A Fond Farewell to Hesterman Bowl

Don Carlson and James Pehta in final goodbye to Hesterman Bowl.

The Glen Ellyn Historical Society Bids a Fond Farewell to Hesterman Bowl

If you are old enough to remember your father’s faithful Packard Motorcar, or the stylish Studebaker, you will remember the metamorphosis of Hesterman Motors to Hesterman Bowl in 1958. It was a wonderful, cozy place with sixteen lanes, just enough but not too many. A great place to gather with friends and family, where you did not have to spend a fortune but could stay for hours. Many of us remember the smell of fresh oil, the clatter and noise, the exhilaration and the excitement. We enjoy looking back to our days at Hesterman Bowl to reminisce and remember the innocent “happy days” of the late ‘50’s.

We grew up and dated at Hesterman’s and eventually brought our families and their friends to enjoy the same smells and sounds that only this bowling alley could offer. As we grew, so did Hesterman’s from the cozy 16 lanes to a whopping 24 lanes in 1964. Saturday mornings were busy with the youth leagues. Every lane was full of enthusiastic kids from ages six through high school. Everyone bowled in the 60’s, entire families, couples on a date, seniors and, of course, the teenagers.

The youth leagues began to drop off in the last few years and in an attempt to keep up with the younger generation, Don and Jim Carlson, who bought the bowling alley from the Hesterman Brothers in 1985, attempted some extreme changes to attract the newest bowling enthusiast. They installed laser light shows and a “disco ball spin” on Saturday nights, when the lights went down, the music went UP. But, times changed and to maintain the community pride, ethics and morals associated with the Hesterman Bowl, the Carlson’s decided rather than compromise the standards and exceptional memories of the “Bowl” they would render it to new property owners for the new millennium.

The Glen Ellyn Historical Society has been the recipient of a generous donation from Mr. Jim Pehta, a former Glen Ellyn resident. He recently bought one of the “lanes” of Hesterman Bowl and the outdoor signs, that where the corner pieces of the building, seen by thousands of passing motorists everyday. To maintain the dignity of our many remembrances, but also share these cherished memories, we have commissioned Aaron Spears, a native artisan to craft this “lane” into treasured pieces of history. This lane which has been cleaned and oiled daily for over forty years-which has seen expert bowlers gently roll the great balls deftly down the center, and endured youngsters who threw the heavy balls with more gusto than grace, is being made into desk clocks and key racks. Each piece will retain the original patina obtained through years of service and care and will include a replica of the Hesterman insignia, laser cut into the unique wood. The twenty-six clocks and twelve key racks will be available to the public by the end of November. For more information, please visit www.hestermanbowl.com or contact Stacy’s Tavern Museum at 858-8696.

The Glen Ellyn Historical Society thanks you, Hesterman Bowl, for over 40 wonderful years of memories.