Ground breaking for the San Jose Lawn bowls site was started in July of 1966. Construction was expected to be
completed within four weeks by the Collishaw Sprinkler Co of Santa Clara at a cost of slightly more than $32,000.
The Dedication for the Club was April 9, 1967 with exhibition games of Singles, Doubles, Triples and Rinks Games
at the Willow Street Park as it was known then. Frank Bramhall was the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation
for San Jose, Ca.
At the time there was an initial fee of $10.00 with annual dues of $7.50 per member or $10.00 per couple.
completed within four weeks by the Collishaw Sprinkler Co of Santa Clara at a cost of slightly more than $32,000.
The Dedication for the Club was April 9, 1967 with exhibition games of Singles, Doubles, Triples and Rinks Games
at the Willow Street Park as it was known then. Frank Bramhall was the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation
for San Jose, Ca.
At the time there was an initial fee of $10.00 with annual dues of $7.50 per member or $10.00 per couple.
(C) Copyright 2009 SJLBC - San Jose Lawn Bowls Club
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Construction started in July 1966
Picture taken from the approximate
location of the current Club House
Picture taken from the approximate
location of the current Club House
A Brief History of the San Jose Lawns Bowls Club
By Murray Brunt
In the beginning there was light, and the earth and the waters parted, and when the Earth dried, there was Lawn Bowl, or some of the
bowls historians would claim. Supposedly, the games origins go back to the early Egyptians which entailed casting round stones on hard
sand at some target. Three or so millennia later, after the game traveled from Egypt to Rome to England, it arrived in the U.S.A. in
colonial days and finally to the Bay Area at San Francisco just after the opening of the 20th Century.
With the formation of a number of clubs in the Northern California area, ( S.F., Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Santa Cruz )
and several others, San Jose became a logical next place to begin playing the game. Actually a Lawn Bowling Club had been formed in
S. J. in the years just prior to the green being constructed in 1966. The members obviously played at some of the other greens in the
area, and according to news articles, did reasonably well.
O.S. Hubbard and Hamil Wagnon ( both educators ) put the pressure on at City Hall, and with the help of Frank Bramhall, a Parks and
Recreation Commissioner, convinced the City Council to build a green in the park at the corner of Willow and Camino Ramon streets.
Bids were let to several prospective contractors and a budget of $32,000 was allocated for the project. The actual decision to build the
green and facility was made on December 13, 1965, this after 16 months of effort by the club members who by that time numbered 40
members, with 3 women.
A meeting was called on January 24, 1966 by Mr. Robert Frost ( not THE Robert Frost ) for the purpose of giving the prospective
members a picture of the club organization and advice from bowling members of the neighboring communities. Main among these were
Frank Mixon, then current president of the No, California LBA, Alfred Anderson, VP of the American LBA, and Henry Moltby, immediate
past president of the So. West Division LBA. There were several others, but by the time the meeting was concluded, the S.J. contingent
had a good start on their club needs.
A committee was formed of three people to draw up a constitution using as a guide the constitution and by-laws of nearby clubs. The
first constitution was rendered by Messer’s. Catterson ( Chrm ), Wagnon and Worchestor. A nominating committee was formed to select
nominees for the first office holders elected in 1966, as the previous office holders were self appointed.
The bids from 3 contractors were returned; the last from Collinshaw Sprinkler Co. of Santa Clara and lowest for $27,171. The bids
include the leveling, drainage, sprinkler system and the laying of turf for a 120 by 120 foot playing surface. The construction was to be
started in July and completed by November, 1966. The turf originally laid was to be Old Orchard Bent grass. It is obvious that in the
intervening years, the green has been over seeded with Bermuda which is the predominant grass type today.
The Mayor at the time the green was approved and being built was Joseph Pace, and completed during the Ron James administration.
The club’s best growth years ( 1971–1974 ) were the years while Norm Mineta was S.J. mayor, when the club membership reached 140
or so.
