The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-10
SIMPLE CEREMONY
MARKS OPENING OF.
Community CENTER
Visitors Are Enthusiastic About
New Building; Legionnaires
Act as Guides
MANY ENJOY FREE DANCE
500 Couples Are on Floor at One
Time; Skater Gives Dedi-
catory Address

Approximately $500 persons at
tended dedication services for the
World War Memorial building Of Bis
marck and Burleigh county Friday
night. 49,.
It was q simple ceremony which
designated the building for use by
the living in honor Of the nations
heroes who fell in the World war.
Following the dedicatory program
visitors viewed the building with
members of the American Legion act
ing as guides. Each man was IN
structed in the details and functions
of each Of the 20 different depart
ments in the big structure and was
prepared to tell inquirers the uses to
which the various units will be put.
Visitors were unanimous In their
opinion that the building constitutes
the finest community center they had
ever see and Is ~unrivalled in any
other city In the country the size OF
Bismarck.
While visitors were touring the
building, the Le~gionnaires cleared the
floor of the chairs used during the
program and q dance, starting about
$50 D. M, continued until after mid
night. Music was furnished by an
eieht-piece orchestra Of local artists.
Members Of the Legion committee
estimated that 500 couples were
dancing at one time. It was the
largest dance-crowd ever seen in
North Dakota.
Shafer Gives Principal Talk
Although representatives of the
American Legion and city and county
governments Sp6lces~stHe dedicatory
address was given by Governor
George F. Shafer.
The states chief executive praised
the spirit OF enterprise and comrnun-
ity service which had brought the
building into existence and said 1t
constituted one Of the finest evil
dences Of community cooperation and
of united effort by a city and coun-
ty in the history Of the state.
One of the best evidences OF this
spirit. he said, Is the manner In
which persons in the county, some Of
them SO far removed from Bismarck
that they will have small opportunity
to make use Of the building. supported
the movement for its construction.
Not only is the building a monu-
ment to the gallant dead Of the COM
munity, the governor said, but to
those who served and returned to
continue their service to the nation
in the role of private citizens and to
those others who formed the army
back home during the war.
A. p. Lenhart. chairman Of the
board Of city commissioners. com
mented on the unity Of action Of both
city and county which resulted tn
the construction Of the, building. He
praised the architect and contractor
for their splendid cooperation in
making the building one Of which
the community can be justly proud.
VIII Praises Veterans
George F. VIII, chairman Of the
board Of county commissioners, said
the building proved the unselfishneSa
Of the American Legion and Its desire
to serve the community. The vet
Grams, he said, could have had q club
house, devoted to their own uses.
with the money from the county
memorial : fund, but preferred to
launch q larger project which would
be Of more service to the community
os q whole.
Each speaker referred to the build
Ing as q dream Of Bismarck and Bur-
leigh county citizens which gave no
promise Of immediate realization un-
til the war veterans launched their
movement for the most ambitious
civic achievement in the history Of
Continued on mare tWo)