The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1925-09-11
OUR COMMUNITY
SERVICE CENTER.
VIEWS OF AN OUTSIDER RE.
CARDING THE BUILDING.

The following article taken from
the Saint Paul Pioneer Press o.
last Sunday, written by Edith Brown
Kirkwood. shows what the tourists
think of the service at the building.
Noon found US in Ely. We had
breakfasted in Grand Marais, and
much are the pleasantries of mod
ern overland travel that we had
spent a memorable morning trailing
from the coast, with its inland sea
expanse and sparkling waters,
through the national forest reserve
with its wild life and its picturesque
winding roads, to be brought up at
the next feeding time" on the
famed Iron Range.
Ely is an interesting range town,
but, if you have been tourist, you
will appreciate that interest in any
community is enhanced if first the
inner man has been RECALLED. The
handwriting on our physical and
mental walls spelled out plainly the
words:
where can we purchase a good
lunch?"
It was agreed that one member
of our party should serve as restau-
rant scout and it was this scout
who saw the sign Community Ser
vice Center, as it dangled in front
of a great old building in the very
nrk - L. D.
An Old School Building.
Momentarily the sign pointed the
way to the desired information.
Eventually it lead to knowledge of
the interesting use that Ely has
made of it's old school building.
1t is needless to tell any reader
in this section of the country or,
apparently in others-that school
buildings on the range rival King
Solomon's temple in grandeur and
far surpass it in equipment. But
what becomes Of the old ones?
Ely has made her old school
building into a community service
center and when you have read the
story of the center's activities you
will have become convinced that
the school building still lives and
serves.
The building is frame-a great
rambling old edifice which more
closely resembles a huge residence
than a school house. 1t stands not
more than half block off the very
business center of the town and
adjoins a play yard of goodly size.
1t was in 1921 that it became
vacant-or, at least, that it took its
next step in the history IF the town
by becoming a community club.
Who had the original idea of its
metamorphosis, / do not know, but
if it were a one-man idea it has de-
veloped into an institution in which
every man, woman and child in the
community has a share. There are
many nationalities in the range
towns. Ely is no exception. Every
nationality uses the community CEN
ter. There are many creeds also.
Men and women of all creeds gath
er together, or in their special
groups, at the center. There are
many organizations in Ely. Every
organization uses the community
center for its business and its pleas
ure meetings.
A List of "Tenant's".
Just to get down to details, ]
asked Ray Hoefer, the courteous
young manager of the center, to
give me some idea of the number
and variety Of meetings held at the
club-the meetings which in the
end, have distinct reaction on
community life. In answer, he
gave me a list of organizations
whose regular business is transact
ed at the club and whose parties
and entertainments of other kinds
likewise are given there. Here il
the list-read it carefully:
Ely Commercial club, Rotary club
Izaak Walton league, Business Men,
American Legion, Business Girls
Mothers club, Oliver Mining Co.
safety committee, American Legion
Auxiliary, Boys Boxing club, Junior
basketball, Swedish Ladies' aid,
Methodist Ladies' aid, Presbyterian
Ladies' aid, Presbyterian guild, Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts, M. A. society,
Law Enforcement league, Music and
Drama club, M. E. Girls club, Ski
club, Ely baseball team, City band,
Finnish Temperance society, Italian
American club, Football club, u. S.
Forest Service meetings, Catholic
Teachers club, Catholic Girls club,
Baby clinic, T. B. clinic, K. M.
lodge, Maccabees, Finnish Ladies'
aid, Finnish Choir practices.
In addition several bridge clubs
hold their meetings at the center
1t serves as the auditorium for re-
citals, and as the scene of benefit
sales which are popular in Ely, as
elsewhere. Or is this all for pri-
vate bridge parties-with no charge
to the hostess except one quarter
each for the laundering of the table
covers?; birthday parties, showers
for brides, banquets for local and
visiting dignitaries and organiza-
tions, private and club dancing par
ties, rehearsals for the home talent
plays and many other private and
public functions are staged at the
center. AS many as IL, 900 people
have been entertained at the CEN
ter in one month; as many as 83
different meetings a day
have been held in it's halls and
rooms, In one month.
Well-Patronized Library.
To enter the Community Service
Center you walk up the broad steps
which the youngsters of Ely have
worn well. The steps lead on to a
wide veranda. Perhaps that has
been added since the old school
building became community club.
did not ask. Across the veranda
you step into a wide hall from
which the old school stairway leads
to the second floor. Immediately