Bowling Hall of Fame

The Poplar Bluff Museum has tales about us, our family and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

The first bowling alleys appeared in Poplar Bluff in the 1930s. They survived for about 90 years, unfortunately disappearing in 2015. They had such names as the Spillway Lanes, Cedar Lanes, Cotton Bowl and Bluff Lanes. They were all members of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) which certified the numerous bowling leagues. They were further managed by the Poplar Bluff Bowling Association (PBBA) and the Poplar Bluff Women’s Bowling Association (PBWBA).

They proudly established a Bowling Hall of Fame. There are 53 bowlers in the Hall of Fame. Selection for this honor was based on the individual’s skill and merit. Honorees would have been members of the PBBA for 20 years. When the Poplar Bluff Museum was established in the 1990s, the Bowling Hall of Fame finally found a permanent home.

Besides their portraits, the Hall of Fame has many mementos of the bowling history of Poplar Bluff. Several cases display individual awards of members from the USBC/WIBC as well as the PBBA/PBWBA. Watches, rings, jewelry, bowling balls and pins are some of the many awards. Scrapbooks and iconic bowling shirts are also on display.

There are even the “Tom Croy Red Shoe Awards” in the case. The red shoe started out as a practical joke amongst Bluff bowlers but it turned into a coveted award. Tom Croy was one of our top bowlers and his red uniform (and shoes) are in a special exhibit. Tom was also the author of the popular weekly article in the DAR “Ten Pin Topics.” The Rotary Club dedicated the Poplar Bluff Bowling Hall of Fame to Tom Croy.

The Museum is handicap accessible and open every Sunday free of charge from 1pm to 4 pm at 1010 Main Street, Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.