking statistics: “Between 1980 and 1993 the total number of bowlers in America increased by 10 percent, while league bowling decreased by 40 percent.” While the implications of declining league participation are debated, including whether it signifies a decline in American social capital, Putnam Street Lanes demonstrates the ongoing relevance of bowling as a pastime.
Whether you are a serious bowler focused on league competition or someone like me, seeking community engagement through recreational activities, Putnam Street Lanes offers a space for both. It’s a place where the spirit of competition and the desire for social connection meet, all within the unique atmosphere of a cosmic bowling alley on Putnam Street. It’s more than just a bowling alley; it’s a piece of Fitchburg’s social fabric.
