worked there Jackie. we had to jump from on e lane to the other. setting the pins was fun you had to be quick .
I remember when they put the new pin setters in. You put the pins in the machine & pulled the cord..Great job
We visited Ruth Drake in 2003. I do not know if we will make it back in person. We have wonderful pictures and memories of our visit, and how friendly the Village is. I also enjoy getting the news letters.
I have enjoyed reading the history of Lewiston. My husband’s family used to live there in the early 1800’s. They were scattered around upstate NY but his dad kept boxes of notes, letters, pictures, memorabilia and more that my husband enjoys so much now. There was an article he was able to find on this website for Sparrow and Mary Sage. It is amazing. Thank you for all you do.
I was wondering if anyone has any information on Elmer Wagner. He built a home (now called the Mill Glen Inn) on Pletcher Rd in 1880. The home was originally built to be a dairy farm from what little information I have been able to obtain.
I’m looking for information and photos of the old bowling alley that I believe was located North of Center Street, possibly around Plain Street. Does anyone remember it, or have any information about it?
The bowling alley was Walker’s, located between Ridge St. and Onondaga. It had only 4 lanes, but they were beautifully maintained by my step-grandfather, Norman Walker. The Walkers lived on Ridge St. and the alleys were behind the house. For many years the bowling pins were set up manually by boys and young men, who had to be very agile and quick on their feet. Then semi-automatic setters were installed. The building housing the alleys is now a printing company.
I remember Walker’s Lanes very well because when I was age 14, my first job ever was as a “pin boy” at 10 cents a line![ 1955] The semi automatics were in use and we worked in teams of 3, 2 in the pits, one resting as a “foul line” detector. Jumped 2 lanes, with open bowling on Friday,Saturday and sometimes special Sundays. Men’s and ladies leagues, Tu,Thur, & M,W. We sometimes double shifted for the men because they had more teams and needed both early and later “shifts”. I lived in Lewiston until 1963.
I worked with Gary MacMillan, among others. We loved the men’s leagues because the bowlers were much better, less talk, and we could banter with them from the pits if they missed a spare or whatever!
We always played hi-tempo “rock” music while working because it gave us a rhythm to work to, which was very important. We had fun working because even tho there was a certain danger factor [flying pins mostly], we knew that “our bowlers” were always alert to any break in the routine that might mean we were not “pit clear”. Lots more stories..
Hello David, Sorry it’s taken nearly a year for me to reply to your message regarding Walker’s. My step-dad was Emerson Walker whose parents owned the lanes. Em was a champion bowler in both Lewiston and the Falls. I graduated from LewPort in ’55 but before high school I sometimes had the (pleasure?) of working the foul line detector. The men were polite but some of the women really gave me the evil eye when I buzzed them. My Mom was one of them!
worked there Jackie. we had to jump from on e lane to the other. setting the pins was fun you had to be quick .
I remember when they put the new pin setters in. You put the pins in the machine & pulled the cord..Great job
I really appreciate your efforts towards preserving the heritage of Lewiston, especially meaningful for people who grew up here. Just a suggestion, it would be useful if you could do up a FB social feed right at the events and programs page.
I lived in Lewiston as a small child from 1971 to 1973. I have good memories of sledding above the house in a lot of snow. Our house was white and square with black shutters. I also remember visiting Niagara Falls. My parents followed the Watergate news via Canadian broadcasting from Toronto. Someday I’d like to visit Lewiston again.
My three times Great Grandmother, Bridget Derry, lived in Lewiston for about 50 years.
In the 1850 Census she is listed with her mother Nabby Derry(Nabina Jennings, birth name), her sisters Mariah(Maria) and Ellen. All their ages are mixed up, it seems the family didn’t remember their actual birth dates.
Bridget’s real birth date was actually 22nd October 1834, and not the date on her gravestone.Bridget married Benjamin Cornell and lived in Lewiston until shortly after he died.
Bridget starting adding the name Ellen to her name about 1870 onwards, first as a middle name then as her first name.
I believe Ellen Derry was the youngest born about 1839-1841
I haven’t been able to track Ellen Derry after the 1850 Census when she was 9 or 10 years old. I couldn’t find her in the local graveyard nor could I find her in the 1870 Census as a married woman.
