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New life is being breathed back in to the 140-year-old Hoteo North Hall on State Highway 16, south-west of Wellsford.
The historic building has been closed for several years, ever since the demise of the incorporated society that ran it.
Concern that the building might be un-salvageable if it remained in its current state prompted enthusiastic residents to call a public meeting last month to talk about its future.
About 30 people attended and a committee, headed by president Anthony Tharme and vice-president Natalie Croul, was elected.
Croul says she is very excited by the level of support demonstrated at the meeting.
“We know we have a long haul ahead of us, but there were a lot of willing hands and people with lots of skillsets, which we can draw on,” she says.
“At this stage we are just canvassing for ideas on how people would like to see the hall used and how repairs could be funded.
“The hall is a bit of a diamond in the rough at the moment – the roof and piles seem to be in good condition, but there is a lot of rot and some of the windows are being held in by nothing more than love. She’s definitely showing her age.”
Croul says the extensive grounds around the hall provide opportunities for rural based activities such as dog trials and children’s days with old fashioned games. There was also talk of vintage car rallies, mud runs, cross-country days, and Christmas and Easter events.
According to documents held at the Albertland Museum, Hoteo North once boasted a store, blacksmith shop, boarding house, church and post office/library.
The hall started life as a school, which was built by George Totterdell Hartnell for £290. It was converted to a hall, and its grounds leased for grazing, when the school closed in 1940.
During World War I it was the venue for dances and flag euchre evenings to raise money for the Patriotic Fund. (In flag euchre, each table of players had a small flagstaff on which miniature flags were hoisted for every win; the table with the most flags at the end of the night was the victor for the evening).
During World War II, the hall was used for several farewell functions for Hoteo North men leaving to fight overseas.
“The hall is an authentic link to our district’s history and we think that is really something to celebrate,” Croul says.
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