Irv bought a bowling alley in September 1944. It was located at 3118 Reading Road. It was called Snapps Bowling Alley prior to Irv’s purchase. He renamed it Felson Bowling Lanes.
Here is a person on a blog remembering Irv’s lanes:
Felson Bowling Alley was a short bike ride from Paddock and Reading. And they had human pin-setters for as long as I can remember. Then in the early 60s an ex-teacher from North Avondale opened a bowling alley in St. Bernard called “Spring Bowl.” Also a bike ride away (when it was warm) and everyone stopped going to Felson’s because Spring Bowl was really modern. (from allmybengals).
Alan Travis worked there. Here is his recollection (December 20, 2014):
I worked there for several years, primarily setting pins. I started working there before he had automatic pin setters. When you set pins, you stood in the pit between two alleys and set the pins while the other lane was bowling and then stood in the middle after the pins were set in the first lane so you could set the pins after they finished bowling in the second lane. I received quite a few bruises on my legs while setting pins because of the pins went flying around after being struck by the bowling ball. I sometimes got struck by the bowling ball plus the pins when people would bowl while I was still in the pit. It was not an easy job, but the pay was reasonable at that time. Irv occasionally had me working in the kitchen.
Bob Travis worked in Irv’s bowling alley during his senior year at Walnut Hills High School. He went to school in the mornings and worked for Irv in the afternoons. He used the earnings to pay his board to his parents to help them out financially. Nancy Paula, Alan and Ira also worked for Irv in the bowling alley.
A second bowling alley?
Ros to Walter on Leo and Evy and Irv February 25, 1945:
Leo told me that Irv has bought another bowling alley (he must really be going to town) and asked Leo if he would like to go in business with him after the war. Leo said he didn’t make any decisions. I think Leo could get into something better with all his training — perhaps he wouldn’t make as much money — but, I don’t think Leo is the business-man type. Plenty of time to think about that after the war. It’s funny though — Leo at 5 or 26 and still has no definite plans for his future and no special training. I just wonder what sort of adjustment he will make — post war. Evelyn is a sensible kid though, and a stabilizing factor in Leo’s life — so I guess we shouldn’t worry about them. Look at Irv — the one in the family with the least education and training — making the most money. However, that isn’t the most important thing in one’s life and I’ll wager he isn’t the happiest one out of the bunch.
The Felson Family 