History of Cobourg Lawn Bowling Club
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The Club
On April 19th 1907 Cobourg Horticultural Society recommended the establishment of a bowling green east of the Elms where the old drill shed was located in Victoria Park and on April 26th less than 7 people met to organize a club. A meeting was arranged for April 29th when a large group met to decide where the grounds should be. The Treasurer, Mr Jones favoured Victoria Park. A committee was formed as follows: President - J E Skidmore; Vice President - Stanley Barr; Treasurer - G E Jones; Secretary - G S Chatterton; Committee - E W Hargroft, J D Hayden and James Bulger. There were 68 members. The Executive Committee was authorized to decide the location of the green and they chose Victoria Park. There was no club house at that time. The membership fee was $4 which included the use of the bowls which were kept in a long wooden box by the fence. Four rinks were enclosed by a chicken wire fence and the green was lit by a string of gas jets each way. The caretaker was paid the handsome amount of $40 for the season. In 1908 ladies were invited to join at a fee of $8 with bowls supplied and 21 did so. Ladies were allowed to bowl every morning and evening unless a tournament was being played. A league was set up to include Bowmanville, Colborne, Oshawa and Port Hope. Whitby later replaced Colborne. Only singles and fours were played. The 1909 season opened on June 21st with the men’s and ladies sections being run separately. The ladies section chose Miss Eyre as their President. The men’s and ladies sections would continue to be run separately until 1988. |
This photo is thought to date from around 1915/16 and was one of a series of Victoria Park which were published as post cards. The boundary fence of the lawn bowling green was chicken wire and the lighting was gas jets. |
The archives record a number of large tournaments held during each season in the 1920s including an event in 1925 where it is recorded that 116 bowlers were in town for the annual tournament (but the nature of the tournament is not specified).
It is possible that the reference was to a tournament between Cobourg and the CPR Recreation Club as the club has a couple of photos taken of CPR events that appear to be different occasions. This photo is dated August 1925 and is titled "Cobourg and West Toronto Clubs"
The club house was built in 1925 and this was probably the first photograph taken after it was built that year. Further information about the development of the club house can be found in the section below.
By 1936 membership had fallen to 35 members and funds were very low so it is surprising to find that in 1937 it was decided to build an addition to the club house at a cost of $2,500.
In 1941 it was recorded that doubles play started. Up to that point play had still been singles or fours. There would be no further changes until 1957 when trebles were introduced in place of fours.
In 1952 fees were increased to $9 and that included the use of a locker. This appears to be the first time fees had increased for a number of years but after such a long period without increases the fees went up again in 1956 to $12 and again in 1960 to $15. By 1980 they had increased to $35and to $65 by 1992. There followed relatively large increases over the following years to $100 by 1996 and $120 in 2000.
Membership has fluctuated over the last ten years (2013-2023) from 129 in 2013 to 103 in 2019. In the Covid pandemic of 2020 play was limited and membership fell to around 50. In the second Covid year, 2021 a bit more play was possible and membership increased to 73. At the beginning of the 2022 season a major publicity drive took place. With a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation the club advertised on radio, in the press and with a mail drop to every home in Cobourg and surrounds. That proved very successful and the membership increased to 143.... the highest number for many years.
In 1990 Dorothy and Paul Allen formed the club’s junior section which proved very successful. After the Allens, Sharyl Ann Milligan led the junior section (or youth league as it became known) until the pandemic meant there was no youth league. The Youth League has not run since then although it is hoped to restart it in the future.
The club celebrated its centenary in 2007 with a tournament, dinner and entertainment at the Legion. Also about that time there were discussions with the Town about possibly moving the club from its Victoria Park location to the planned new Cobourg Community Centre. However, that came to nought and the club remains an integral part of Victoria Park and the waterfront area of Cobourg.
Every year since 2007 club members have celebrated the anniversary with a tournament. The next big milestone in club history will be 2027, the 120th anniversary.
It is possible that the reference was to a tournament between Cobourg and the CPR Recreation Club as the club has a couple of photos taken of CPR events that appear to be different occasions. This photo is dated August 1925 and is titled "Cobourg and West Toronto Clubs"
The club house was built in 1925 and this was probably the first photograph taken after it was built that year. Further information about the development of the club house can be found in the section below.
By 1936 membership had fallen to 35 members and funds were very low so it is surprising to find that in 1937 it was decided to build an addition to the club house at a cost of $2,500.
In 1941 it was recorded that doubles play started. Up to that point play had still been singles or fours. There would be no further changes until 1957 when trebles were introduced in place of fours.
