The center square at Center and Main Streets is an interesting place. Flanking each of the entrances are white cement posts with a black spherical cap. If you were to look closely, you would notice that the sphere is actually a bowling ball. According to the
Moravian Historical Society these balls were taken from the
Holy Family Club and mounted on each post. On some of the balls you can make out markings and finger holes. The ball in the photo to the left is a 16 lb ball marked with the words "Blue Eagle." Next time you walk through the square, pause a moment to take a look.
Thanks to Ross for the idea for this post.
The center square at Center and Main Streets is an interesting place. Flanking each of the entrances are white cement posts with a black spherical cap. If you were to look closely, you would notice that the sphere is actually a bowling ball. According to the Moravian Historical Society these balls were taken from the Holy Family Club and mounted on each post. On some of the balls you can make out markings and finger holes. The ball in the photo to the left is a 16 lb ball marked with the words "Blue Eagle." Next time you walk through the square, pause a moment to take a look.
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Travel to wondrous and curious places on Obscura Day 2011.
7 comments:
It is my belief that the bowling ball(s) in question came from a bowling alley that was once where the Quest Labs building is. It was called Blue Eagle Lanes.
That makes sense. Thanks for the comment.
-WN
Wow! That's weird! For the 33 years I lived in Nazareth, I always assumed they were cannon balls!
Why are the bolwing balls there?
Is this a structural thing or a decorative element?
By structural I mean, does the bowling ball prevent acid rain (from the cement and quary dust) from pitting or destroying the cememnt posts. Or is it just a pretty thing to put on top of the post? If it's just pretty, why bowling balls? Why not cannon balls, since the cannon's there? Why those bowling balls? Is it because they're engraved "Blue Eagles" and that's our high school mascot? Or where they just cheap and/or available. Our German thriftiness.
When were those posts installed?
Very intersting, indeed?
Our understanding is that they were used simply for their aesthetics. They were perfectly spherical and available. I doubt they are too old (<50 years).
Walking home after the Swing Band concert last night, I looked at these "things" real close. Whatever they're made of is starting to wear away and expose the core of the ones on the East side of the square. All the layers of black paint are chipping away and whatever's inside is now starting to flake out. It looks a little like concrete, but maybe it's fiberglass. It's soft, grainy and pithy to the touch. Who do we call to get it repaired?
I remember when there were'nt chains around the circle. Teenagers from time to time would drive through.
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