Yachats Oregon Writer Rick Schultze

In many small towns there are buildings other than schools or churches that serve as focal points for community gatherings and other functions. Buildings that have been built, moved or remodeled. When I was in the military stationed in Condon Oregon the place to go for weddings, dances, celebrations and other festive occasions was the Grange Hall. I have fond memories of Saturday night hoe downs where folks from all the surrounding towns would gather and dance the night away. Originally the Grange Hall there was built around agriculture life where area residents gathered for companionship, political discussions and education. However, in time the hall was used for a wide variety of other gatherings.

In Yachats where I live there are three buildings that serve as the focal points. The first one is the Yachats Commons, a former school that is a wonderful facility. The building was built in the 1930’s and was used as a school until 1983 when it closed. Many locals fondly remember their early school days there. In 1990 the building was purchased by the City of Yachats to be used as a community center. It is now the heart and soul of the greater Yachats community, being host to such events as ballroom dances, classes, political meetings, exercise classes, plays, musical productions, the youth center and much more. Another such building is the home of the Yachats Ladies Club. The club, in existence for 80 years, is currently in the process of sprucing up their building which at one time was a dance hall. In 1977 the members of the club bought the building and moved it to its current location and it’s been a community gathering spot since then. The other gathering spot is the Yachats Lions Hall. The Yachats Lions have been serving the community for 50 years and this unique building was built by Lions. It’s one of the few Lions clubs that owns its building. In many large cities Lions hold their meetings in restaurants or other establishments but in Yachats they are held at the hall which is also rented out to the public for a wide variety of events; dinners, concerts, fund raisers, parties, family get togethers, reunions and celebrations of life. It is also the home to the annual “all you can eat Crab dinners”, the afterglow parties following the Barber Shop Quartet spectacular, and breakfasts on holiday weekends.

These buildings all get an amazing amount of use considering how small Yachats is but they are fixtures in the community and receive strong community support. It’s a neat feeling to see or hear about an upcoming event knowing that it will be held in one of the three buildings. Plus the success of various events held in them adds to the excitement and enthusiasm folks have for getting together in buildings they are familiar with and where they have been attending events for years.

Hopefully where you live there is a building or two that serve your community as great places to get together and share some time with other members of your community.

To reach Rick Schultze email:yarick@pioneer.net