Caledonia Argus

Open house planned for new community center

Posted: 3/4/03

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Helen Fruechte describes the life she had with her late husband Art as ìplain.î

ìWe didnít scrimp on anything, but we didnít spend any money foolishly either,î explained Helen.

The Fruechtes farmed south of Eitzen for nearly half a century. It was hard work, but they enjoyed it.

ìThatís all we knewówork hard and save your money,î said Helen.

That work ethic and inclination to save has afforded Helen an opportunity, at 95 years old, to leave a legacy that will be meaningful for generations to come. It was a $300,000 gift from Helen that sparked the community-wide effort to build a community center, a project that is now complete as The Four Seasons Community Center.

Helen was born in Wheatland, which is located between Eitzen and New Albin. After her marriage in 1931, she and Art moved to the farm. They retired in 1979, and had originally planned on moving to Eitzen, but instead found a new home in Caledonia and moved here instead. They continued to maintain the friendships they had in New Albin and Eitzen while living in Caledonia and forming new friendships here.

When New Albin built its community center, Helen said she began to wonder why Caledonia, a larger community, didnít have a community center. She spoke with her nephew, Barry Fruechte, and told him that she would like to leave money in her will to help build a community center. Barry encouraged her to give the money while she was still living so that she could enjoy the community center herself. She took his advice, and soon the idea of building a community center began to take root.

It has been fun watching the progress of the building, and Helen is looking forward to visiting the completed community center.

ìIím not sorry at all that I gave it (the money),î said Helen. ìI think a community center is important, and we didnít have one.î

Merchants BankóCaledonia was the next to step up to the plate, and pledged $100,000 to the project. Another major gift came from Norbert and Grace Staggemeyer, who donated more than three acres of land that border North Kingston Street on which to build the community center. A capital campaign was begun to raise the rest of the funds necessary to build the center. The entire project was estimated at approximately $950,000.

Ground was broken in September, and the first event in the community center was held March 1. The Four Seasons Community Center has over 9,000 square feet, which includes a commercially licensed kitchen, a banquet hall that can seat 350 and a smaller meeting area t with a fireplace that can accomodate about 100 guests. The room has been named the ìSprague Room,î for Sprague Bank, the original name of Merchants Bank. A third meting area can seat about 25.

A board of directors has been coordinating the many aspects of establishing the community center. They have directed about 80 volunteers on a number of committees in various tasks, and have met as an executive committee every week for the past two years. Executive board members are Paul Fisch, Todd Roesler, Laurel Rusert, Bev Bauer, John Pongratz, Chuck Ellingson, and Tom Danielson. Naomi Fruechte. Nelson Construction of Caledonia managed the project, and local subcontractors were used when possible.

The committee decided obtain a commercial license for the kitchen. When a kitchen has a commercial license, its use is not limited to professional caterers. Any individual or group can prepare food in the kitchen as long as they have completed a food safety course. The community center has dishes and silverware available.

After researching the subject with the state liquor control board, the executive committee agreed to offer the contract for liquor sales to Kris and Dave Wedl of Good Times in Caledonia.

The community will have an opportunity to see its new Four Seasons Community Center on Sunday, March 16, at an open house scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Board members will be on hand to answer questions, and there will be information available on renting the facility.

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