A winding road leads to the Winfield Community Building

WINFIELD — When it became obvious that the Winfield Theater would soon close for the final time several prominent Winfield residents began to search for another place where the youth of Winfield could turn to for entertainment. The closing of the theater was announced at a Lions Club meeting and discussion was soon underway as to the need for a community center with a place for events for the youth of the community.

In August of 1952 petitions were sent out asking that a special election be called to decide on a community building. The petitions asked for authorization of bonds not to exceed $10,000 in response to the closing of the Winfield Theater.

Doctor R.B. Widmer was appointed chairman of a committee to look into the possible spaces to satisfy the needs of such a project. He was empowered to choose his own committee members which consisted of G.R. Arthaud, T.T. Warren, Fred Klopfenstein, Art Johnson, and D.J. Zerbe. Later John Redfern was added to the committee.

On June 4, 1953, letters were sent to businesses, clubs, churches, and other organizations asking them to send a representative to a meeting at the United Methodist Church to form an organization to promote a community center. The letter pointed out the importance of each group sending a representative “to have the most nearly accurate concerns of opinion on the matter.” As a result of the letters approximately 35 people attended the organizational meetings on June 11.

John Carty acted as Chairman pro. Tempt as various possibilities as to how to carry out the project were discussed. It was decided to form a nonprofit corporation to be known as the Winfield Community Center, Inc. Financing for the project would come from selling shares for $10 each with no limit to the number of shares an individual or group could purchase. At a later meeting the cost of shares was raised to $25.

The Rules Committee said the building would be available to the entire Winfield area. Days would be set aside for the activities of children and youth. The building committee informed the board that an existing building could be purchased for $10,000.

At a meeting in August 1953, it was reported that the 50-year charter for the Winfield Community Center was approved. A previous application had been rejected because the nonprofit was set up with stock and stockholders. It was changed in the Articles of Corporation to members and membership certificates.

Nine directors were then elected. Mrs. W.J. Grimmer was elected chairman of the board of directors, C.E. Chandler, vice president, Allen Goff, secretary and Mrs. Glen Payne, treasurer. John Carty. Dr. R.B. Widmer, Phil Klopfenstein, Mrs. Howard Green, and Mrs. Gary Allen rounded out the board.

The board of directors and representatives of the Community Center project met for the first time that September. However, no membership certificates had been arranged yet, therefore there were no bonified members. In October a meeting was held to present a report by the board of directors for the charter, as accepted by the Attorney General of Iowa, was read.

Andy Schmidt, Homer Hillyard, Dr. Widmer and W.L. Cecil were elected to get compete details concerning the erection of a community center and a possible location. They reported that there were several buildings available for possible sites for the community center with a price range of $6,000 to $12,000 and all of them would need remodeling to meet the requirements.

In November 1953 three members were added to the board, G. R. Arthaud Homer Hillyard and D.J. Zerbe. It was decided not to purchase any existing building. Instead, the board was instructed to get information on constructing a building as well as a possible site.

In February 1954 E.J. Kramer of Burlington purchased the theater equipment from the Allens and leased the building for three years. He had the backing of the Chamber of Commerce. It was a poor time to purchase a theater in a small town. Many improvements were being made in larger towns where the attendance exceeded that of small towns that couldn’t afford to keep up with the modern improvements.

At the March 1954 meeting it was announced that the property between Lonsdale Hatchery and Lindell Insurance, owned by the Iowa/Illinois Telephone Company was for sale. The board preferred this site for the proposed community building. A meeting was held for the purpose of planning the promotion and financing of the building.

It was later agreed by both parties that the veterans had approved joint ownership of the real estate and ownership of the basement while the Community Center Inc. would own and control the main floor of the one-story building. Money from the sale of membership certificates would finance the building and the veterans plan to finance their portion of the project without a fundraiser.

The board of directors accepted the building plans submitted by the building committee in February 1955 and the finance committee continued working out plans for a membership drive. It was announced in the Beacon that there would be a meeting for everyone interested in the proposed Community Building.

Mrs. Grimmer, chairman of the board stated that the finance committee had “put great effort” in trying to secure the goal of $15,000, but only $2,500 had been raised. The directors urged greater participation “on the part of all” so the work thus far wouldn’t be in vain.

A photo of the proposed community building was on the front page of a March issue in the Beacon along with a description of how the inside would be finished. An auditorium, a kitchen, a committee room, and restrooms would be available. The building was designed by James Beuerlein an engineer at Schmidt Construction. The one-story building would measure 40 x 100 ft. and cost approximately $20,000.

A letter in the April 14, 1955 issue of the Beacon submitted by Phil Klopfenstein answered some of the questions and objections regarding the building of the community building. Someone was of the opinion that “the building was not constructed the way it should be.”

“The only way to please everyone would be for each person to build his own,” Klopfenstein replied.

Klopfenstein explained that the goal was to meet the needs of the people for the least money to fill the available space.

Another concern put forth stated that “the building will not be run properly.”

“How it will be run is up to you,” Klopfenstein responded. “It would be your responsibility as a shareholder to vote for someone who will run the building as it should be or run for office yourself.”

For some people $25 was a lot of money in 1955, and they said they couldn’t afford the membership fee. Klopfenstein urged residents to divide the $25 over the number of years they believe they might use the building and then the years their family members could use it and to divide out to 20 to 50 cents per year for a building that will improve not only the town but add value to all the properties in town.

A drive to sell memberships was started with a goal of $15,000 in memberships to be sold by May 1 of that year. If the goal was not met memberships and donations would be refunded in full and pledge obligations would be canceled.

On April 28 Finance Chairman Phil Klopfenstein announced that $8,500 had been raised. A street program sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce added approximately $1,000 to the fund. A benefit dance was being planned by the Cotton Club, a group of young ladies, who were sponsoring it to raise money and the Lions Club donated $250.

On Aug. 4, 1955, Clyde Pratt offered to sell the theater building to the community center’s board of directors. Committees met to discuss the offer and the fate of Winfield’s Community Building was yet to be determined.

Keep an eye on future issues of the Beacon to learn what happened next on the journey to Winfield’s Community Building.