|
Otto Firehouse Squares and High Mountain
Squares
Club History
The Otto
Firehouse Squares started as a caller's club formed by Larry and Claire
Graham in 1982. The square dance clubs in Franklin, NC and Clayton, GA were
in trouble. The clubs decided to try to join together and dance in Otto, NC,
a central location for both. At the first dance the caller never showed up.
Larry, who was from Orlando, Fl, was learning to call and had his equipment
with him. He called that night. This started a long run of 12 years of Larry
calling and Claire supplying the home cooked food. They danced at the Otto
firehouse until 1994 when the Grahams gave up the club because of health
reasons.
The club was started back up again a year and a half later in 1996 by Earle
and Betty Williams. They were presidents from 1996 through 1999. At first Joe
De Natale was the caller. In 1997 Jack Howie was asked to be the caller for
the struggling club. With Jack's calling and a large graduating class of 29
dancers in August 1999, a stronger club emerged.
Richard and Ona Sanders were presidents from July 1999 through June 2000.
Ron and Sandy Hoffman were presidents from July 2000 through June 2001. They
guided the club through some challenging times. Due to a sharp increase in
rent the club was forced to find a new place to dance. In March 2001 the club
moved from Otto to Franklin, from Tuesday nights to Wednesday nights and from
being the Otto Firehouse Squares to being the High Mountain Squares. The club
by-laws were adopted during this year.
Richard and Ona Sanders were presidents from July 2001 through March 2002
when they left to be mission volunteers in Alaska and turned their duties
over to vice-presidents Vern and Jean Davis.
Vern and Jean Davis very capably took over as vice-presidents and served as
presidents from April 2002 through June 2003.
They were succeeded by Bill and Beth Hanger who served as presidents from
July 2003 through June 2004. During their term, auditions were held for a new
club caller. On April 1, 2004 Ace McGee became the official club caller for
the High Mountain Squares..
The High Mountain Squares were incorporated as a non-profit organization
during 2004.
In July 2004 Bob Walker and Gladys Brown became co-presidents. In Sept. 2004
when the Community Center became the FEMA headquarters because of Hurricane
Ivan, HMS's danced at the Macon County Middle School. In January 2005 the
move was finalized and dancing night was changed back to Tuesday night.
Neither Tuesday night nor Macon Middle School turned out to be good choices,
In June the Club returned to the Community Center and in July, 2005 started
dancing on the 2nd 4th and 5th Wednesday nights. Currently there is no club
caller and a variety of guest callers are scheduled in the months ahead.
2005-2006, Bob Bugash was elected club president.
2006-2007, Rita & Neal Beasley were elected club co-presidents.
2007-2012,
Bob & Virginia Walker have been presidents for the last 5 years.
The club is 50 plus members strong and doing well with the help of some great
officers. The club has had great success using guest callers and plans
to continue this practice. The club does have 2 associate callers Jim
Roper and Jim Duncan. The club does a lot of community service giving
dancing demonstrations when ever asked.
|
