Romar Bowling Lanes, the bowling alley at 19 Bridge Street in Boothbay Harbor owned by Charlie Rowe and his family for 70 years, will soon be gone. Since Rowe’s death in 2011, the space has been empty. Considered an iconic landmark, the 16,000-square-foot building was built in 1928 by developer O.P. Swope and purchased in 1946 by Rowe and his father-in-law, Leslie Marr — hence the name Romar Bowling Lanes.
Now that building, and the wharf and parking lot on the waterfront behind it, have been sold. The bowling alley will be demolished and a new structure will be built in its place.
Nancy Rowe, who owned the property with her two sisters, Sue and Marianne, before it was sold, said the transition has been a mixed bag of emotions.
“The bowling alley and Rowe's Wharf has been a part of our family for five generations. Daddy operated it until he was 96 and was a big part of the lives of many in the Boothbay region."
Two years ago, the Rowes gave photographer Robert Mitchell a chance to photograph the remnants of the bowling alley. Here we feature a few of his photographs, which we hope will bring back a lot of good memories of the league tournaments, birthday parties, rainy day games and more.
Many more photos appear online in a Romar Bowling Lanes gallery.