There’s one logical place to hold the bridal shower, wedding reception, family reunion or homecoming event.
It’s the community hall, of course. This hall might be new or it might be old. It might be a former school or a former church or a former barn. And it’s right in the heart of the district, ready to host all manner of community gatherings.
Let us spare a thought today for the erstwhile community hall committee, those folks who maintain the place, sweep the floors, repel the mice, repair the roof and keep the space usable for those who seek a venue for their event.
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Most of us have passed some happy hours in a community hall or two. Typically these places are neither air-conditioned nor excessively well insulated, but there are few complaints. By turns, the warmth of friendships keep it cozy and the air from wagging tongues and swaying dancers keeps it cool.
A visitor to the Producer last week put me in mind of hall committees, these unsung groups of community volunteers. Russ Schindel is chair of the Bergheim Recreation Centre, known as the Bergheim School in former life. The school closed in 1960, so a group of local farmers bought it. They maintain the building and grounds, located a few kilometres east of Saskatoon, and they make it available for community use.
Schindel told us about a new gate at the centre. Some money from Celebrate Saskatchewan, plus local fundraising, made the new addition possible.
It’s an attractive, sturdy metal gate that marks the single entrance to the two and a half acre recreation centre compound, which includes the school building, a small ball diamond, horseshoe pit and some outbuildings, all surrounded by mature trees.
This particular gate has a special feature, as shown at the top of this column. It is dedicated to Clarence Friske, a farmer and long-time member of the Bergheim Recreation Centre committee.
A frequent community volunteer, Friske helped design and build the new gate, which was dedicated June 26, the day of the annual community picnic.
Friske wasn’t there to see it. A few days earlier, he was killed in a farm accident while picking rocks in his field.
It’s a testament to a close-knit community that Friske was acknowledged on the gate, and that Schindel brought the situation to our attention.
As we celebrate family and community functions this year, let’s remember to thank the hall committee. They do their part to keep communities together.
