The Washington times., 1915-02-20
Frank Sherman Will Extend His
Interests to Entire Second
Floor Of n Street Building.
WILL BE READY JULY |
Twenty Billiard Tables Also to
Be Included in Enterprise OF
Local Room Keeper.
Bv KIRK C, MILLER.

and bowling proprietors is to fur
ther his interest in the games to the
extent of opening new emporium !
in the old Builders Exchange build
ing in H street, between Thirteenth
and Fourteenth streets, where he
will conduct twenty billiard tables
and twelve bowling alleys, all on the
same floor.
July first has been named as the
date for the grand opening Of Mr..
Sherman's new institution. The con-
tracts for remodeling have just been
drawn up and he expects to have his
entire plant in operation by that
time.
In giving Washington an alley of
the proportions mentioned, Sherman !
makes it possible for this city to bid
for the big tournaments of this coun-
try, a thing which the city has never
been able to do before without going
to the expense of installing new al
leys for the express purpose of the
event. Now that Washington has a
charter in the Atlantic Coast Bowl
ing Association, the city will be in a
better condition than ever to COM
pete for the big annual tournament.
That the project which Sherman has
just undertaken will prove a success is
believed on all sides as 1t is WELL
known fact that Washington has not
sufficient bowling alleys to satisfy the
army Of men and boys who have taken
up bowling since the game of duckp ms
has infested the capital. 1t Is a fact
that transient bowlers cannot find ac-
comodations in Washington between the
hours Of and II p. m. and an institu-
ton Of the kind which Sherman will
operate will relieve this pressure con-
siderably
While league bowling is the depart
ment of the game which sustalns many
OF the alleys now doing business here,
there is also very valuable transient
trade which is not cared for in the
proper way. The demand for space he
tween the hours mentioned is SO great
that many bowlers spend half Of the
evening travelling from alley to alley in
. vain endeavor to find Accommodations
and 1t Is this trade. together with
certain amount Of the leagues which
Sherman will cater to. The instalIa-
tion Of twenty tables in the new cs-
tablishment will be one Of the biggest
steps toward popularizing the game OF
carom and pocket billiards which is
now demanding the attention of young
America. that has been taken in Wash
ington since Sherman first inaugurated
the Royal Parlors in New York avenue,
ten years ago.
1t Is expected that at least half of the
games scheduled for Washington in the
Champion Billiard Players League will
be staged at Sherman's new home, and
tho billiard department alone will be
large enough to pull off some of the
most attractive District championship
matches which Washington has ever
witnessed.
Tho proprietor Of Washington's new
est venture. Mr.. Sherman, is one of
the men who has grown up in the
business which he now follows. and
Tor that reason he Is due all the more
credit Tor his various successes. AS
ooy FRANK Sherman racked the balls
in many big Establishments in the East
and as he took UP the game with which
ne was thrown in such constant CON
tact. he gradually became so pro
able.
Through the process of eliminating
arc usually won, Sherman finally gain
ed the title Of worlds pocket billiard
champion In 1901. He held that distinc-
tion Tor only year, after which it
peutor. Alfred DeOro Again in 1909
Sherman fell heir to the crown, but
the following year DeOro again wrest-
ed 1t from him.
Sherman came to Washington in
1891 as manager of the Columbia Ath-
ieac club, h. Where thnn he he remained several
rooms of the National Hotel and the
old Riggs House. which stood where
the present Riggs building is located.
In IVY, sherman became convinced that
billiard parlor with bowling alleys
entirely separate from restaurant or
saloon would be- acceptable to the tai
ent OF Washinston. One OF the draw
packs to the game at the Nationa,
Hotel and the Riggs House was the
propinquity of the bar and cafe, which
furnished many diversions other than
billiards. and pool. SO he !naugurated
New York avenue. With his billiards on
the ground floor. pool upstairs, and the
basement devoted to bowling, he reach
ed a happy combination VIII ch attract
ed the best patronage in Washington
ana thls he continues TO maintain.
sherman Is now possibly past forty
and perhaps his championship days
are over, but he remains one OF tn"
foremost billiard performers of the gen
GRAFTON. and, unlike so many who have
won distinction in various lines Of sports,
Is always ready to meet the crack bill
liardists who come to Washington, with
his reputation as one-time champion at
stake. Among his own little circle of
opponents, all resident of Washington
sherman has probably won and lost his
title at his own rooms more than any
rhn SIT S.in latn in, tha
lard world Not an uncommon thing is
the entrance of an enthusiast who says.
well. Frank. ] will play YOU 100
points for your title" And sherman is
always agreeable. If he loses he waits
until the next day when the FISH" re-
turns. and drops the crown to its for
mer owner.
Needless to say every mother son Of
the local bowling and billiard colony
wishes Sherman success in his new en-
terpr1se and they will personally see 10
~ N,' 'r~ir v'-N comes true