from Big Hill Country, Cochrane and Area 1977 pg 461
Before 1933 dances and parties were held in homes or the one-roomed schools. As the population in the district increased the houses were all too small for parties. Often all the furniture in the houses was set outside on party night, which was fine if it didn’t rain.
In 1933 Paul Swanson, Cliff and Ben Henry, Joe and Fred Taylor called a meeting regarding the building of a community hall. Everyone agreed that the need for a community hall in the district was long overdue.
Deeded land was donated by the Henry Brothers on the northwest corner of the NW14 18 28-4-5 and a log hall was built and opened in 1934. The hall was named Dartigue, after Jean D’Artigue who was one of the first homesteaders in the area.
The logs were hauled from the bush back of Paul Swanson’s ranch. Everyone in the district turned out to help. Some of the helpers were: Paul Swanson, Arthur Wells, Howard Southwood, George Nelson, Alex Moore, Charlie Copithorne, Dave Bryant, Jimmie Reeve and sons, Joe and Fred Taylor, Don Patterson, Rolfe Tempany, George Sherriff, Ben and Cliff Henry, Sam Pratt, Guy Gano, Harry Viney, Joe Gray and sons, Ollie Tidball, Milford Boucher, Fred Howard, Les Chadderton, Pearl and Lloyd Birkett, Henry Whitfield, Billy and George McKay, Harvey Perrin, Slim Moore, Harry Wright, Tom and Johnny Zuccolo, Hank Fricke, Sam McDonald, Ed Bundt, Mac Allan, and Ken Florer.
The log work on the four corners was done by Milford Boucher, Dave Bryant, Harvey Perrin and Jim Reeve. Alex Moore and Dave Bryant hewed the top logs flat so the rafters could be placed. The rafters were hauled to Zuccolo’s where Tom and John sawed one side of the rafters flat so the open-beam ceiling would have a log effect. Hank Fricke and Zuccolos sawed and donated most of the lumber.
At first, the floor was just of ordinary boards, but soon enough money was raised to install a hardwood dance floor which was sold to the community at cost. George Sherriff took care of the outdoor plumbing.
Mrs. Birkett, who lived just across the road from the hall, saw to it that the boys had lots of hot coffee and tea.
Winter employment during the 1930s was almost nil, and young and old alike enjoyed having something worthwhile to do and did not mind donating their help.
The women in the district under the leadership of Ivy Swanson made a quilt for a raffle and collected donations from Cochrane and Calgary. Woolworths donated the cups; Black’s Jewellers donated a lovely clock which was later stolen. Other places of business gave similar donations.
The neatest little log balcony was built on the inside of the west end and it was faced with rows of tiny, six-inch willow branches nailed across the front. The words “Dartigue Lodge” were placed in the centre and were also made of little willow twigs. This tedious work was done by a man staying with the Henry brothers. His name was Turk.
The first dance in the hall was held in the fall of 1934. So many people came, one could hardly dance, and everyone was wishing the hall had been built bigger.
For several years as many people came with horses as with cars. On cold nights horses were best, as cars had to be started about every hour to keep the water in the radiators from freezing.
Many young people rode to the dances. At that time girls just didn’t dance in their overalls, so girls that rode would change into their dresses up on the balcony. On cold nights the dances lasted until daylight.
For years the music was supplied by Gene Winchell’s orchestra; Mr. Howard, piano-only; the Bosch orchestra from Water Valley; and sometimes Gazeley’s orchestra, all of whom supplied good old-time music. For a few years during the war, the hall was not used very much. Finally, the Handy Annie Ladies’ group cleaned and polished the inside of the hall and held benefit dances there.
The hall has been broken into several times. Unfortunately, there are some who do not appreciate the hard toil it took to build the hall for their convenience. The last time the hall was broken into a very valuable picture, painted by Granny Winchell, and a picture of the workers standing on the top logs of the hall before it was finished, were stolen. Paul Swanson, now 84 years old, has offered a reward to anyone knowing where these pictures are.
Great story, thanks for posting. It is amazing how communities can come together, especially in trying times. What happened to the log building?
It’s still going strong. The community has built upon it over the years.
The logs that built Dartique are from our family land. Amazing history