The Derry family left Lewiston for Saginaw, Michigan in the early to mid 1850’s.
Bridget married Benjamin Cornell at St Mary’s Cathedral in Saginaw about December 1857 and returned to Lewiston where her daughters were all born.
Does anyone know what happened to Ellen Derry, Bridget’s youngest sister?
Thank you very much for any help you can give me.
Pete Ames, Town of Niagara historian. Please email or call me at 716-297-4429 if you don’t mind. Someone contacted me recently looking for Ellen’s whereabouts. My email is repetie@yahoo.com. I grew up in Lewiston.
Craig, I’d very much like to “talk” with you–I have a great deal of information about the Cooke history. If you email Lee Simonson–he’s the newletter editor and his email is posted there–he has agreed to give my email to you. That way we’ll avoid a gazillion spam messages.
Are you in Missouri? I am in Colorado. Jeanne Cooke Collins
Sorry I missed your post. I’m looking forward to reading Lee’s book. It’s exciting that there is now a monument. We hope to get there this summer. I’ll be in touch.
I have limited knowledge of what my faimly did while living in Lewiston. I have a copy of a letter written many years after one of the indian attacks. It was handed down verablly until a relative put it in writing around 1900. I am my families historian. It was handed doen to me by my great aunt Dorthy Cooke who visted the area around 1985. As I recall, there is a house, a barn and a law office. I retire this year and look forward to visting and connecting with the area.
Craig, I believe you are a son of Jack Cooke. He was my much older first cousin–I am the daughter of Sam R. Cooke, Jr. The others are, as you know, Charles, Dorothy, and Lyle.
I’ve researched the family history and have visited Lewiston twice, the second time as a speaker at the 200th anniversary of the 1813 attack on Lewiston. If you have the book Tuscarora Heroes by Lee Simonson, the family account is way in the back.
worked there Jackie. we had to jump from on e lane to the other. setting the pins was fun you had to be quick .
I remember when they put the new pin setters in. You put the pins in the machine & pulled the cord..Great job
We visited Ruth Drake in 2003. I do not know if we will make it back in person. We have wonderful pictures and memories of our visit, and how friendly the Village is. I also enjoy getting the news letters.
Thank you
Arnie Merrick
As I recall, there is a house, a barn and a law office.
The bowling alley was Walker’s, located between Ridge St. and Onondaga. It had only 4 lanes,
I have enjoyed reading the history of Lewiston. My husband’s family used to live there in the early 1800’s. They were scattered around upstate NY but his dad kept boxes of notes, letters, pictures, memorabilia and more that my husband enjoys so much now. There was an article he was able to find on this website for Sparrow and Mary Sage. It is amazing. Thank you for all you do.
I was wondering if anyone has any information on Elmer Wagner. He built a home (now called the Mill Glen Inn) on Pletcher Rd in 1880. The home was originally built to be a dairy farm from what little information I have been able to obtain.
We have been looking for some friends that lived there or still lives ther. Angelo and Sally Zino. Would anyone know them or where they are at now?
I’m looking for information and photos of the old bowling alley that I believe was located North of Center Street, possibly around Plain Street. Does anyone remember it, or have any information about it?
The bowling alley was Walker’s, located between Ridge St. and Onondaga. It had only 4 lanes, but they were beautifully maintained by my step-grandfather, Norman Walker. The Walkers lived on Ridge St. and the alleys were behind the house. For many years the bowling pins were set up manually by boys and young men, who had to be very agile and quick on their feet. Then semi-automatic setters were installed. The building housing the alleys is now a printing company.
I remember Walker’s Lanes very well because when I was age 14, my first job ever was as a “pin boy” at 10 cents a line![ 1955] The semi automatics were in use and we worked in teams of 3, 2 in the pits, one resting as a “foul line” detector. Jumped 2 lanes, with open bowling on Friday,Saturday and sometimes special Sundays. Men’s and ladies leagues, Tu,Thur, & M,W. We sometimes double shifted for the men because they had more teams and needed both early and later “shifts”. I lived in Lewiston until 1963.