In 1952 fees were increased to $9 and that included the use of a locker. This appears to be the first time fees had increased for a number of years but after such a long period without increases the fees went up again in 1956 to $12 and again in 1960 to $15. By 1980 they had increased to $35and to $65 by 1992. There followed relatively large increases over the following years to $100 by 1996 and $120 in 2000.
Membership has fluctuated over the last ten years (2013-2023) from 129 in 2013 to 103 in 2019. In the Covid pandemic of 2020 play was limited and membership fell to around 50. In the second Covid year, 2021 a bit more play was possible and membership increased to 73. At the beginning of the 2022 season a major publicity drive took place. With a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation the club advertised on radio, in the press and with a mail drop to every home in Cobourg and surrounds. That proved very successful and the membership increased to 143.... the highest number for many years.
In 1990 Dorothy and Paul Allen formed the club’s junior section which proved very successful. After the Allens, Sharyl Ann Milligan led the junior section (or youth league as it became known) until the pandemic meant there was no youth league. The Youth League has not run since then although it is hoped to restart it in the future.
The club celebrated its centenary in 2007 with a tournament, dinner and entertainment at the Legion. Also about that time there were discussions with the Town about possibly moving the club from its Victoria Park location to the planned new Cobourg Community Centre. However, that came to nought and the club remains an integral part of Victoria Park and the waterfront area of Cobourg.
Every year since 2007 club members have celebrated the anniversary with a tournament. The next big milestone in club history will be 2027, the 120th anniversary.
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The Club House
At the 1923 AGM there was discussion about erecting a clubhouse. A committee was formed to solicit subscriptions but membership had declined and it was hoped that when membership increased to 60 a club house could be erected. In 1924 the tennis club contributed $500 and CLBC borrowed $1000 from Victoria and Grey for the building of a club house. The loan was repaid by July 23rd 1925. The specification was for a simple frame cottage; large gauge shiplap siding; a centre door with small single sash windows either side; the roof was extended over a porch to the south with square wood columns supporting the overhang (all sounds familiar). At an added cost of $525 a substantial fence and dome lights were added. In 1937 it was decided to build an addition to the club house at a cost of $2,500. Another front door, side windows and extension of the porch overhang were built. The addition doubled the size and the result was essentially the club house as it is at present. There are no further records of changes but in 1961 a new roof was put on the club house at a cost of $800 and then in 1981 it is recorded that the roof was patched and that there was a special levy of $10 per member to pay for it. In 1983 a small shed was put on the North West end. Until 1947 the tennis club still had an involvement with the lawn bowling club but for whatever reason the then CLBC President, Mr Holland, wrote to the tennis club President suggesting that they had relinquished their involvement in the CLBC as they had left and made no further contributions. That suggestion was apparently accepted. During the last ten years various improvements and maintenance have taken place including new eaves troughs, veranda railings and shoring up of the foundations. |
Club hoTPhoto taken sometime between 1925 and 1937.
Photo Photo taken in late thirties/early forties after the addition to the club house.
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The Greens and the Grounds
When the club was founded there were four rinks and in 1909 another four rinks were added to the north of the existing rinks. It is thought that this forms the basis of the 8 rinks of today’s south green. In September 1914 the Town council granted land to the East to square off the plot. Unlike the club house, which is owned by the club the land is leased from the Town.
In 1928 drains were laid round the club house. In 1929 the Town granted land for 3 more greens at a cost of $1,000. There is little record of development of the greens and grounds until 1952 when the club borrowed an unspecified sum to pay for new lights. In 1961 the east end of the greens was re-sodded at a cost of $505 and in 1973 two hundred yards of turf was bought from a golf club for further refurbishment. In 1975 the club received a New Horizons for Seniors grant of $4745.65 for new lighting on both greens and in 1976/77 a new sprinkler system was installed with a grant of $4418.72.
By 2001 the light standards were declared dangerous and new lights were installed early in 2003. The total cost was $29,835 and a Trillium grant was received of $25,000 towards the cost. In 2002 the sprinkler system was replaced and a new control system installed at a cost of $6744.
Between 2012 and 2023 grants from the New Horizons for Seniors Program have enabled the club to replace greens keeping mowers and purchase additional equipment such as a polisher/roller, a new Verticutter, and new mowers for cutting the surrounds.
At the end of the 2018 season a new equipment garage was built following successful fund raising by members and augmented by a $10,000 donation from the Rotary club of Cobourg.
