James Clark "Jim" DeWitt

In honor of his contributions to the Culver Community and his 100th birthday; James DeWitt was presented with the Lion's Club Citizen of the Year Award. - 2021

James DeWitt The contributions of Jim DeWitt, along with his wife, Mary, made to our :ommunity over th years weren't civic in nature - they were quality of life contributions. They improved the lives of families and the youth of our community by providing a pleasant place for them to enjoy themselves, leisurely eat a meal and relax.

Jim (and Mary) moved their young family to Culver in 1953 when they purchased the original 4-lane bowling alley and grill.

The business was officially named Lake Shore Lanes but was affectionally known as "The Bowling Alley". They Bowling Alley was located on a portion of the property which is now Lakehouse Grille.

During the 25 years that Jim and his wife owned and operated the Bowling Alley and Restaurant, they spent long hours working to grow their clientele and support their family, eaving them little time for a social life or leisure.

The Bowling Alley was open every day seven days a week. The only times they closed the business were Thanksgiving, Christmas and-two weeks each May when school let out, so they could travel to Panama City Florida to spend time with Mary's parents, siblings and extended family.

Jim's tendency toward perfection was evident in the quality of the food they served. Everything was made by hand, on premises, using fresh ingredients. Though they sold the business over 40 years ago, locals still reminisce about their favorite "Bowling Alley" foods. Most frequently mentioned are the tenderloins, cheeseburgers, French fries, and homemade lemonade.

While the grill was the most labor-intensive part of the business, they also had a loyal bowling crowd. Jim promoted men's, women's, and mixed bowling leagues, in addition to servicing the pin-setting machines and doing the majority of the cooking. Never one to be idle, Jim was also constantly striving to make upgrades to the physical aspects of the business. In fact, the last few years they owned The Bowling Alley, they received recognition on a state level for their contribution to the beautification of the Culver community and the state of Indiana.

For many of us who remember The Bowling Alley and who benefited from Jim (and Mary's) contributions to Culver, we share in the memories of "another time" in our community's history - a time when life seemed somehow simpler.

Jim and Mary created and sustained a community gathering place for a quarter of a century that embraced all age groups and made them feel welcome and at home. - February 4, 2021 Culver Citizen

James Clark "Jim" DeWitt, 101, of Culver, IN passed a way Saturday morning, October 29, 2022 at Miller's Merry Manor in Culver.