Ask for Erve
In 1935, the bowling and billiard hall that Erve managed was in the Hall-Rand building on the northwest corner of Congress and Third Streets in Troy. This was the former Rand’s Hall, later Rand’s Opera House, expanded in 1872 as a concert room, lecture hall and place of exhibitions. How Rand’s Hall became “Hall-Rand,” or how an opera house became a bowling alley, I don’t know. I also don’t know how “Erve” is pronounced. Sadly, it’s long gone, and a former chain restaurant building housing a fast food buffet occupies what should be a prominent corner of the city.
Guy Bull’s location for wrapping paper and twine is a residential neighborhood on the edge of Knickerbacker Park.