In the Fall of 2022 the ditch boards had to be replaced as the old boards were all rotting.
When the club was founded there were four rinks and in 1909 another four rinks were added to the north of the existing rinks. It is thought that this forms the basis of the 8 rinks of today’s south green. In September 1914 the Town council granted land to the East to square off the plot. Unlike the club house, which is owned by the club the land is leased from the Town.
In 1928 drains were laid round the club house. In 1929 the Town granted land for 3 more greens at a cost of $1,000. There is little record of development of the greens and grounds until 1952 when the club borrowed an unspecified sum to pay for new lights. In 1961 the east end of the greens was re-sodded at a cost of $505 and in 1973 two hundred yards of turf was bought from a golf club for further refurbishment. In 1975 the club received a New Horizons for Seniors grant of $4745.65 for new lighting on both greens and in 1976/77 a new sprinkler system was installed with a grant of $4418.72.
By 2001 the light standards were declared dangerous and new lights were installed early in 2003. The total cost was $29,835 and a Trillium grant was received of $25,000 towards the cost. In 2002 the sprinkler system was replaced and a new control system installed at a cost of $6744.
Between 2012 and 2023 grants from the New Horizons for Seniors Program have enabled the club to replace greens keeping mowers and purchase additional equipment such as a polisher/roller, a new Verticutter, and new mowers for cutting the surrounds.
At the end of the 2018 season a new equipment garage was built following successful fund raising by members and augmented by a $10,000 donation from the Rotary club of Cobourg.
In the Fall of 2022 the ditch boards had to be replaced as the old boards were all rotting.
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Some Notable Members
There are many familiar and notable names that appear in club records and on the numerous trophies in the club house. Too many to mention here and apologies to the many who have made significant contributions to the club but are not mentioned. Of the current members the oldest (or more accurately the longest serving members) are Martin Foxhall and Dan Milligan who both joined the club in 1969. Dan’s sister, Sharyl Ann comes next in 1972. Martin’s father Victor Foxhall was a very accomplished bowler. Originally from England, Vic was an English singles champion in 1951 and he became a member at Cobourg in 1955. He held many positions in the club as well as at District and Provincial levels. He was President of the Ontario Lawn Bowling Association in 1974 and in 1975 he received a special achievement award from the Government of Ontario. Vic won 3 gold medals at the first Canada Summer Games and was successful in tournaments at provincial, district and club level. Martin has followed in his father’s footsteps and enjoyed success at all levels. He has represented Ontario several times in the Canadian national championship and in 2017 won silver as a member of the Ontario Fours team at the Canadian National Championships in Victoria BC. Another example of passing bowling excellence from one generation to another in Cobourg is the Milligan family. Ron and Trudy Milligan were members for many years and their children, Dan and Sharyl Ann have been members for over 50 years. Dan has won many awards in the Ontario games, as a member of the Canadian National team and in the Commonwealth games. In 1994 Dan and Sharyl Ann were at the Commonwealth games in Victoria BC, Dan as a coach and Sharyl Ann as an umpire. Sharyl Ann was also a member of the Canadian national team and in the 1990s represented Canada in New Zealand and Scotland. Sharyl Ann is currently the Ontario representative on the (Umpires) National Officiating Committee. Until 2020 Sharyl Ann ran a very successful junior league at the club. Dan and Sharyl Ann are both in the Ontario Lawn Bowls Association Hall of Fame. Dan was also inducted into the Cobourg and District Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. In the current era the van Steijn siblings, Ben and Baylee, have both come through the youth system (under the expert guidance of Sharyl Ann Milligan) to become top class bowlers. They both competed at Under 18 and Under 25 levels winning Ontario and Canadian medals. Baylee is a member of the current Canadian national team and won a bronze medal at the 2023 world championships in Australia.
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Vic and Martin Foxhall 
Dan and Sharyl Ann Milligan |
The Club Crest and Pin
In 1974 a proposal was made by the Ladies section that the club should have its own Pin. The Ladies President at that time was Jean Rutherford and she took on the task of designing the Pin. The centrepiece of the design is a white rose which was the flower of the Cobourg Centennial. In 1994 the then club secretary, Shirley Fraser, initiated the production of a club crest, based on the pin, which was available for members to purchase, either as an individual crest or directly sown on to shirts and jackets.
As part of the 110th anniversary celebrations it was decided that the logo should be updated to a more modern style. However the Executive Committee wanted to retain the traditional Cobourg white rose. After much discussion and refinement the new logo was introduced in 2017.
Updated December 2023