Pool Plans

You may already know there is a 74-year-old, 20-lane bowling alley on the 2nd floor of the Hermann Sons Home Association building. But did you know there was almost a swimming pool too? Recently discovered design plans from the 1950s show that past members had an even grander vision, including a 90-person pool, a wading pool, and locker/changing room building on the south side of the Home Association building, with easy access to the Rathskeller Bar of course.

When the bowling alley first opened in 1949 it was operated manually by hired “pin setters,” but in 1951 when the first automated pin setters were installed, our Home Association building became home to the first Brunswick automated lanes in Texas, quite a technological marvel at the time. The overhead scoring projectors were also the first of their kind in the state. The bowling alley provided a gathering place for generations of San Antonio lodge members, as well as the public, until the early 2000s when its use was limited to member leagues. The bowling lanes have been completely closed since 2005, but the space can be rented for special events. It’s possible that the lanes may be reopened again someday.

If you have any photos of our historic bowling alley, we’d love to see them.