Photos added by Kathy Hafen
"On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn when Youth and Pleasure meet To chase the glowing hours with flying feet"." —Lord Byron - "Childe Harold"
Bent R. Hansen was an expert builder, and an entrepreneur, generally. When he saw the need for a good dance hall in Mt. Pleasant, he built the spacious, oblong brick building on State Street — the Armory Hall. I remember when it was being constructed.
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| Bendt Hansen |
We children often stopped by to watch the workers. We saw them lay the subfloor in a diagonal pattern and then put the stout hardwood floor on top. That floor had intensive and extensive use through the years ahead. After the building was finished, I experienced a feeling of pride when I first walked inside and saw the attractive oblong mirrors hanging at intervals on the north and south walls. The colorful decor, the modern steam radiators, and the sizable orchestra stand at the west end were all admired A balcony was built at the east end from where onlookers could comfortably view the scene. Benches along the north and south walls were often occupied by proud parents. There was also a square balcony attached to the east wall, outside, just above the front double doors. It extended across the sidewalk. A railing was built around the edge.
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| Soren M. Nielsen |
I saw Captain Soren M. Nielson, resplendent in military uniform, and heard him give a farewell speech to the assembled citizens upon the departure of the Mt. Pleasant National Guard Unit to help combat the trouble our country was experiencing with Mexico.
After the Armory Hall was built, Mt. Pleasant became a dance-oriented town, to a great extent. And did we dance! On November 11, 1919, I wrote in my diary: "I must go and press my new blue dress because tonight is the big Armistice Ball in the Armory," "Armistice is a thrilling day, We celebrate in style, A year ago we made them pay And Fritzie ran a mile."
Here is another entry, dated December 28, 1919, "What a terrific holiday season we have just had, I went to nine dances in succession, with the exception of Sunday."
During the 'Teens and Twenties, dances were held almost every weekend. We had an excellent orchestra led by Henry Terry, Other members were George Squires, Ernest Staker, and Milton Ericksen; Gladys Ericksen (Seely), and later, Amber Hanford (Riddle). pianists. They were popular players for most of our dances, and also in nearby towns.
The special music for the young was "Rube & Dube," an out-of-town orchestra. When we knew they were coming, the dance was already a success. My favorite piece they played was "Tuck Me to Sleep in My Old 'Tucky Home." The trombones blared, the saxophones wailed, the clarinets covered a wide range of pleasing notes, and the bass drum reverberated with power. We fox-trotted, two-stepped, waltzed, pivoted on the corners, "Charlie," and a few daring boys even "shimmied," The Turkey Trot had become passe' and jazz was the "in" thing--"Oh, let me give you a warning, we won't be home until morning. In the lovin' land of jazz." Paul Whiteman was the Jazz King of the hour.
We were just plain lucky to have a multitude of catchy, exciting, and fascinating tunes during those "dance years." Many are still played and savored—"Girl of My Dreams," "Whispering," "Oh, What a Pal Was Mary," "Sleep, Sleep, Sleep," and all of Irving Berlin's courting songs that he wrote to charm his beloved Ellen Mackay, Some examples are "Always," "Remember," "All Alone," "What'll I do?"
After Carrie Jacobs Bond published "I Love You Truly," I recall that many of the male dancers were tenderly singing the words to their partners while this popular waltz tune was being played.
At that time, the procedure of the dances differed considerably from the present-day style. The couple who. came together and danced the first dance with each other. After that, they parted, as was the general custom, and it was the free choice of partners. The boy walked up to the group of girls who were sitting or standing together and asked the young lady of his choice, "May I have the next dance?"
After dancing for a few minutes, the orchestra usually gave us a short break while we strolled around the hall and visited briefly with other couples, then clapped for an encore and continued dancing for another short period. The orchestra made those decisions and often varied the length of time according to the popularity of the tune they were playing.
We have various kinds of dances. Matinee or "kid" dances were given in the afternoon on holidays or other special days. The N . H . S, Junior Prom was a festive event with lavish decorations created by the students. It was held for two different nights. Dance programs were used for that function. I still have my program.
Church parties were held for farewell and welcome home missionaries. It wasn't just the young people that danced. Many "married folks' dances" were held. The Pioneer Dance was a big event. The old-fashioned dances stirred up the crowd, with a caller giving directions. Some of those dances I remember were the Quadrilles, Schottische, Danish Slide-off, Polka, Varsouvienne, Virginia Reel, and the Trolley Hopsie, We young people often joined in but were not as skilled as the older people.
I remember how I enjoyed seeing my parents dance together,, "Swing your lady, curtsy right--back and forth and promenade." An elderly dance enthusiast, Hyrum Seely, was always an attraction at those married folks' dances, He could kick the highest, whirl the fastest, and step-dance the liveliest of anyone. At times, the dancers would move back and give Hyrum plenty of room to do his special brand of entertainment, Strictly solo His eyes would shine and his feet would fly. He never failed to receive several rounds of applause. He reminded me of a peppy "Uncle Sam" with his sparse chin beard and wiry frame.
At those dances, people would bring a great amount of luscious food and set it on side tables-- rows of pies and cakes, piles of cookies and doughnuts, Danish beer, bowls of sweet soup. Everything tempting.
By far, the most important person in the dance hall was Will (Willie) Hansen, the manager. He was Bent R. Hansen's brother. Affable and charismatic, yet he was alert to the business of the evening, and nothing escaped his observation. He usually stood at the door and greeted everyone. On occasion, he would announce the dances--"Take your partner for a waltz," or "The next dance will be ladies' choice." Then again--"There will be three more dances." He stopped the music in the middle of the dance and scattered shaved wax on the floor, pushing it forward with a long-handled wide mop. This repolished the floor and made the dancing more enjoyable He also opened or closed the high windows with a long wooden rod to ensure good ventilation.
After Will announced the last dance, the original partners scrambled to find each other for a last swing around the hall. Usually, the tune was "It's Three O'clock in the Morning," but occasionally, if the hour was late and the orchestra members were a bit weary, they'd rush through "Home Sweet Home". We would scatter in all directions.
In the winter season, we would usually walk over toward Main Street. A small red light was burning on the corner of Main and State. As we drew nearer, we could see Fred Averett holding his large copper warmer filled with hot tamales wrapped in corn husks. He made the most tantalizin' tamales it has been my good fortune to eat. We'd buy the tamales for a quarter apiece and stand in a small circle on that freezing, but delightful evening, and devour those delectable offerings. Somehow, I have always associated this little ritual with an Armory Hall dance.
After the dancing craze pretty much died down, interests and customs shifted, and the Armory was used for other things, too numerous to mention. Here are two examples: Pete Poker's candy shop was housed in the old Opera House, but when the building burned down, Pete moved his shop to a room in the northeast corner of the Armory. After that shop closed, it was used as a garage for the City Fire Engine.
The Armory is still standing and is being used commercially. I am grateful that this sturdy building remains a reality„ It brings back nostalgic memories and echoes of those times when "joy was unconfined," and we chased "the glowing hours with flying feet."
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