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The decade of 1992 to 2002 found the history of Freeland Hall in a state of flux. Starting the period the treasury had been on an up swing nearly reaching $3000 at one point. The minutes indicate that many monetary donations were made to those in need or local organizations. Dick Halverson had been hired as caretaker and was paid $600.00 per year and was voted a bonus of $100.00. Expenses were mainly for normal utilities with virtually no funds being used for the preservation or upkeep of the building. At this time in the early 90’s the bathrooms had only cold running water, no heat, rickety stalls, and painted grey floors. The lower room that had originally been put in for the ladies of the 1st Thursday Club was piled to the ceiling with old musty books and magazines belonging to the local library. Rodents were abundant and had a lovely home. The interior of the hall was painted yellow, had 4 windows covered on the outside with chicken wire. The kitchen in the hall consisted of a hot water tank, an electric stove, a bank of cupboards and a serving bar in the SE corner. Renters were allowed to come in days early to clean and decorate. The one guaranteed income was from a church that used the hall as a meeting place each Sunday. The organization and running of the hall between June of 93 to October 96 has virtually no records, by October 96 the balance in the treasury was $411.30 and continued to decrease and so did the membership. October 96 brought a new slate of officers, turmoil increased, membership and dinner attendance decreased. By February of 1997 the president had resigned and vice president Betty Moore took control as president making Roberts Rules of Order and accountability the number one priority. The purpose of HHAC became, as it had been in the beginning, the upkeep and preservation of the hall. In September 1997 a special meeting of the officers decided that the treasurer must provide a bill or receipt for every transaction, and a hardcopy ledger kept. The janitor would submit a supplies inventory and needs request. He would be paid $60 a month and 10% of rentals. The treasury hit an all time low of $7.61. Rent and membership dues were raised and everyone began paying for dinners. Card parties, bake and item sales, raffles and ticket drawings helped boost the treasury. Accounting became the focal point. Richard Rhydes, member and local architect drew plans for a handicap accessible ramp into the hall. The board presented the plans to the county commissioners and they agreed to fund the project. Projects to improve the hall through donated labor and materials were ongoing. Pete & Betty Moore, Geoff Hornsby and Harry Pierce redid the entrance. Pete Moore and Konrad Engeset installed a coat rack and new windows. The new ramp entrance was completed. The hall interior was repainted soft beige by volunteers. The members were involved in improving the hall and pride in their accomplishments spurred them to take on new challenges. The By-Laws of the association were reviewed by a committee. Changes were presented, voted upon, and registered with the state of Washington. Richard Rhydes, vice-president, suggested HHAC install gutters on south side of the building saying, “It is not our responsibility but would be a positive gesture for the club to shoulder the expense.” The membership approved his idea and a new trend in what HHAC did to improve Freeland Hall began. In 1984 a legal management agreement with Island county and HHAC stated the county was responsible for any repairs exceeding $500. Thus the gutter project became the first of many improvements to be done to the hall by HHAC far exceeding the $500 stated amount. The 1st Thursday dinners were well attended. Delicious main courses were prepared by hosts and members brought side dishes as a part of the menu. The tradition of selecting a piece of homemade pie to reserve a table place continued. Raffles, door prizes, 50/50 pots and musical presentations by local groups entertained those attending the dinners. With a much improved hall, more renters, higher rents, and more profit, HHAC became more responsible for the halls upkeep, restoration and preservation. A five year improvement plan was drawn up by the board and trustees and presented to members and county commissioners. That list included rewiring the hall, a PA system, adding a deck to the north side, refinishing the floors, improving the kitchen and other small projects. In the meantime, treasurer Carol Engeset suggested paying $25 dinner and membership dues at the beginning of the year eliminating the lines one had to stand in to pay for dinner. An alternate plan was devised for those who wanted to pay monthly. Members were allowed to bring pre-dinner libations. The price of guest dinners was increased to $5. In the summer of 2000 the old septic system failed and the county replaced it at a cost of nearly $25,000. Before the completion of the handicap ramp project, it was discovered that grey water from sinks poured directly to the ground under the building. New janitor, Jerry Furman, installed a drain system leading to the new septic system thus eliminating an unsanitary problem. Small repairs such as re-roofing and residing the entry, tuning the piano, cleaning out the lower room and the attic, cleaning up the bathrooms and painting a mural on the back of the stage were accomplished. In 2000 Jim Nelson and Betty Moore switched positions as President and Vice President for one year. The job of renting the hall became Betty’s. A system of checks and balances was instigated requiring copies of rental agreements and payments to be filed with the treasurer and janitor. A special account was established for damage deposits. The internal working of the organization was now accountable. By December 2000 the Island County Parks Director praised HHAC for hall improvements. At the same time the membership asked Island County to upgrade restrooms and make them handicap accessible. February 2001 brought a change in the hall that had been a dream for many. Cassie and Matt Nichols had requested to rent the hall in August for their daughter Amy’s wedding. In the rental process Cassie asked if a deck on the north side had ever been considered. Betty affirmed that it had but stated funds for the project was the problem. Mrs. Nichols volunteered to raise funds through donations of money or materials if Betty would head up the workforce. This dream project headed by two determined women was about to take shape. Richard Rhydes immediately drew architectural plans. In the meantime Betty, Carol and Richard presented plans for the deck addition and proposed the rewiring of the building to the county commissioners. The county agreed these could be done simultaneously. They would fund the rewiring. On June 17, 2001, the hall closed and construction began on both projects with vigor. Nichols Brothers Boat Works installed girders on each side of the building and ran cable through the building for support of the roof. Local lumber yards, merchants and citizens donated materials, and cash. Local contractors donated man hours and expertise. A crew of fifteen to twenty volunteers worked long days to complete the deck which included a new foundation along the north side. Inside, Jerry Beck & Company, under contract with Island County, worked feverishly to rewire the entire building. Additionally the hall was converted to propane. The old kitchen was ripped out. Nearly new donated cabinets, stove, and sink and were installed. Daily lunches were provided to all workers by Betty Moore and Carol Engeset. At the same time these women labored right along with the building crew. In thirty long days so much had been achieved. A project estimated at $150,000 was accomplished through volunteer labor and donations at a cost to Holmes Harbor Activities Club of $12,500. The Freeland Hall had a face lift at age 87. On July 18th 2001 the scheduled wedding was held and on September 15th a grand Thank You Party was held to honor all those that had participated in the project. Today a plaque hangs in the hall listing those names, along with an old hammer that was found in the walls, apparently lost in 1914 when the building was erected. In October 2001 a new set of goals was established, including a new gas stove, new sinks for the big kitchen, upgrading the janitorial closet, repairing the footings under the building, and remodeling the restrooms. Immediately HHAC set out to accomplish the above. Within two months a new stove had been purchased. Plumbing, new sinks and sprucing up the janitorial closets were done by Konrad Engeset, Pete Moore, and Mike Parnell, the custodian. By the fall of 2002 the First Thursday Club was celebrating its 100th birthday. Their original $25 donation to help build the hall had certainly been worth it. Hall rental rates were now $40 1st hour and $20 for each additional hour or $175 per day. A three day weekend with big kitchen privileges was $600. There was a $150 damage deposit.
May 2005 – May 2006 |