276 – St. Ann / St. Boniface Bowling Alley
Peoria Landmark #276
sctobrien and LeTumba are both right. It is the bowling alley in the basement of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, formerly known as St. Boniface, located at 1010 S. Louisa.
In a 2007 capital campaign case statement [pdf], their parish history is detailed-
During the summer of 1881 Father Frederick Von Schwedler organized the parish of St. Boniface in the southwestern section of Peoria. The first church, school, and rectory cost a total of $16,000. In 1892, the rapidly growing parish was turned over to the Franciscan Fathers from Cincinnati, Ohio, with Father Nicholas Holtel, OFM, as the its first pastor. It was under his pastorate that the present church was constructed for a cost of $37,000. A convent was built at the turn of the century. With the parish growing a new school building was constructed in 1916. By 1931 – the 50th birthday of the parish – the parish community consisted of 480 families and almost 300 students in the school. A rather unique activity began in the parish in the 1940’s – the construction of a bowling alley beneath the church. It has continued to the present in providing pleasant gatherings for the members of the present day St. Ann parish.
On December 18, 1966 fire completely gutted the church. Under the leadership of Father James, in April, 1969, the church was rededicated
– very different from its predecessor, but still and outstanding building.In 1971 St. Boniface School consolidated with St. John School in an effort to preserve Catholic education in the parishes. The school
closed in 1999.St. Boniface and St. John parishes worked together for many years before it became necessary to close St. John parish and bring everyone
together at St. Boniface which became St. Ann parish in 1994. The present pastor, Father Terry Cassidy, has been pastor since 1999.
I don’t know the details on how to rent this space, but it is an interesting place that seems to capture a moment in time. Maybe someone will find this post and fill us in.
February 14th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Would this be the bowling alley in the bottom of St Ann’s, the church at Louisa/Anntoinette?
I’ve heard they will actually rent this out and allow alcohol to be served.
February 15th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Is this the bowling alley at the old Creve Couer Club? 300 SW Jefferson, the National City Bank Building
February 18th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Nope. My wife told me that it is the bowling alley in the basement St. Bonifice which is across the street from the old Italian-American hall in the South End of Peoria.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Must be hell on league night.
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I actually got to bowl there once in high school around 1980.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Back when I was a bowling fanatic they were the toughest four lanes in all of Peoria to get good scores on at least for me. I loved bowling there as it made bowling elsewhere so much easier. My teammates all agreed that bowling there your season average would be at least ten to 15 pens lower then at other bowlings alleys. Some nights you would swear the ten pin was nailed to the lane.[lol] I recommened that if you left only the ten pin on your first ball it should count as a strike. Where were the nine pin no tap tournaments back then. I am talking way back in the early seventies. I was married at ST. Boniface in 1970. I oftened kidded that the real reason I converted to Catholic was so I could be at a bowling alley even on sunday mornings.[lol]