The Rec Hall

When Valsetz was alive there were several life points in the town. Places where you were able to connect with what was going on in the town. Places where you could get a sense of the local flavor and culture. They were the school, the teen center, the mill and the "Rec Hall".

Why the name, "Rec Hall"? I have no idea. This building housed the general store, the gas station, the cafe, the pool hall and our two-lane bowling alley.

The store was a small four aisle sized store with wood plank floors and plenty of canned goods to feed the town for a month. The main attraction in the store was the beer cooler. At least that is where most of the customer's money went. The selection of "Adult beverages" at the time wasn't nearly what it is today. I believe the choices were, Blitz Weinhard, Olympia and Millers. Though the quantity of choices were limited the limitation didn't seem to slow consumption. The store was great for maintaining the staples and what was needed until the next payday. Since it was a company-owned store the residents of Valsetz were able to charge their groceries, which the sum was extracted from their next paycheck. It was told that there had been several families over the year that had no money left after their store tab was paid. Mainly because their beer consumption was too high.

The cafe was where the local and world issues were discussed, debated and solved to the local participant's standards. Along with the heart of all the town gossip. One could sit at the counter or a booth and listen to the various conversations taking place in the other booths. One booth you might overhear a group of older men discussing hunting, fishing, mill politics or politics in general. Another booth may find younger men discussing hunting, fishing as well and what team was going to do what in their perspective leagues for the season. The high school football and basketball seasons were always discussed by both booths. Now another table could well be filled with a group of people talking about the latest gossip. Who is sleeping with who and where all the bodies might be buried.

The pool hall itself was rarly used as a pool hall by any of the youth in the town. On a rare occassion one of the kids was allowed to rent the balls for awhile but the table was usually saved for the older men in the town.

The bowling alley was another story. There were times of the year this was the best game in town. The best entertainment. There were leagues for all ages and talents. All played on two lanes. It was also a source of income for the younger kids as well. I like many kids I grew up with were able to put the bowling alley on their first resumes as their first employer. Unfortunately the job that was most often filled by the kids was that of a "pin setter". Yes, that's right the pins had to be set up by hand and that required a spry young fellow to do it. You had to move fast to fill the trays with the fallen pins and hit the cord to lower the tray backdown onto the alley for the next ball, all the while you were dodging flying pins from the other lane. You might say the skills attained from such employment could be listed as quick thinking, quick feet and hands and the unique ability to limp from one place to another quickly due to the large bruises you often got as a perk.