The exhibit is the work of Daniel Groebner who initially began researching Brown County dance halls and ballrooms to assist the BCHS “Night at the Museum” gala in September. He found so much information during his research that it was decided to share it with everyone.

Groebner will tell what he uncovered in Lunch And a Bite of History at noon, Thursday, Oct. 4 in the museum annex. He will present photographs, courtesy of Elroy Ubl, and other material from area ballrooms and dance halls plus stories about them.

In addition, he will discuss the old time music era and the bands that made a living at area ballrooms and night clubs.

On an Annex wall hung a large exterior photograph of Gulden’s Ballroom that operated for decades beginning in 1941 on the east side of State Highway 15 south of Searles. An advertisement used all capital letters, enticing readers to Dance To Whoopee John at Gulden’s Pavilion on Thursday, May 1, 1952.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch An exhibit of photos and posters from Gulden’s Ballroom is part of the Brown County Historical Society’s display on ballrooms and dance halls.

Peter Fischer operated a dance pavilion on his Linden Township farm and built a ballroom near Searles that he sold to Rudy Gulden, according to a story in the July 22, 1922 Lafayette Ledger.

Another huge photo depicted the interior of the New Ulm Ballroom on South Bridge Street. The building formerly housed the Hilltop Ballroom. The structure later became The Colony Club, a supper club owned Herb Martinka. The building was sold to B.F. Goodrich Company in 1959. It now houses IPEA Industries, on Broadway at the south end of New Ulm.

In the 1930s, three dance facilities were located along U.S. Highway 14 across the Minnesota River from New Ulm in Courtland Township. All three buildings closed from 1939 to 1941, when business slowed due largely to World War II, even before the U.S. got involved.

When the ballroom dance era ended, the buildings were used for different things. One of the buildings became a church, another became a ballroom in New Ulm. The other building, that housed The Black Dragon, was dismantled. It’s hardwood floor was used in a new house.

The Blue Moon ballroom formerly located at the “Y” intersection where Highways 14 and 15 meet east of New Ulm, became the Valley Nite Club in 1938. In 1944, the empty building was moved to Lafayette where it was remodeled to become St. Gregory The Great Catholic Church.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm natives served at the New Ulm Popcorn Wagon outside the Brown County Historical Society Museum Saturday. From left, Brenda Brown, Shakopee; Cyndi McArdell, Shakopee; and Jane Fromm, Savage.

The Hilltop Ballroom located across Highway 14 from the Redstone Quarry east of New Ulm, was moved across the Minnesota River to New Ulm and became the New Ulm Ballroom.

Leon Olsen of New Ulm performed at the BCHS Museum Saturday morning. After more than 50 years of performing, he continues on the polka playing circuit. Earlier this month, he drove to the Humboldt (Iowa) Polka Fest to play.

He admitted that seeing all the old ballroom and dance hall photos in the Museum Annex gave him flashbacks. The Cat & Fiddle Ballroom south of New Ulm is one of Olsen’s favorite places to play. It is still available for wedding receptions and special events.

“I’ve been to quite a few of the ballrooms, but not all of them,” Olsen said. “Everybody misses the Klossner House.”

Olsen said his band has played at the Withrow, a rustic event center near Stillwater, the Plamor Ballroom in Glencoe, the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls, the Horseshoe Ballroom in Spring Hill, near Paynesville; and the Clarissa Ballroom, which hosts a polka fest every Memorial Day weekend.

Saturday afternoon at the Museum Annex, Chad and nine-year-old Cameron Mack and Steve Rewitzer, who gives lessons to Cameron, performed. Chad Mack decided to learn to play the concertina with his son.

Cameron Mack also excels in dirt bike motorcycle hillclimbing. He recently finished third in a national event in Massachusetts.

fbusch@nujournal.com