Rescuing a candlepin bowling alley helps bolster a Maine community

In Ellsworth, Maine, Autumn Mowery is fighting to keep the flickering flame of candlepin bowling alive. This unique regional sport, featuring thinner pins and smaller balls, once brought communities together but has largely faded with the rise of modern entertainment.

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Well, this one's better!

Mowery, who has frequented the alley since childhood, developed a deep fascination with the "old-world engineering" of the pin-setting machines. At 17, she began working in the back, learning to maintain the complex, balletic machinery. Despite risks like being hit by balls or getting her hair caught in gears, she treats the machines with affection, even talking to them.

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Whoa, like, this is so cool!

Her journey to saving the alley began at 18 when it was slated for demolition. Mowery pleaded for three months to prove she could keep it running. The challenges were immediate and severe: a storm fried the wiring, the roof leaked, a pipe burst, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. She worked "every single day" just to keep the lights on.

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When I'm having a really good day, I will come back here and go, 'Let's go! We got this!'

Despite these "obstacles," Mowery never considered quitting, largely due to her mother, Amanda. "She was kind of like the angel during everything," Mowery said. Her mother taught her the importance of remaining positive, even when "growing up was just really tricky, just walking on eggshells a lot." This resilience is now being tested as Mowery strives to ensure the 77-year-old alley continues to be a community hub.

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The obstacles this place has thrown at me, sometimes I think it doesn't want me here.