Clark County Press (Neillsville, WI)

April 5, 2006, Front page

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon. 

Start of construction for new Neillsville Legion hall gets go-ahead

The four local banks providing financial backing for the new Neillsville Legion Hall and Community Center have renewed their commitment to the project, clearing the way for construction in the next few weeks, according to DeWayne Seelow, co-chairman of the project’s Building Committee.

In a report to the Post 73 Legion membership during its regular meeting Monday night, Seelow confirmed that the Mid Wisconsin, M & I, Associated, and Citizen State banks have approved the revised projected cost of $1.165 million for the new hall.

The former anticipated construction costs of $1 million had been the amount initially approved by the banks.  But the rising cost of steel, a major component of needed materials, had the cost of completing the project reaching $1.4 million.

But substituting wood for steel, they have managed to bring costs down to the $1.65 million the banks have now approved, Seelow said.

The general contractor is Wood Wright Construction, a local contracting firm.  Most of the sub-contractors that include those doing the plumbing and heating and air conditioning will also be Neillsville-area firms, according to Seelow. 

“It’s still going to look the same.  It’s going to have the same floor plan,” Seelow said of the proposed 76-foot by 152-foot building that will feature a banquet hall with a capacity of 400 people.  The new Legion Hall building and community center will also have a large bar area and two conference rooms, the larger one with room for 100 individuals.  The entire single-level building will be fully handicapped-accessible.  A paved parking lot will occupy most of the three acres on which the building is to be constructed.

The approval of the banks means that earth moving work in preparation for the construction of the building can be started in the next week or two, weather permitting, Seelow said.  The facility is expected to be completed by the fall of this year.

Seelow emphasized that although the financial backing has finally been secured, the need for the fundraising is as strong as ever.

Contributions totaling $480,000 in the form of cash donations and pledges have been collected and, if the potential proceeds of the sale of the existing building and its contents are calculated, as much as $631,000 is available to pay for the hall.  That means that a minimum of $534,000 is still needed, Seelow said.

“We want to thank everyone for their contributions,” said Seelow, adding the people have got to remember that the new building will be more than just the Legion Hall.  It will be a community center that will continue to be available for a wide range of events and celebrations such as reunions, weddings and anniversaries, he said. 

With its larger size, location along a major highway near a large motel and handicapped accessibility, the new facility has attributes the existing Legion Hall never had.  “We will be able to hold events there we could never have before,” said Seelow.

The Whitetail Unlimited and Wild Turkey Federation groups have already shown interests in holding an event at the new Legion Hall, he said.

“All of that means a lot to the community,” said Seelow.