Any construction worker will tell you the roof of a building can collapse, but the floor cannot. If the floor goes, a building may not be retrievable.

On Feb. 2, the roof over the old section of Hampton Lanes and the Hammerhead Lounge, 326 Main St., Northampton, collapsed after a blizzard dropped two-plus feet of snow during a Jan. 31-Feb. 2 storm.

Jason Lauchnor, operations manager of the bowling alley and lounge, said he knew something big - and something bad - had occurred as all the security monitors he has in his home pertaining to the old section of the Hampton Lanes went off at the same time.

The day after the catastrophe, he sat talking to The Press in his pickup truck surveying the devastation caused by Mother Nature.

He said he was a bit stunned but thankful the business was fully insured.

Lauchnor needed time to process what happened and its ramifications. He had worked at Hampton Lanes since leaving military service.

Bowlers are like an informal fraternity or sorority. Coplay Saengerbund, within a couple days, offered its bowling lanes to any league affected by the Hampton Lanes roof collapse.

After months of planning, a demolition and reconstruction plan was assembled that contained a possible reopening goal of October.

The reopened building promises to include a new and improved establishment offering increased convenience for patrons.

There is little doubt former patrons and bowling enthusiasts are struggling to bide their time until the planned October reopening.

Hampton Lanes is a beloved business because its essential reason for being, beyond making some profit and paying its employees, is to make positive memories for its patrons.

For many traditions, October is a celebratory time of harvest in preparation to successfully navigate a long winter.

The harvest at the Northampton establishment will be the new building that will make a successful winter more enjoyable for all who come in for fun and happiness.