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| George Huddlestun and Joanne Parsons Best couples costume Chris Davis photo |
Twin Butte's Community Hall was the hub of much activity this weekend. The hall has been beautifully restored through the efforts of local volunteers making the most of grant money and goodwill. The hardwood floors gleam an invitation to dance, and almost every aspect of the structure has been revived and revitalized, and repaired where needed. The hall has been the site of many events over the years, including dances, funerals, weddings, and every other kind of social gathering one can imagine. The rich history of the space is not a dormant and dusty one. It continues to be a vibrant hub for the social interaction of this small and tight-knit community.
To the west of the hall, a new cenotaph has been created, honouring area residents who fought in great wars of the last century. Designed by Lucy Copp, it is wonderfully elegant and dignified, with a path leading to a simple stone monument one can walk around while reading the names of past heroes, and a backdrop of flags. The Pincher Creek Legion will be providing a Legion flag, since Twin Butte is and was too small to have a Legion of its own.
The celebrations began on Friday, July 29, with a Crib tournament, which was followed by a BBQ and beer gardens, with live music in the evening. Saturday, July 30, was a busy day. The dedication of the Cenotaph included MP Ted Menzies and MLA Evan Berger.
A "Cow Patty Bingo" fundraiser was held. 16 squares were marked off in a field behind the hall, people picked a square to bet on, and the first square "marked" by the cow after 6 p.m. was the winner. A large group gathered along the fence in hopeful anticipation.
The steak supper in the evening was followed by a dance that ran into the wee hours. Many people in attendance made an effort to dress in period costume. Jodie Dunbar won the prize for Best Ladies costume. Joanne Parsons and George Huddlestun won for Best Couples costume. Huddlestun led the way in trying to wear down the new finish on the hardwood floors with some nonstop dancing.
The "Oldtimer's Community Band" featured Community Kim Hardy, Jackie Therriault, Elenor Fitzpatrick and Kevin Fitzpatrick. They were up first, playing a variety of old-time country dance songs. If you closed your eyes you could smell the sawdust on the floor. A highlight of their set was "The Chicken Dance", something this community has evidently perfected, with kids and adults alike forming a big circle and excelling at keeping up with the ever-changing tempo produced by the band, all while performing the dance's signature moves. Laughter filled the hall, the kind laughter produced by actually having fun. Parents danced with children, friends danced with neighbors, and everyone was smiling.
Keyboardist Therriault first played in the hall at the tender age of 11, before going on to an illustrious career in music that continues to this day. She was a young child of 5 in the community when the hall was first built. Her parents held their 25th wedding anniversary in the Hall, and she played as part of the musical group, The Gloombusters.
Other entertainment for the evening included the more modern "Cowpuncher" and "Brooke Wylie and the Coyotes". This reporter had to report to sleep-central before Cowpuncher hit the stage, but Brooke Wylie was a real treat. This lady can sing! Her band is a tight and energetic ensemble, one of those groups that gives one hope for modern country music.
Sunday's events included a pancake breakfast, Cowboy Church, a baseball tournament, games, and a chili cook-off.
Jenny Akitt is spearheading a project that is gathering photos and stories from the area's past to share with the community. If you have material you'd like to share, contact Jenny 403-627-4035.
The Twin Butte Community Society is creating a living memorial tree shelter along the boundaries of the hall.
Beautiful article, this should have been in the paper!!!
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