FORT WAYNE, In (Indiana's NewsCenter)--FOR EIGHTY YEARS MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS BEEN CENTRAL TO LIFE IN FORT WAYNE’S BLOOMINGDALE NEIGHBORHOOD, PREPARING GENERATIONS OF KIDS FOR HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE LIVES. AND WHILE THE THREE ‘R’S ARE THE FOCUS AT PRECIOUS BLOOD, EDUCATORS HERE KNOW THAT ALL WORK AND NO PLAY CAN MAKE JOHNNY A DULL AND UNHAPPY BOY.

Rich: It’s a great place for parties; great place for kids and the school gets a lot of benefit from it.

IN THE BASEMENT OF PRECIOUS BLOOD IS WHAT’S BEEN CALLED THE BEST-KEPT SECRET IN FORT WAYNE, A PROFESSIONAL GRADE, OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED SIX-LANE BOWLING ALLEY. AND AT 75 YEARS OF AGE, IT’S ALSO THE OLDEST BOWLING ALLEY IN THE CITY.

Isaac Case: I feel I walked into the ‘70’s which is pretty cool in my opinion. Taking a step back in time playing bowling the way it used to be played. I think that’s cool.

THE KIDS HERE BOWL AS PART OF THEIR PHYS ED. CLASS BUT THIS ALLEY WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1932 TO HELP PAY FOR THE THEN NEW SCHOOL BUILDING. OVER THE YEARS IT’S BECOME A COMMUNITY MEETING PLACE, BRINGING FAMILIES TOGETHER, HOSTING PARTIES, REUNIONS AND EVENING BOWLING LEAGUES.

Rich: Used to have fish fry’s Friday nights and it became a center of activity for this part of the city. A lot of people 85 years old that come down every once in a while they just can’t believe it’s still here.

RICH SARRAZIN MANAGES THE ALLEY AND TEACHES THE BOWLING CLASSES HERE. HE SAYS NOT ALL KIDS CAN MAKE TOUCHDOWNS OR HIT HOMERUNS, BUT EVERYONE CAN BOWL. HE SAYS THE BOWLING ALLEY AT PRECIOUS BLOOD SERVES THE SCHOOL CHILDREN WELL, PROVIDING THEM EXERCISE, TEACHING THEM SPORTSMANSHIP…WITH PLENTY OF GOOD TIMES TO SPARE. ERIC OLSON, OUT IN YOUR COUNTRY.