Caledonia Argus

Construction underway at Four Seasons Community Center

Posted: 8/6/02

As the walls of the new Four Seasons Community Center are going up, committees are busy behind th scenes selecting items for the interior, planning additional fund-raisers and deciding on a number of issues that need to be settled before the Community Center opens its doors.

With an eye towards cost, several items that do not affect the quality or integrity of the structure have been scaled back. For example, the building will have brick on three sides rather than four since the fourth side will not be not visible. The process is called ìvalue engineering,î according to David Nelson of Nelson Construction, the firm that is managing the project.

Items for the commercial grade kitchen have been selected, and a decorating committee is currently selecting carpet, tile, shingles, paint and other items. Whenever possible, items are purchased from local businesses and local businesses are hired to work on the construction of the project.

After a successful capital campaign last fall, an additional fund-raising event is in the planning stages so that a endowment for maintenance of the facility can be established. A dinner/silent auction has been discussed.

The Four Seasons Community Center will feature a large banquet hall that can seat 350-400 guests. It has been named the Art and Helen Fruechte Room. Helen Fruechte contributed $300,000 to the project. Her gift was the start of the drive to get the Community Center built.

A smaller meeting room with a fireplace is called The Sprague Room. It can seat up to 50 people, and is named for the former Sprague Bank, Now Merchants Bank, which contributed $100,000.

The land on which the Community Center is being built was donated by Norbert and Grace Staggemeyer.

Although a price for renting the facility has not yet been determined, reservations are being taken for dates beginning in March 2003. Those interested may call Kathy Schroeder at 725-3331.

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