Pleasant Ridge Community Hall Association in Central Oregon Celebrates Milestone

Photo courtesy of Pleasant Ridge Community Hall Association (PRCHA)

Attention Historians: The Pleasant Ridge Community Hall Association, (located between Bend and Redmond), incorporated with the State of Oregon on November 8, 1921. That means it will be 95 years old on November 8, 2016.

If these walls could talk, we could hear all about the dances, dime-a-dip dinners, weddings, baby showers, 4-H kids meetings, Celebrations of Life, etc. that have happened in these past 95 years.
On May 12, 1921, the Redmond Spokesman ran an article Building Begins on $2,000 Hall at Pleasant Ridge. Twenty years later, that article was posted again in the Redmond Spokesman.

MISSION
To provide a place of meeting in the community, a part thereof to be used as a hall for the accommodation of assemblies and lectures, musical, literary, social and other entertainments, and scientific and other exhibitions, per the Articles of Incorporation signed by the Corporation Commissioner of the State of Oregon on November 8, 1921.

Some interesting highlights, taken from the Minutes through the years of the Pleasant Ridge Community Hall Board are:

1921 – May 12, 1921 Redmond Spokesman article on G.W. Beaver donated land for a $2000. Building to be used as the Pleasant Ridge Community Hall.
1921 – November 8 – Articles of Incorporation filed in the State of Oregon as Pleasant Ridge Community Hall Association. 1928 – Board Members agreed to take turns cleaning the hall and it was agreed would be paid $3.00 per time. 1937
1921 November 15 –Fender was hired to repair and build addition to wood shed for ladies rest room. His wages was set at $5.00 per day.”
1937 November 19 – Two Cords of 16” limb wood was ordered $5.50 delivered. 1939 September 18 – Decided to purchase two Red Comet Fire Extinguishers at $2.30 a piece and see if they could be left in the hall and not stolen. If unmolested, they would probably purchase more later.”
1939 – Board voted to up the rent from $8.00 per dance to $10. and to raise janitor pay from $1.00 to $1.50 per dance.”
1941 – Redmond Spokesman reprinted an article from May 12, 1921 in their “20 Years Ago today“ section, showing G.W. Beaver donated land for a $2000. Building to be used as the Pleasant Ridge Community Hall.
1945 Had 35 Dances in the year. Charged $20. Rental per dance for a total of $700. Income.
1950 – Two chimneys rebuilt in the kitchen
1952 – Board decided to hire an extra deputy to help keep order inside the hall.
1955 – August 5 Hall burned to ground – complete at 3:36 am
1955 -August – $5510. In savings account, including insurance plus $36.31 in checking account. Agreed to build smaller hall
1958, March – Ground cleared and blocks laid in walls
1960 – January 14. Board agreed Hall Rental $5. For day rent or night meetings.
1962 – Board decided to hold dances and charge $1.00 per person with free refreshments.