Jim's Castle

Jim Castle had heard stories about his great-grandfather's billiard business, but he'd never actually seen his ancestor’s handiwork. Today Jim is the proud owner of a C. L. Castle “Unity” pool table, made over a century ago in his great-grandfather’s factory, and his family has an heirloom with a very personal meaning.

The owners of Bankshot Antique Pool Tables always had a special affinity for the Syracuse-made tables, but Jim was able to shed new light on the billiard table makers as people and as businessmen. My curiosity led to some research, a press release, and a great story by the Syracuse Post-Standard on Sept. 9, 2012:

Jim Castle restores a pool table that was built at his great-grandfather's Syracuse factory