Community rallies to raise funds for Lonepine Hall

Generations of community members gathered at the Lonepine Community Hall over the weekend to raise money for the local landmark.

More than 100 people attended the fundraising event on Saturday, which included a spaghetti dinner and silent auction. Prior to the main event, the Bras siblings – John, Donna and Bud – gathered with family and community members to document the milestones of the Lonepine Hall. The historical discussion was filmed to help document the details for future generations.

The current hall at the corner of Lone Pine Road and Bras Road is the third building at the location. Twice in its history community members rallied to build it, first in 1922 when a permanent structure was built and then in 1993 after that structure was destroyed in a fire. John Bras and Cindy Benson, John's niece, noted that the costs of maintaining and upgrading the building continue to rise. Benson said they have raised the rates for using the hall, but not enough to cover the cost of maintenance. "We want to keep the doors open for people to use it," she said. As they celebrate 100 years of the Lonepine Hall, the group decided to host the fundraiser.

Last weekend's fundraiser was a success for the Lonepine Community Club, the non-profit organization that manages the hall, as they raised nearly $10,000 for maintenance and upgrades. "The generosity of people is overwhelming," Benson said. "It ensures a good future for the hall and that we'll be able to move forward. It renews hope that improvements can be made. We really thank everyone for the generosity shown toward the hall. It's been great."

The first hall was a school building moved to the area in 1911. The hall would host school, dances and social events. Then in 1922, community members got together and built a new hall. Materials and much of the labor was donated..John Bras told the story of the opening night of the new hall. Clarabelle Dondenville was playing the piano when a gas lamp exploded and burned her. She did not recover and died a few days later.

Donna Cason remembers that in 1936, when she was in first grade, a kitchen had been added to the back of the hall. Donna was in the last graduating class of Lonepine School in 1948. Cindy Benson, Bud's daughter, noted that the first Sanders County Fairs were held in Lonepine. John remembered that while adults played cards or danced, the kids would be sleeping up in the kitchen. "There were lots of gatherings at the hall," he noted. Jeanne Bras, John's wife, remembers when large luncheons would be prepared and people would come from around the region to have the homemade chili and maple bars prepared at the hall. Pheasant hunters would descend on Lonepine in season and attend the luncheons.

Benson said the school moved to Hot Springs in 1961 when she was going into the fourth grade. "The hall was rarely used after that. There were 4-H meetings and basketball games but no group took care of it and it started deteriorating," she said. Donna noted that the Lonepine alumni had banquets in the hall for 80 years. The Little Bitterroot Rifle Association would also meet at the hall, and it was a polling location for elections. A group of residents formed in 1990 and started planning improvements. "Getting water in the kitchen was a big deal," Benson added.

The second hall burned in 1993. A group was hosting a family reunion at the hall for Thanksgiving and built a big fire the night before to warm up the building, John Bras said, and that night the building was destroyed by fire. Mike Schmiedbauer remembers going into the attic of the old hall and the huge chimney that ascended through the roof. He remembers being able to chip the mortar away with his fingers.

It didn't take long for the community to rally and build a new hall after the second structure burned. At that time, they developed as a non-profit organization. "We had a lot of support," John said, "even more than when we were trying to get the old hall fixed up." Schmiedbauer said it took about two years to complete the new hall that is used today. "About 90% of the work was from volunteers," Benson said. She told the memory of how Betty Howser had gotten sick and told her family she wanted her funeral in the hall, and the volunteers got it done enough to fulfill her wishes. The new hall had water, sewer and a full kitchen.

"It's been a nice addition to the community, it's well used," John stated. During the pandemic, the hall didn't get much use. Since it was built in 1993, the organization has done a few upgrades, including panels on the wall and spray texture on the ceiling to help with acoustics. Benson said that in addition to regular maintenance, the organization would like to expand the kitchen and install an outdoor basketball hoop. The Lonepine group is feeling the same strain as many organizations and would like to get more volunteers involved. "We need to keep it going," Benson said. The hall is used for events such as weddings, reunions, funerals and meetings. Tax-deductible donations can be mailed to Lonepine Hall, 8 Lonepine Road, Hot Springs, MT 59848. For more information, contact president Roy Merritt at (406) 741-2763, vice president Chuck Bras at (406) 741-2438 or secretary Cindy Benson at (406) 741-3530.