Caledonia Argus

Open house at Four Seasons Community Center a success

Posted: 3/18/03

Between 700 and 1,000 people had their first glimpse of the new Four Seasons Community Center on Sunday, the first time that the facility was open to the public.

Comments were overwhelmingly favorable as visitors entered the spacious foyer, viewed the thoroughly modern commercial kitchen, toured the elegant Sprague room and took in the large banquet hall. Many who attended the open house had already booked the facility and were viewing it for the first time.

The day started out with a donation of $60,000 from Merchants Bank, Caledonia. The bank had pledged $100,000, of which $40,000 had been paid. The remainder was to be paid at the rate of $20,000 per year over the next three years.

However, according to Merchants president Todd Roesler, when the bankís board of directors met at the community center March 13, they were so impressed with the facility that they decided to pay off their pledge in a lump sum.

The opening of the Four Seasons Community Center is the culmination of a two-year project which was begun when Helen Fruechte of Caledonia offered a donation of $300,000 to be used towards a community center. Land was donated by Norbert and Grace Staggemeyer, and a number of volunteers served on various committees to bring all aspects of the project together. A capital campaign was waged to raise additional funds for construction. Construction began in September of 2002.

Naomi Fruechte is manager of the Four Seasons Community Center. The number at the community center is 725-4000.

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