The History of the Prairie Steppers Square and Round Dance Club

In the early part of 1967 a few people fostered the idea to form a square dance club in south Thurston County.  On February 8, 1967 these people met at the Violet Prairie Grange to decide on a name for their club but after several suggestions they decided to wait a week before a name was chosen.  However at this meeting they did elect their first board of officers; Eldon Morrill President, Allen Loder Vice-president, Francis Summers Secretary, and Rose Morrill Treasurer.  They also decided to dance on the first and third Fridays of each month at the Violet Prairie Grange with LeRoy and Ann Hoage as the caller couple.

On February 26 the group met again to choose a name for this new club.  It was decided to call their organization The Prairie Steppers Square and Round Dance Club.  The original 21 charter members were Neomi Andruss, Craig Johnson, Karlene Johnson, Earl Torstvet, Lee & Lynn Johnson, Roger & Dorothy Palmer, George and Frances Summers, Eldon & Rose Merrill, Al & Jo Ann Loder, Bryan Loder, Larry Shattuck, Lucille Bryan, Jim & Audrey Hamilton, and Bob & Earlene Alton.

The grange furnished the paint and the square dancers painted the hall and plumbed the bathrooms.  It looked real nice for the first class graduation party on March 17, 1967 with 22 graduating dancers.  They had visitors from Hoquiam, Olympia, Centralia, Rochester, Tacoma, Black Lake, and Port Orchard.

At the May 1967 meeting of the Square and Folk Dance Federation of Washington the Prairie Steppers were accepted as a member club.  

The Prairie Steppers

dance at

the Oakview Grange, 2715 N. Pearl, Centralia, WA 98531

History

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THE PRAIRIE  STEPPERS