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Today’s St. Olaf students might be puzzled to see a bowling pin in the College Archives. But Oles who attended St. Olaf between the 1960s and 1990s will know exactly where it’s from: the old student center that used to be located in the building that now houses the Center for Art and Dance. 

First, about the pin itself: It has the typical streamlined shape of any bowling pin that you would find today. Inscribed in red on its battered white body is the name “Vultex 2” — a brand name of pins that were manufactured by the Vulcan Corporation. What made this brand of bowling pins popular is that they were coated in a type of plastic that better protects an object against repeated bashes. It was a perfect material for a pin knocked around on a daily basis by college bowlers — and it helps explain why, after three decades of use, it’s still in startlingly good condition in its home at the College Archives.

This bowling pin would have been ordered by the college in 1960, to be placed in the bowling alley system that was on the bottom floor of the brand new St. Olaf Student Center. Connected on the other side of this new center was the St. Olaf Administration Building. The current Alumni Hall would be added on in 1987, and is now home to the Tweet Hall of Music. 

The eight lane-bowling alley was fittingly opened by a superstar in the sport, Buzz Fazio. Fazio was a six-time American Bowling Congress and two-time Professional Bowlers Association champion, and is in the Hall of Fame for both organizations. He wowed students as he demonstrated his skills. During the semester, the alley, which was free to use, was heavily utilized by students. Bowling classes would even be held during the semester to help students who didn’t quite know how to throw a strike gain some confidence. St. Olaf also fielded a team in the national intercollegiate postal tenpin tournament.

In the 1990s, the bottom floor of the St. Olaf Student Center was renovated. Use of the bowling alley had waned, and so it was renovated. By the beginning of the 1993–94 school year, a non-alcoholic bar, cable television, arcade games, and comfortable seating replaced the lanes balls used to whisk down. The bowling pins were taken out and served as a peculiar railing support in the room.

Though the bowling alley is gone, we know your memories of it remain — whether you only played one Thursday night in your four years, or you were on the bowling team. Submit them here.