In the early days extending from the first games played on the then tender green ( approx. 1967 – 68 ) the green had to be protected
from “dumpers” by use of canvas mats measuring about 3 by 6 feet laid at each end of the rinks and staked down. A mat shape outlined
on each canvas mat and was placed closest to the ditch, so that the delivered bowl would contact the mat first when delivered. Even so,
some of the bowlers were so enthusiastic that their deliveries would transcend the mat and hit the green anyway. These occasions
would be greeted with disapproving looks and wagging fingers. In the early days there was a practice rink just outside the green to
which new bowlers and dumpers were consigned until their deliveries had been smoothed out.
The history would not be correct without noting two members who had so much to do with the club and its facilities in the early days. The
first is Paul Dickey who lived with his sister just across the street from the park. Paul had sustained some injury while in the military that
involved gassing. Apparently, his disabilities made employment difficult so Paul adopted the park as his unpaid responsibility. The Parks
and Rec. Department acknowledged his role and supported him when necessary. He also assumed the role of ex-officio coach of the
Lawn Bowling Club and many of the new players of his era were taught their delivery by him, including the writer of this history. He also
looked after the tennis courts and either made repairs or saw to their doing.
The other person worthy of mention was Tom Mansfield. Those that have been members when Tom was alive will remember the
uncountable hours he spent over on the green with his dog Penny. Tom was an engineer who had been entrusted by his employer
( Food Machinery ) to go to Europe on several extended assignments to open new divisions in European countries. And this while
retaining his post as head engineer at their San Jose facility. It would not have surprised anyone who knew Tom to see him down on his
hands and knees on the green taking water level readings with his hydrometer charting how much water was being put on the green
plus where the high and low spots were. This led to tons of sand being spread on the green annually to try to keep it level. He also
attended to a myriad of other needs to make the green as playable as possible.
The history of the club will go on and it is the hope I think of many of its present members that it will include a better club house than the
one now available. A club house the equal of all the other neighboring city facilities, with indoor seating for a green full of players to be
able to sit and eat a meal. And to be able to use restrooms instead of having to walk across the park and use the public facility. The
need to have some air conditioning and heating when needed would also be most appreciated. It has been long been supposed that if
the facility had these improvements the membership would be easier to grow as well.
To all who hear this, good bowling, along with the hope that it lasts well into the future.
Prepared by: Murray Brunt
On the occasion of the SJLBC’s 40th Anniversary Celebration August 12, 2006
(40th Anniversary of SJLBC Incorporation is October 18, 2006)
By Murray Brunt
In the beginning there was light, and the earth and the waters parted, and when the Earth dried, there was Lawn Bowl, or some of the
bowls historians would claim. Supposedly, the games origins go back to the early Egyptians which entailed casting round stones on hard
sand at some target. Three or so millennia later, after the game traveled from Egypt to Rome to England, it arrived in the U.S.A. in
colonial days and finally to the Bay Area at San Francisco just after the opening of the 20th Century.
With the formation of a number of clubs in the Northern California area, ( S.F., Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Santa Cruz )
and several others, San Jose became a logical next place to begin playing the game. Actually a Lawn Bowling Club had been formed in
S. J. in the years just prior to the green being constructed in 1966. The members obviously played at some of the other greens in the
area, and according to news articles, did reasonably well.
O.S. Hubbard and Hamil Wagnon ( both educators ) put the pressure on at City Hall, and with the help of Frank Bramhall, a Parks and
Recreation Commissioner, convinced the City Council to build a green in the park at the corner of Willow and Camino Ramon streets.
Bids were let to several prospective contractors and a budget of $32,000 was allocated for the project. The actual decision to build the
green and facility was made on December 13, 1965, this after 16 months of effort by the club members who by that time numbered 40
members, with 3 women.
