One look at the newly renovated Taghum Community Hall and one may quickly forget what it looked like before it went through $300,000 worth of renovations. Taller windows and a large front deck will let people enjoy the views of the Kootenay River as the hall is located by the old Taghum bridge.
Taghum Hall Society’s vice president Gareth Kernaghan said the biggest thing people will notice, other than the new windows and overall new beige interior, is the great view of the Kootenay River and a new deck out front. The new bathrooms and the hall are also now wheelchair accessible.
The walls have been rebuilt and the insulation, electrical and plumbing have all been brought up to modern day building code standards.
With a capacity to hold 200 people, Kernaghan said the hall will continue to be a great venue for weddings, parties and weekly continued events, adding weddings have been held there from the inception.
The hall was originally built in the 1950s by a local Russian Doukhobor community with salvaged buildings from the Lemon Creek Japanese Internment Camp.
“Back then people did what they could with volunteer labour,” Kernaghan said, “but today we have to go with professional contractors and meet building codes.”
Local architect Thomas Loh did the renovation plans and drawings to get the structure to code, and Kernaghan said it was thanks to Loh’s planning that they were also able to keep some of the historical pieces that gives the structure it’s character.
It may be difficult to tell but the glossy hardwood floor is still the original wood that was salvaged from the the fire-damaged Trafalgar Junior High in 1967. The floor was repaired and re-sanded, complete with some char marks remaining from the fire.
Kernaghan said it has been a “six-year long struggle” to get funding, planning and the actual construction to get to this point. Grants came from the federal gas tax and community initiatives, Columbia Basin Trust and the Regional District.
“We went right the end of our budget. There are a couple things still needed, like another round of paint, and a little this and that. Our goal is to get it open and being used again and we’ve reached that.”
The society is holding a grand “re-opening” on Saturday, February 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Besides a ribbon cutting and brief speech, there will be a big cake and refreshments with a variety of musical entertainment of singers and bands-the Sproule Creek Singers, a small contingent of a Russian choir, Scottish dancing, a marimba band, and the Moving Mosaics samba band.
As many people have memories of attending events at the hall over the years Kernaghan has encouraged the “old-timers” to come to the re-opening to share stories about the hall. He hopes to set up a pioneer’s table of sorts for the storytelling.
The society welcomes everyone to join them at the re-opening as the hall can continue to be a focal point for community events.
For information or bookings contact info@taghumhall.ca or call 778-463-1114 or 250-777-1909.