Candlepin Bowling And Whalom Park 1895

 Chardon told his mother of his plan to secretly save his coins to get them tickets to board ship to the colonies to get away from his abusive father. He did not tell her about the secret ruby that the nobleman had given him. He had frequently gone outside to watch the men play a game in the alley between the tavern and another inn. One evening he thought to himself as he was just about asleep, "I could invent a better game than that. I could be rich someday."

Chardon eventually did escape with his mother, but not to the colonies. They made it safely to Scotland. He was able to find work as did his mother. She was a cook in a nice inn that specialized in making ices. (Similar to ice cream) He found work as a carpenter. They both were very happy. Chardon eventually married and had children. He told his son about his dream of inventing a game out of sticks of wood. The pins as he called them were about the size of a large candle about fifteen inches high and weighed about 2 pounds. The object of the game was to knock down all the pins with a little 2 pound wooden ball.

 His son loved listening to his father's stories of his childhood and his dreams. Several years later his father called him to his bedside. He told him about the nobleman and the ruby. He handed his son the ruby and said, "If ever you need food or shelter use this ruby. It has served me well. It seems that anytime I think I will not survive I get out this ruby and say a little prayer. Miraculously my life has always changed for the good."

Years after his parents passed he decided to move his family to the United States. It was a gamble and a great risk in those days. Sometimes storms would be so strong ships would sink, but Justin (Justin White) knew he needed to fulfill the dreams of his ancestors. He was going to build his own candlepin bowling alley. They made it safely and settled in Worcester, Massachusetts. 

The year was approximately 1895. He gave the ruby away when he became very successful and had candlepin bowling alleys along the east coast. One of which was at Whalom Park, in Lunenburg, Massachusetts.

Thousands of people enjoyed this fun amusement park including ancestors of a young woman who sang at one time with the Tommy Dorsey Band at the Whalom Park Theater. She sang at the Strand Theater as well with famous singers and actors and actresses; Roy Rogers, Jack Benny, Ronald Regan and more. Later her husband  and at least one of her sons and grandchildren not only enjoyed the park, but had a lot of fun candlepin bowling. The story goes that the magic ruby was passed  along with the story to the young woman's son who then told that story to his wife; an avid history buff and story teller.

Mrs. Claus chuckled and said, "If I know you that's not the end of the story and the magic ruby is it?"

Santa said, "Well, that ruby did do some traveling up and down the east coast. Those sons of the young woman did love hot dogs.....