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CELEBRATING 125 YEARS OF HISTORY AND TRADITION IN 2026!
In honour of our 125th anniversary, Trent Valley Archives in collaboration with the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club will be launching a book called "Bowling on the Green 125 Years of Lawn Bowling in Peterborough." The book launch will take place at the McDonnel Street Activity Center on Saturday August 22 at 10:am. All are welcome!
Press release summary
Trent Valley Archives and the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club (PLBC) are pleased to announce the forthcoming history of 125 years of lawn bowling in Peterborough. The club has had a fascinating connection with Peterborough as a remarkable example of the city's commitment to sports and recreation for all ages. As well, some of the most significant lawn bowlers were towers of strength as sports such as curling and gold and also supporting businesses and professionals.
Some lawn bowlers get too excited!
Steve Russell commenting on his engagement with lawn bowling observed, "The lessons included how to hold and deliver a bowl. The bowl had a weight or bias on one side that curled the bowl rolling on a flat rink. The target was a white ball called a jack. The jack had to be rolled to a spot on the rink and centered beyond a hog marker. There were a variety of games to play including singles, pairs, triples. The bowl closest to the jack would count for points.
"The PLBC will be celebrating 125 years in 2026. I have been working with Elwood Jones at Trent Valley Archives to write a book on the history of lawn bowling in Peterborough. I have enjoyed the socializing on the rinks, the strategy and skill development of the game, and even the political challenges.
"We hope this book inspires others to do likewise."
Over 125 years, and several generations, lawn bowling was a remarable barometer of Peterborough's confidence, the blending of athletic activities with the rhythm of the lives of professionals, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and employees. The enthusiasm of the first members in 1901 overcame the difficulties of site, expertise, lighting and lawn maintenance. The club was able to get assistance for its needs. They were forced to seek a new site rather quickly as the YWCA loved their location.
Life on the Brookside Greens was filled with memorable events such as touring visitors. The site remained close to the downtown, the vibrant base for the membership, and the expansion to include women more fully in the organization worked well. As with the earlier Stevenson Green the site was to restrictive, and the bowling greens were to small. The property had a remarkable history before the lawn bowlers, as the property was connected with the Hall and Fleming families. It had life after the lawn bowlers left in 1930 for miniature golf and now a welcome green space near the downtown.
Perhaps the most venturesome generation explored options in the late 1920's, incorporated as a non-profit, and negotiated the purchase of the lands on McDonnel Street that has proved superb for nearly a century of lawn bowling. It was a move from the centre of town but was more central to the growing urban population. There were many challenges to building a new clubhouse, developing a new first class for the greens, and meeting new opportunities. With the new post-war development the club was well-positioned to wellcome automobiles. The story of the lawn bowling seemed permanent, but the world around the greens was ever changing and new challenges had to be met.
Keeping pace with the world was always challenging. In the years between 2005 and 2010 the club reinvented itself in new ways driven more by the hope of new partnerships and the availability of support from different levels of government. Plans that seemed solid were faced with the ambiguities of the pandemic of 2020 and the unintended consequences of government policies.
The former lawn bowling club has found a new life with the Peterborough Rugby Club, and is a key feature of Nicholls Oval. Moving the clubhouse along city streets and across the Inverlea Bridge was a memorable day in 2011. Here is the clubhouse in its new setting in 2015.
The sporting scene has changed considerably as well over the 125 years. In the first half century lawn bowling was a complement to hockey, curling, lacrosse and other activities. However, each sport has longer seasons and commands the support of its participants year round. However, lawn bowling remains a welcome alternative. Lawn bowling has always welcomed casual relations with people of
varied backgrounds. It has its charms as
one learns how to finesse the bowl to the jack. It has style and confidence and still welcomes all who discover
the game.
The book contains five chapters, each carry surprises and insights into the history of Peterborough. The book also has a minimal index.
1. Stevenson Green to Brookside Green 6
2. Brookside Green in the 1920's 32
3. Lawn bowling on McDonnel Street 51
4. Bowling on the Greens with the Bowlers 76
5. McDonnel Street Activity Centre 90
The book will be launched at the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club on August 22 at the McDonnel Street Activity Centre 10am. It will be available for sale at the club and also at Trent Valley Archives, 567 Carnegie Avenue, Peterborough ON K9L 1N1. The book may be ordered through the website of Trent Valley Archives, as well.
The current home of lawn bowling in Peterborough.
Elwood H. Jones, Trent University Professor Emeritus in History, has written or assisted in over twenty books related to Peterborough, and has often written on local sports and recreation. He is the founding archivist of Trent Valley Archives. The major archives of the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club are housed at Trent Valley Archives.
Celebrating 125 years of Lawn Bowling in Peterborough