Our History | My Site

OUR CLUB HISTORY

The Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club's long 124 year history dates from April 1901 in response to a groundswell of enthusiasm from local business men, professionals and trades people. The first president was Dr R.P. Bouucher and other leaders included R.C. McHarrie, a former champion and banker at the Bank of Commerce.

The club set up seven rinks on Stevenson's Green, on the north east corner of Simcoe and Aylmer, and 94 bowlers were registered at $2 per year when the lawn bowling began on 4 June 1901. When this green was proposed as the new site for the YWCA, the club moved to Brookside Bowling Green, at Alymer and Brock, now the Sandford Fleming Park.

Early highlights were the British bowlers who came in 1906 and 1910 as part of Canadian tours.

The local club also competed with clubs in Lindsay, Cobourg, Port Hope and elsewhere. The club

outgrew Brookside during the late 1920's as the popularity of lawn bowling grew.

The club acquired land on McDonnel Street, (photo on right) incorporated and sold shares, added tennis to

the lawn bowling, and over the next few years

developed the current facility and added more area

and became one of the best lawn bowling greens in Canada.

The Charter is dated December 1928, and J.H. Sedgewick, purchaser of the first share became president (photo on left). The first meeting in the new clubhouse was held 6 May 1930. The beautiful building (photo on right) had dormers and verandahs on the south side with views of the greens. The main floor had a large reception room with brick fireplace, beveled French doors, hardwood floors walnut wainscotting, beamed ceiling, decorative cornice, a built-in trophy case and kitchen. The upper floor had a meeting room and small office often used for arranging draws. The basement had a recreation area, a scoring room and washrooms.

Women had played key roles in the early events at the club but only in the late 1940's were they playing in the daytime matches. Ladies wore long skirts, men wore polo shirts. Two women, Lil Crocker (on left below) and Anna Panton (on right below) are recognized in the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame.

In the 1950's an aerial view of the magnificat clubhouse. (photo on right).

The "ides of July" flood of 2004 damaged the basement area of the clubhouse and much of the following year was spent fixing the facilities and the greens, once again one of the finest bowling greens in Canada.

The hard work on restoring the clubhouse prompted considerations to build a new clubhouse on the same site. This was accomplished by 2010 after much leadership, innovations and a working partnership with Whitlaw Mariners Seniors Club in the new clubhouse.

By 2004, there were 180 members playing in six leagues and in a dozen in-club events and some challenges with some other clubs. Following the flood in 2004 there was great debate among the members about whether to fix up the damaged clubhouse or build a new one. Under the leadership of Ray Turnbull President, Bob Guppy and Doug Gilpin a plan and financing was arranged with the City of Peterborough, the Ontario and Federal governments. Donations from members including two women amounted to over half a million. The board members include from left to right: front row, Bob Burrows, Andy Caldwell; second row, Doris Nickson, Elain Welch, Hilda and Doug Gilpin; back row Ray Turnbull, Bob Guppy, Bev and Brian O'toole.

In 2009, the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club and the Whitlaw Mariners Seniors Club jointly agreed to the construction of the new clubhouse on the property to be known and operated as the McDonnel Street Activity Centre. One of the three lawn bowling greens area was used to accommodate the new building.

The Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club is the sole registered owner of the property municipality know as 577 McDonnel Street in Peterborough. The facility is owned 60% by the Peterborough Lawn Bowling Club and 40% by the Whitlaw Mariners Seniors Club.

In September 2012, the Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the two clubs. Each club would be governed as a non profit corporation by a Board of Directors. A Joint Committee with four bowlers and three mariners was also formed to interface between the clubs in the operation of the facility, paying down the debt of $600,000 and co-ordinating and scheduling activities. The clubhouse amenities include two kitchens to support social activities, a meeting hall up to 120, a board room and library. In the winter, there is short mat bowling plus other senior activities available for bowlers by joining the Whitlaw Mariners Seniors Club for an annual fee of $20 due in September each year plus $3 per activity.

Over the last 10 years, the membership of both the bowlers and mariners has declined, due to members aging and health challenges leading to fewer volunteers and active players. By mid March of 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic had hit and closed down our facility. With both Federal and Provincial support we have been able to operate and open with limited activities. We are still proud of our past and optimistic about our future when the coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

In June of 2022, the City of Peterborough and PLBC signed agreements so that the City would operate and maintain the facility and PLBC would operate and maintain the lawns. The City now operates activities in the facility previously done by the Whitlaw Mariners

Trent Valley Archives holds all the records, photos, and other historical material on the lawn bowling club from

1920 to 2018 in Fonds # 743. Please click here to view the details. Further research is continuing from the beginning in 1901 using the newly digitized Examiner newspapers.

In the Heritage Gazette of the Trent Valley Vol.20, No. 3 November 2015, Elwood Jones published an article titled “British bowlers in Peterborough in 1906”. Please click here to view this very informative article on our past. Our plan is to create digital access to our club history including:

Inventory our past Presidents from 1901 to the present by what they worked at, where they lived, and their spouse. Their accomplishments and bowling events of the period will also be time-lined.
Listing all the news stories from the Examiner from 1901 and scanning significant headline stories for members to view online.
Scanning old photos of bowling events like our anniversaries, tournaments, and award winners.
Pictures of our two clubhouses built in 1929 and 2010.
Inventory of our trophies and winning teams

Welcome!