Story
When D’Amanda’s, a long-running candlepin bowling alley located along Route 1 in Ellsworth, went up for sale a few years ago, there were no takers. That is until rumors of demolition led self-described candlepin bowling nerd and area resident, Autumn Mowery, to take action. As the lane mechanic at the time, Autumn couldn’t stand to see D’Amanda’s lost, so she negotiated a three-month trial rental of the business to see if she had what it takes. With initial help from her mother, her savings, and some support from Covid stimulus funds, Autumn took the leap of faith.
The retro bowling alley is located in an unassuming 1970s-era strip mall, providing a step back in time and look into a less traditional form of bowling. The alternative game–think smaller balls and smaller, narrower pins–spread in popularity across New England and Canada. Its origins can be traced back to Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1880.
In Ellsworth, Eastward Bowling Lanes first opened its doors on January 19, 1974, and promoted itself as “the recreation center for the whole family.” Now, the alley’s retro vibes are matched by the vintage equipment that makes game play possible. The alley’s pinsetters are protype machines dating back to 1949. They were originally designed for temporary installation to test out new lanes and were in no way meant for years of open play. It’s assumed the original owner thought they worked well enough and so they stayed. Their temporary nature became an immediate burden for those tasked with their operation, leading to ongoing repair campaigns carried out with literal bubble gum, duct tape, and clothes hangers. Autumn reports that she has been “un-rigging” the machines in order to return them back to their original setup.
Entering Amanda’s third year of operation, D’Amanda’s also touts an arcade room, pool hall, dart boards, corn hole, and combo bar and restaurant called the Strike N Slice, run by Autumn’s fiancé. Autumn promotes her business through an active following on Instagram and Tik Tok, and even hosts behind the scenes tours to educate people about the vintage pinsetters and the basics of how a bowling alley works.
One of Autumn’s core goals is to provide an affordable, family friendly activity for residents and visitors. She quips that if the bowling alley doesn’t stay open, “kids will go back to smashing mailboxes” to stay occupied. Her favorite part of the day is collecting notebooks she leaves at every lane and reading reviews and suggestions people have left. Along with keeping the place running and preserving the past, Autumn hopes that families can also make new memories. These types of cultural gathering spaces are integral to Maine communities, especially ones that encourage connectedness among people from different generations and walks of life.
Threat
In 2023, the bowling alley had its best summer in over 10 years, but a long list of building needs, lane improvements, and insurance challenges have left the business on an unstable footing. Upon assuming ownership at the age of 19, Autumn only had three lanes that were consistently working and an air conditioning unit that flooded the alley. She has since repaired all 12 lanes, with 8-9 consistently working, and all of them in constant need of maintenance. D’Amanda’s also suffers from the wider challenges facing other candlepin bowling alleys, including fading popularity and a lack of manufacturers that make needed parts and equipment. Autumn has become quite resourceful, fabricating replacement parts herself.
Aside from their functionality, the pinsetters and lane equipment also pose a safety hazard for those working behind the scenes–especially in the eyes of the insurance company. Because of the potential risk, Autumn cannot hire any employees unless she completely replaces the equipment or retrofits the existing machines with modern safety features. The result is that Autumn is stuck working the lanes alone.
Additionally, the building’s roof leaks like a sieve, limiting use of lanes, and the outdoor sign needs to be replaced to better invite customers to the door. Without it, many people think the road to the bowling alley is a private driveway.
How to Get Involved
Grab your friends and family and go bowling; it couldn’t be any easier to help! Be sure to make a reservation and see for yourself why this place is so special. Autumn hopes that through positive experiences at D’Amanda’s and with candlepin bowling, more people will get hooked and spread the word. When she’s not working the lanes, Autumn is also saving up money to retrofit the prototype pinsetters and lane equipment so she can hire her first employees.
Read up more on Candlepin Bowling from the International Candlepin Bowling Association: https://www.candlepin.org/