I worked with Gary MacMillan, among others. We loved the men’s leagues because the bowlers were much better, less talk, and we could banter with them from the pits if they missed a spare or whatever!
We always played hi-tempo “rock” music while working because it gave us a rhythm to work to, which was very important. We had fun working because even tho there was a certain danger factor [flying pins mostly], we knew that “our bowlers” were always alert to any break in the routine that might mean we were not “pit clear”. Lots more stories..
Hello David, Sorry it’s taken nearly a year for me to reply to your message regarding Walker’s. My step-dad was Emerson Walker whose parents owned the lanes. Em was a champion bowler in both Lewiston and the Falls. I graduated from LewPort in ’55 but before high school I sometimes had the (pleasure?) of working the foul line detector. The men were polite but some of the women really gave me the evil eye when I buzzed them. My Mom was one of them!
worked there Jackie. we had to jump from on e lane to the other. setting the pins was fun you had to be quick .
I remember when they put the new pin setters in. You put the pins in the machine & pulled the cord..Great job
I really appreciate your efforts towards preserving the heritage of Lewiston, especially meaningful for people who grew up here. Just a suggestion, it would be useful if you could do up a FB social feed right at the events and programs page.
I lived in Lewiston as a small child from 1971 to 1973. I have good memories of sledding above the house in a lot of snow. Our house was white and square with black shutters. I also remember visiting Niagara Falls. My parents followed the Watergate news via Canadian broadcasting from Toronto. Someday I’d like to visit Lewiston again.
My three times Great Grandmother, Bridget Derry, lived in Lewiston for about 50 years.
In the 1850 Census she is listed with her mother Nabby Derry(Nabina Jennings, birth name), her sisters Mariah(Maria) and Ellen. All their ages are mixed up, it seems the family didn’t remember their actual birth dates.
Bridget’s real birth date was actually 22nd October 1834, and not the date on her gravestone.Bridget married Benjamin Cornell and lived in Lewiston until shortly after he died.
Bridget starting adding the name Ellen to her name about 1870 onwards, first as a middle name then as her first name.
I believe Ellen Derry was the youngest born about 1839-1841
I haven’t been able to track Ellen Derry after the 1850 Census when she was 9 or 10 years old. I couldn’t find her in the local graveyard nor could I find her in the 1870 Census as a married woman.
The Derry family left Lewiston for Saginaw, Michigan in the early to mid 1850’s.
Bridget married Benjamin Cornell at St Mary’s Cathedral in Saginaw about December 1857 and returned to Lewiston where her daughters were all born.
Does anyone know what happened to Ellen Derry, Bridget’s youngest sister?
Thank you very much for any help you can give me.
Hi
Pete Ames, Town of Niagara historian. Please email or call me at 716-297-4429 if you don’t mind. Someone contacted me recently looking for Ellen’s whereabouts. My email is repetie@yahoo.com. I grew up in Lewiston.
Thanks, Pete
Craig, I’d very much like to “talk” with you–I have a great deal of information about the Cooke history. If you email Lee Simonson–he’s the newletter editor and his email is posted there–he has agreed to give my email to you. That way we’ll avoid a gazillion spam messages.
Are you in Missouri? I am in Colorado. Jeanne Cooke Collins
Sorry I missed your post. I’m looking forward to reading Lee’s book. It’s exciting that there is now a monument. We hope to get there this summer. I’ll be in touch.
I have limited knowledge of what my faimly did while living in Lewiston. I have a copy of a letter written many years after one of the indian attacks. It was handed down verablly until a relative put it in writing around 1900. I am my families historian. It was handed doen to me by my great aunt Dorthy Cooke who visted the area around 1985. As I recall, there is a house, a barn and a law office. I retire this year and look forward to visting and connecting with the area.
Craig, I believe you are a son of Jack Cooke. He was my much older first cousin–I am the daughter of Sam R. Cooke, Jr. The others are, as you know, Charles, Dorothy, and Lyle.
I’ve researched the family history and have visited Lewiston twice, the second time as a speaker at the 200th anniversary of the 1813 attack on Lewiston. If you have the book Tuscarora Heroes by Lee Simonson, the family account is way in the back.