When square dancing was alive and thriving

By Joan Janzen

Square dancing was one of the most popular forms of entertainment decades ago. Every community had a square dance club, and Irene Murphy penned memories of the Flaxcombe club which was published in the history book “Little Town in the Valley”.

Flaxcombe’s club was organized on November 23, 1957, and had a membership of over 42 families. An orchestra was organized consisting of Isaac Clark on the violin, Irene Murphy - piano, Dick Engel - accordion, Otto Neufeld - banjo, and Irene Hilts playing the guitar. The orchestra also accompanied local plays which were performed in Major, Mantario, Loverna and Marengo.

Flaxcombe’s Square Dance Club, 1957. Identified in foreground: Mary and Bryce Rowe, Dave Hill, Mary Linn, Leo and Isobelle Helfrich, John and Muriel Bradley, Boyd and Dorothy Sadler, Walter Murphy, Em Engel. Photo from Little Town in the Valley

The first president was Nick Evans, and Mary Rowe was secretary. Membership fees were $5.00 per year for a family or $2.00 per person. The Farmer’s Union and the Square Dance Club each contributed 25 percent of the cost of an amplifier, microphone and four speakers, with the Flaxcombe Homemakers contributing $50.00.

Paul Kolysher, a teacher at Kindersley, was the club’s first caller. He taught club members the basic steps, as well as teaching his students to square dance. On June 27, 1958 a caller course was held in Kindersley, where Ken Clark from Driver and Bryce Rowe and Boyd Sadler acquired their calling skills.

The hall was usually filled to capacity, and square dance parties were also held in people’s homes, besides dancers travelling to adjacent towns. Kindersley’s club had been formed earlier in December of 1956 with its first dance held January 8, 1957.