A meeting was called on January 24, 1966 by Mr. Robert Frost ( not THE Robert Frost ) for the purpose of giving the prospective
members a picture of the club organization and advice from bowling members of the neighboring communities. Main among these were
Frank Mixon, then current president of the No, California LBA, Alfred Anderson, VP of the American LBA, and Henry Moltby, immediate
past president of the So. West Division LBA. There were several others, but by the time the meeting was concluded, the S.J. contingent
had a good start on their club needs.
A committee was formed of three people to draw up a constitution using as a guide the constitution and by-laws of nearby clubs. The
first constitution was rendered by Messer’s. Catterson ( Chrm ), Wagnon and Worchestor. A nominating committee was formed to select
nominees for the first office holders elected in 1966, as the previous office holders were self appointed.
The bids from 3 contractors were returned; the last from Collinshaw Sprinkler Co. of Santa Clara and lowest for $27,171. The bids
include the leveling, drainage, sprinkler system and the laying of turf for a 120 by 120 foot playing surface. The construction was to be
started in July and completed by November, 1966. The turf originally laid was to be Old Orchard Bent grass. It is obvious that in the
intervening years, the green has been over seeded with Bermuda which is the predominant grass type today.
The Mayor at the time the green was approved and being built was Joseph Pace, and completed during the Ron James administration.
The club’s best growth years ( 1971–1974 ) were the years while Norm Mineta was S.J. mayor, when the club membership reached 140
or so.
In the early days extending from the first games played on the then tender green ( approx. 1967 – 68 ) the green had to be protected
from “dumpers” by use of canvas mats measuring about 3 by 6 feet laid at each end of the rinks and staked down. A mat shape outlined
on each canvas mat and was placed closest to the ditch, so that the delivered bowl would contact the mat first when delivered. Even so,
some of the bowlers were so enthusiastic that their deliveries would transcend the mat and hit the green anyway. These occasions
would be greeted with disapproving looks and wagging fingers. In the early days there was a practice rink just outside the green to
which new bowlers and dumpers were consigned until their deliveries had been smoothed out.
The history would not be correct without noting two members who had so much to do with the club and its facilities in the early days. The
first is Paul Dickey who lived with his sister just across the street from the park. Paul had sustained some injury while in the military that
involved gassing. Apparently, his disabilities made employment difficult so Paul adopted the park as his unpaid responsibility. The Parks
and Rec. Department acknowledged his role and supported him when necessary. He also assumed the role of ex-officio coach of the
Lawn Bowling Club and many of the new players of his era were taught their delivery by him, including the writer of this history. He also
looked after the tennis courts and either made repairs or saw to their doing.
The other person worthy of mention was Tom Mansfield. Those that have been members when Tom was alive will remember the
uncountable hours he spent over on the green with his dog Penny. Tom was an engineer who had been entrusted by his employer
( Food Machinery ) to go to Europe on several extended assignments to open new divisions in European countries. And this while
retaining his post as head engineer at their San Jose facility. It would not have surprised anyone who knew Tom to see him down on his
hands and knees on the green taking water level readings with his hydrometer charting how much water was being put on the green
plus where the high and low spots were. This led to tons of sand being spread on the green annually to try to keep it level. He also
attended to a myriad of other needs to make the green as playable as possible.
The history of the club will go on and it is the hope I think of many of its present members that it will include a better club house than the
one now available. A club house the equal of all the other neighboring city facilities, with indoor seating for a green full of players to be
able to sit and eat a meal. And to be able to use restrooms instead of having to walk across the park and use the public facility. The
need to have some air conditioning and heating when needed would also be most appreciated. It has been long been supposed that if
the facility had these improvements the membership would be easier to grow as well.
To all who hear this, good bowling, along with the hope that it lasts well into the future.
Prepared by: Murray Brunt
On the occasion of the SJLBC’s 40th Anniversary Celebration August 12, 2006
(40th Anniversary of SJLBC Incorporation is October 18, 2006)