Duane Haugerud is certain the chairs in the meeting room of the Vets Club are the same chairs that circled the dance floor in the lower lever of the former 7 Steps municipal liquor store 45 years ago.
Wayne DickHoff, Legion commander, and Neil Nelson, Vets Club director, who remember the teen canteen dances, agree with Haugerud, the VFW post quartermaster.
The chairs, which were also used at different post events in the old building, are older than the current Vets Club building.
The metal folding chairs, which graduated from teen canteen dances to meetings and steak fries at ground level in making the move from the old Vets Club building on Main Street to the club’s new location on Caledonia Ave., have seen better days and nights, said DickHoff and Nelson.
Recognizing the age of the chairs and their deteriorating condition, VFW auxiliary members Betty Riemer and Barb Nelson decided last week it was time to upgrade the decades-old folding chairs.
“It’s time we get some new chairs in here, by golly,” said Riemer.
The VFW and Legion auxiliaries are sponsoring a project that will reward the Vets Club with 60 new chairs. The new black folding chairs will be used primarily in the Vets Club meeting room.
Riemer and Nelson came up with a novel way to pay for the new chairs, which will cost $20 each.
Familes are encouraged to purchase one or more chairs in memory of a family member or friend.
“You can purchase a chair in memory of a veteran or in honor of a family member or friend currently serving in the military,” Riemer explained.
Chairs can also be purchased to recognize a person who was simply a friend of Hillsboro and the Vets Club, Riemer added.
“It doesn’t have to be a person who served in the military. It can be anyone with ties to Hillsboro,” added Riemer.
Each chair will be identified with the name of the person or family purchasing the chair and who the purchase recognizes.
“It’s just a good way to pay for new chairs,” said Riemer and Nelson.
“We’re having fun with it, people are already placing orders.”
The Tuesday afternoon card players, for instance, donated $90 toward the project.
The new metal folding chairs will be in the club before Christmas, Riemer and Nelson promise.
People interested in purchasing a chair can contact Betty Riemer (636-5480) or Joan Svaleson (636-5257). Orders can also be made at the Vets Club.
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