Holler House facts for kids
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| Sport | Ten-pin bowling |
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| Founded | 1908 |
| Location | 2042 W. Lincoln Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Chairman | Marcy Skowronski |
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Holler House is a famous place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It's a tavern that has the oldest bowling alley in the United States that is officially recognized. This special place has two bowling lanes that are over 100 years old! What makes them even more unique is that real people, called pin boys, still set up the pins by hand.
Holler House first opened its doors in 1908 in the Lincoln Village neighborhood of Milwaukee. In 2008, it celebrated its 100th birthday with a big party. Many people consider it one of the best and most historic bars in America.
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The Story of Holler House
Holler House began its journey on September 13, 1908. It was first called Skowronski's, named after its founder, "Iron Mike" Skoronski. Later, Mike's son, Gene, married Marcy in 1952. They decided to change the name to Gene and Marcy's.
After Gene passed away in 1990, Marcy Skowronski continued to run the tavern. She managed it until her death in December 2019. Today, Marcy's family still keeps the business going, preserving its long history.
A Century of Bowling
In 2008, Holler House got ready for its 100th anniversary. For the first time in 40 years, the place received a very thorough cleaning! During this big clean-up, something interesting was found. Workers discovered five old wooden bowling balls. These balls were made from a very hard wood called lignum vitae and weighed 15 pounds each. They also had two finger holes, just like modern bowling balls.
Stepping Back in Time
When you visit Holler House, it feels like you've traveled back in time. The bowling alley still looks almost exactly as it did a century ago. The lanes are made of real wood, laid down over 100 years ago. This is different from most modern bowling alleys, which often use synthetic materials.
The bowling lanes at Holler House are truly old-fashioned. They still use a manual system to set up the pins. This means that young people, known as pin boys, manually reset the pins after each turn. They also roll the bowlers' balls back using a traditional track between the two lanes. Even the scoring is done the old way, by writing down the points on paper hanging on the wall.
Historic Items and Drinks
Holler House is like a small museum, filled with items from its past. You can see memorabilia that dates back to as early as 1912. In the early days, you could buy a hot beef sandwich for 25 cents. A half-gallon of beer also cost 25 cents, plus a deposit for the bottle.
During the time of Prohibition, when alcohol was illegal, the owners had a secret hiding spot. They stored liquor under a baby's crib, hoping the police wouldn't look there. Interestingly, there are no chairs inside the bowling alley area itself. Above the bowling lanes, you can see Polish eagle crests. These show the Polish heritage of the neighborhood where Holler House is located.
When it comes to drinks, Holler House mainly sells bottled beer. The only exception is Schlitz beer, which is sold in a can. They don't have any beer on tap.
Famous Visitors
Many well-known people have visited Holler House over the years to experience its unique charm and historic bowling lanes. Some of these famous visitors include:
- Earl Anthony, a professional bowler who won many titles.
- Joe Walsh, a famous American guitarist.
- Larry the Cable Guy, a popular comedian.
- Jack White, a well-known musician.
- Parker Bohn III, another professional bowler.
- Pee-wee Herman, an American comedian.
Images for kids
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Pin boys at Holler House bowling alley
