Girard Hall is one of the few remaining community halls in Richland County still in use. Located 17 miles west of Fairview on Highway 201, the hall will celebrate it's centennial this year with a community dance in September. The Girard Hall Association maintains the hall and activities include dances, showers, meetings, funeral lunches and more.
From Courage Enough:
The fall of 1913 and early 1914 a group of homesteaders held a few meetings at different homes to make plans for a new community hall that could be used for dancing, church, school programs and other functions.
Harold "Bud" Meisenbach donated the ground on his homestead. The men sold shares to business men in surrounding towns to acquire enough money for the lumber and cement. Harry Norton furnished the gravel and sand for the foundation.
The men of the community donated their work as carpenters and helpers. The main carpenters were Jack and George (Dud) Daniels, August Baumann and Jim McConnell.
The amount of work or material each donated was divided into the shares each owned.
The grand opening was in June, 1914.Two bands donated the music. Len Gardner's from Fairview and another band from Sidney. A food stand was set up in the yard and 500 people attended this function from 9 o'clock Saturday evening until 5 o'clock Sunday morning.
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