- City:
- Kendall, KS
- Site Type:
- Community Centers, Civic Facilities
- New Deal Agencies:
- Works Progress Administration (WPA), Work Relief Programs
- Started:
- 1936
- Completed:
- 1937
- Designer:
- Howard T. Blanchard
- Quality of Information:
- Very Good
- Marked:
- Unknown
- Site Survival:
- Extant
Description
This limestone community hall is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of SE Hamilton County Road 33 and SE Hamilton County Road Z, roughly 9.5 miles south of Kendall, Kansas. It was used for school and religious meetings, including the rural schools’ consolidated Christmas program. The auditorium upstairs seats 230. The basement includes a kitchen and dining room for 100.
The original estimated cost was $18,555. No taxes were raised to help fund the project; rather the Menno Community Club raised the $4000 required for the local contribution. On July 1, 1936 the community held a work day whereby local volunteers constructed the concrete foundation.
The building was completed in May 1937, but because of dust storms, the dedication ceremony was postponed until June 17. The featured speaker was Governor Walter Huxman, who addressed a crowd of 1000 people.
Source notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menno_Community_Hall
Kansas Historic Resources Inventory, https://www.kshs.org/natreg/natreg_listings/view/804
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/02001700_text
Site originally submitted by Barbara Pendleton on March 8, 2025.
Additional contributions by Evan Kalish.
Site Details
| Local Cost | Total Cost |
|---|---|
| $4,000.00 | $18.00 |
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