Sanders Gymnasium and Community Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sanders Gymnasium and Community Hall
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sanders, Montana, on Old Montana Highway 10, 6 miles east of Hysham, |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1940 |
| Built by | Steve Mercer and Sons |
| Architect | J. G. Link & Company |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000976 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1997 |
The Sanders Gymnasium and Community Hall is a special building in Sanders, Montana. It was officially recognized as a historic place in 1997. This means it's an important part of history and worth preserving.
Contents
A Gathering Place for the Community
Imagine living in a new settlement like Sanders long ago. People needed a place to meet and feel connected. In 1910, the people of Sanders worked together to build a clubhouse. Everyone gave $15 or helped with the building work. This first building was simple, but it served the community for almost 30 years.
Building a New Hall
By the late 1930s, the old clubhouse was falling apart. The local school district wanted a new building. They needed a place that could be a gymnasium for Sanders Elementary School. It would also serve as a community hall for everyone.
People voted to raise money for the new building. The old clubhouse was taken down. A famous architecture firm, J. G. Link & Company, designed the new hall. A builder named Steve Mercer won the job for $3,500.
Design and Features
The outside of the new building looked rustic. It was made of strong, square-notched logs. But the inside was very different! It had a tall, arched ceiling made of fir wood. The floor was polished hardwood, perfect for a basketball court.
The hall also had a raised stage and built-in seating. It even had modern lighting for its time. However, it did not have indoor plumbing.
Opening Day and Later Years
The new hall and gymnasium opened on June 29, 1940. A community dance celebrated the special day. It was a big event for the people of Sanders.
Over time, fewer people lived in Sanders. The school closed in 1948 and moved to Hysham. But the hall kept its purpose. It continued to host many events. People held dances, family reunions, and school plays there. Many exciting games were played in the gym.
Today, local residents, including families who have lived there for generations, have taken care of this beloved place. The Sanders Gymnasium and Community Hall shows how important community spaces are. It proves that amazing things can be found in unexpected places.
Architectural Significance
The Sanders Gymnasium is a great example of the work of architect John Gustavus Link. His design for this building was unique.
Rustic Outside, Modern Inside
Unlike some of his fancier buildings, Link designed the Sanders gym to be very practical. It used simple, rustic log construction. The rugged log exterior looks like many old frontier buildings. It has square-notched logs, a basic rectangular shape, and a simple gable roof.
However, the inside was very modern for its time. It had a carefully designed wooden ceiling that arched to fit the roof. The hardwood floor was highly polished. There was built-in seating, a raised stage, and electric lighting. These features showed the modern ideas and technology of the early 1900s.
