Bocce players

Bocci ball or bocce (plural of the Italian word boccia or “ball”) is an Italian lawn bowling game. It gained widespread popularity in Southeast Chicago with an influx of Italian immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. Many Italians settled on the East Side near St. George parish at 96th and Ewing Avenue. Bocce ball was played at the north end of Calumet Park and, in the winter, continued indoors in the park fieldhouse basement. Taverns on the East Side often had bocce courts and leagues, and many neighborhood organizations sponsored bocce tournaments. This photo shows men playing bocce ball on June 3rd, 1981.