Staff Writer
The fact that Elwood Jewell has been bowling since 1984 may not come as a great surprise, except that he started bowling when he was 68 years old. Jewell, who turned 93 April 9, has been bowling for a quarter of a century. Taking a break last week, the veteran bowler, better known as ‘Woody’, sat down to discuss his history with this unconventional sport. “I started bowling because I enjoyed it,” he put, simply. “I just wanted to be around my friends and have some fun.” A Monticello native, Jewell grew up on a farm, but joined a league when he moved to Presque Isle with his coworkers. He would bowl at the Astro Bowl, a bowling alley that was located where Bonanza stands today, and as often as three times a week. Today, he can most often be found at the Northern Lanes Bowling Alley, where he bowls Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and is involved in a regular and senior league. “I bowl about 27 strings a week,” he said laughing, admitting that he doesn’t do much to keep in shape. “I just bowl about every other day.”
Beyond weekly bowling, Jewell has been involved in other competitions, specifically the Al Reeves tournament. “[Reeves] was one of my best buddies, and we bowled on the same team,” said Jewell, who started bowling with Reeves in the ‘90s.
Jewell has bowled both 10-pin and candlepin but prefers the smaller balls. “On a 10-pin, the ball breaks faster and curves more. I couldn’t handle it – I throw a straight ball. I bowl cross lane,” Jewell explained. “Instead of going down the center, you start on the side. Your ball breaks better that way.”
On December 1, 2008, Jewell encountered a roadblock in his bowling career. “I came up and got my shoes on and my balls ready,” said Jewel, pointing to lane 14, where he had been standing. “I reached down to pick up a ball and I never came up. I passed out in the alley.” Doctors later discovered Jewel had a blocked artery and another that was half blocked, but Jim Neumayer and Orlan Smith knew CPR and kept Jewell’s heart going until an ambulance transported him to TAMC.
“I woke up in the hospital and I didn’t know what happened,” he said. When it was all over, Jewell had spent one week in Bangor and another in the Presque Isle hospital, and a few more weeks at home, recuperating. “After six weeks, I came back to bowl,” Jewell said. “The doctor just said he didn’t want me drinking too much caffeine, but he didn’t say anything about bowling.” Though he’s been back since mid-January, Jewell has taken his time getting back into the game. “I have my days … when I climb the stairs I’m a little short of breath, but it’s not bad. I’m OK and I’m on medication.”
But with a Monday night high-score of 130, Jewell seems to be right back in the game.
