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.
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