Decorah public opinion., 1922-12-20
new HALL OPENED
AT RIDGEWAY
Handsome Building Opened and De-
dieated Last Friday, With Home
Talent Play safety
First"
HON. W. II. KLEMME
DEDICATED THE HALL.
The Building Stands as a Monument
to the Good and Enterprising
People of Ridgeway.


Friday, Dec. 18th, 1922. will he a
date that will be remembered BY the
people. of Rdgeway and vicinity. II
was the occasion of the dedication
of the new hall that everyone has
helped to put across this last sum-
mer.
The hall was formally opened with
Home Talent Play, entitled Safe
ty First" and not one of the four
hundred people that paid admissions
some paying as high as $50 for thelr
seat, went away dissatisfied. The
donations and door receipts amounr
TO nearly Sl,l00.00 and then when
Hon. w. II. Klemme, dedicated the
hall, the balance of the debt, amount
ing to $4,000 was raised by his own
way Of selling stock. After deliver
ing his speech he then gave the
crowd the opportunity of buying
stock, and the following men and
women and children responded:
Erick Albertson $50; Henry ARM
strong $50; John Ellingson $50;
Fritz Ramsayer $50; b. G.. Guttorm-
son $50; Mrs. +. A. Bakken 500;
X. G. Baker Sl00; loss Kirsch-
man $50; Karl Baker $40; George
Baker $40; this amount to $500, and
interest seemed to lag. Mr.. Klemme
then decided that 1t was time for
him 70 put the thing across In his
own way and he told the crowd
that he would double any subscriI;--
ton that was made by anyone from
then on, This put the pep in the
crowd and everyone proceeded to
take a crack at Mr.. Klemme's bank
account, urged on by little speech
rom Mr.. Trytten. The following
lames were added; Elmer Ringoen
100; Lee Robinson $40; Marvin
'osse $40; L.. I, Fosse $40; Henry
ig'la lnasfson sz9 MSsE ~ " IL faes 1Sit4slsis ~
$iO; Mr.. E. o. Ellihgson $1,000; John
Graf Of Cresco, Iowa, $40; DIR.
Bockoven $40; Lars Guttornson $40;
Jacob Butz $50; Alfred GiIbertson
$40; Gundar Halvorson $40; w. J.
Paley $50; Birdie Ellingson $40;
Alice Bakken $50; Esther Brekke
$40; 0lgag Qualley $40; Helmer J.
Hovden $40; Mrs. G. G. Guttormson
80; Otto Ernst $40; Emil Chris
.enson 800; this made a total OF
$500, so Mr.. Klemme was entered
Cor $l,O6O.OO. This Is addition to
stock already subscribed by him of
S825.O0).
This wonderful showing by both
Mr.. Klemme and the people of Ridge
way put the hall out of debt en-
tirely and it can now easily be mace
a paying proposition. 1t is some
thing the community needed for
10
happy over the new building. The
velvet curtain purchased by the
Building Committee IS a beauty and
adds much 10 the inside appearance
of the hall. The was designed by
Hanson and Altfillisch Of Decorah,
Iowa. Mr.. Trytten of Ridgeway
took care of all the carpenter work.
The building committee was COM
posed of c. I. Trytten, r. G. Baker,
o. A. Fosse, Charles Boucher and
o. o. Rue. Much credit is due these
men as they gave their time unbe-
The Ridgeway Orchestra compos-
ed of Aneta johnson, violin, Mrs.
Arthur johnson piano, Mrs. II. C.
Luhman, piano, Spencer Bakken,
saxophone and Gundar Halvorson,
drums, furnished music for the eve
ming and was a big benefit to the
program.
Mrs. Luhman and Doctor Book
oven sang several selections much to
the enjoyment Of everyone.
The ladies of the town and coun-
try served lunch in the basement af-
ter the show and it was the finish
ing touch of a perfect evening. The
people of the town feel proud of the
new hall and it surely is a credit
to a town the size or larger for that
matter.
DIR. Kessel of Cresco and Mr.. c.
J. Weiser. Of Decorah, made the
largest donations, each giving $50
at the opening night. There were
many fine donation which the man
.A4F, Il e.