Kincardine bowling alley being rebuilt, following fire last fall

By: Liz Dadson March 9, 2015 1668

Kincardine bowling alley being rebuilt, following fire last fall

Bruce Bowling Lanes in Kincardine is being rebuilt, following a devastating fire that caused extensive damage to the structure Sept. 1. last year.

A property restoration company has been working at the bowling alley site at the corner of Broadway and Sutton Street, and Monday morning, three portions of the old roof were removed and a new roof is being installed.

Janelle Gurr, manager of the business which is owned by her mother, Carol, said the inside of the building has been gutted but she hopes the hardwood bowling lanes are still there and can be salvaged.

"We hope to have it open this fall," said Janelle. "The plan is to restore it to the six-lane, five-pin bowling alley that was here before the fire, but with a facelift."

She said her parents, Frank and Carol Gurr, purchased the business in November, 2004. He died five years ago.

Before fire caused the closure of the bowling alley last fall, the family had planned to hold a 10th anniversary celebration. Janelle said she hopes to have a grand opening this November, and celebrate their 11th anniversary of operation.

She said the building is a well-built structure with A-frame rafters, all connected. The three pieces of roof, to the west end of the building, were cut and removed, while the east end portion was salvaged, she said.

While the Gurrs had insurance to cover the cost to rebuild the bowling alley, Janelle said the cause was arson and it is being investigated. Anyone with information should contact the South Bruce OPP at 519-396-3341 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The second piece of roof at Bruce Bowling Lanes in Kincardine is removed, Monday morning

Firefighters were called to the blaze at the bowling alley Sept. 1, 2014, at 7 a.m. and when they arrived, they found heavy smoke and fire in the roof. Tiverton fire station also responded, and the firefighters were able to control the blaze, keeping it to the back of the building.

The cause of the fire was deemed suspicious. The South Bruce OPP continues to investigate with the assistance of the South Bruce OPP Crime Unit and the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall.

Smoke pours from the roof of Bruce Bowling Lanes, Kincardine, Sept. 1, 2014; photos by David Dadson