Sondreson Hall built by volunteers

A couple of weeks ago, I commented on all of the work done by the North Fork Landowners Association Board of Directors and the various committees. Their efforts have ensured a great season for social and educational activities.

To me, it is even more important that they have returned the landowners association to the original goals and values envisioned by the founders of the North Fork Improvement Association, the original landowners association.

The NFLA was started shortly after World War II. First meetings were alternated between the Kintla Guest Ranch and the Quarter Circle MC Dude Ranch on the first Saturday of each summer month.

The big draw was the live music provided by The Hunt Orchestra with square dance caller Bob Lewis. Music started right after the business meeting, and folks danced until midnight when a potluck supper was served. Music resumed after supper and very often continued until sunrise.

Business meetings took place before the dance, and major concerns were the road and fishing, hunting and trapping regulations, as well as plans for dances.

By 1950, with increasing numbers of summer residents, the need for a community hall became more and more important to everyone.

I remember the meeting at Kintla Ranch when Ross Wilson and Dr. Jack McFarland, owners of the two North Fork dude ranches, each pledged $25 to start the community hall building fund. That was just the beginning.

Madge and Ollie Terrian donated the land. Lloyd and Ruth Sondreson donated the logs and sawmill work. Cash donations continued and volunteers donated their labor. Construction was mostly during weekend work parties, with Walter Block, NFIA president, and Harry Holcomb, building chairman, assigning work and providing general supervision.

Everyone was involved. The ladies provided food and drinks and cut up old clothing, towels and blankets into strips for chinking while the men put up logs. Chairman Harry Holcomb made the mistake of putting his new Levi jacket on the rag pile, and when he returned it had been cut up for chinking. Always happy, Harry laughed and said he was glad he hadn't worn his wool coat, which would have been better chinking, but much more of a financial loss.

In the years since 1954, the hall has been re-roofed and log-oiled, a woodshed has been built, new chimneys installed, a new generator installed and a new porch built, all due to the donations of money and labor of North Fork Residents.

This is what a community hall should be. A variety of activities and events open to all, and when something needs to be done, we work together and get the job done for the benefit of everyone. That is what the current board has encouraged - and I support. What do you think?