Lawn Bowling Club & Greens
127 Main Street South, Seaforth, Ontario
( Year built: 1929 )
Lawn bowling club has been alive in Seaforth since the late 1890s. The founder and first president of the club was James McMichael. In April 1904, he paid $300 for property on Victoria Street and donated it to the club. This site was the lawn bowling green until the club moved to its present location on Main Street in 1928.
The land here was, for many years, virgin forest listed as “Beaver Meadow.” Only one small building was there on the southeast corner, built by the Board of Trade. Any grain or produce dealer was allowed to use it. When farmers arrived with their wagons and sleighs well laden with farm products, these buyers stepped out to vie with one another in purchasing these commodities.
The majestic elm tree near the clubhouse was saved from the axe when John Beattie cleared land in 1890, and it survived a lightning strike in May 1930. The land was landscaped first. Then, the clubhouse was built in 1929. It is a single-storey frame structure with a high cottage-style roof and large front windows.
On August 14, 1929 the opening tournament of the new greens was reported to be the largest and most successful ever held in Western Ontario. Since the clubhouse was not yet finished, the ladies served dinner and supper in the skating rink nearby.
The first Ladies’ Lawn Bowling Club was organized May 7, 1907 with 30 members paying a $2 fee and for some unexplained reason another five paid just $1. By 1910 they were down to 20 paid members and so the group disbanded in 1912. Interest was revived along with plans for new greens and 35 members formed a club again in 1929. They are still active today.
The Photograph Above: at left looks toward Crombie Street and the mill. James McMichael is the white-haired man, fourth from the right in this photograph. Photograph Below: the Ladies’ Lawn Bowling Club in 1907. Front row from left: Fergus Campbell, Lois Johnson, Mrs. Coulson, Mrs. M.Y. McLean, Marie Kidd and Mrs. J.C. Greig. Middle row from left: Mrs. B.B. Gunn, Jessie McIntyre, Francis Gray, Gretta Watson, Gertie Laidlaw, Gladys Henderson, Edith Davidson, Edna Henderson, Mrs. G.E. Parkes and Mrs. Frank Burrows. Back row from left: Jessie Bethune, Marion Watson, Sarabel McLean, Bessie Young, Katie Killoran, Rita Young, Florence Johnson and Min MacKay.
Photo Left: The Lawn Bowling Club had a green on Victoria Street, now a parking lot behind Bethel Bible Church. The photograph here looks eastward toward Victoria Street.
Mrs. R.J. Sproat and her husband, Ross, were the first team captains in 1929. Seaforth Club bowlers have distinguished themselves through the years in all the sport’s competitive categories. The District Four doubles championship was won in 1934. The clubhouse walls are lined with titles and trophies.
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