Town Hall Rings In New Era

WAITSBURG - Ye Towne Hall in downtown Waitsburg was built by local American Legionnaires in 1928.

Next week, a new generation of Waitsburgers will rededicate the historic building, officially reopening the renovated structure for another 100 years or so of civic service.

The town will celebrate this reopening on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. in a program honoring the history of the old building following the regular dinner meeting of the Waitsburg Commercial Club at 6:30. Those who would like to take part in the dinner must make reservations before Saturday with B.A. Keve at 509-337-6546. Winter snow melt collapsed the roof this past year, which put the building out of commission for awhile. Groups who were using the hall regularly before the damage included the City of Waitsburg, the Commercial Club, the now disbanded Waitsburg 55 Plus Club, the American Legion Post and its Auxiliary.

Now the building, which was restored this spring and summer by town volunteers and members of the Towne Hall Board using donations and grant funds, will again be available to rent for weddings, birthdays and other events as well as for use by local service groups.

The structure has a new roof, façade, heating and cooling system, interior, handicap accessible bathrooms, a remodeled and updated kitchen, and soon will come what board president Loyal Baker called the "whipping cream on top" - with the help of a Pacific Power grant awarded just this month - brand new front doors. "I think the cherry at the very top will be when we can construct an awning outside," Baker said.

After several decades of use following its original construction, Ye Towne Hall fell into disrepair in the 1960s.

"The Legion was just sort of treading water and did nothing to improve the building," Baker said. So in 1975, the Legion decided to donate the build­ing to the community. A board was formed to main­tain the facilities and make it available to the town, and nonprofit status was secured. Today the building retains prominence as a historic site. A large bell hanging from the ceiling over the banquet hall was brought home to Waitsburg from the Philippines by lo­cal military boys following the Spanish-American War in 1899. The Commercial Club intends to return to its habit of holding regular meetings in the hall, but the city has indicated it won't be return­ing since it doesn't have to pay rent for meetings held in the Lions Club Com­mercial Building, which is where officials moved after the building was shut down for repairs, Baker said.

The American Legion, however, continues to meet in the building, and folks are beginning to call about reserving the space for events.