By Don Murtha
The new Mount Angel Festhalle opened for business in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 9 that drew hundreds of people to view the spacious, modern building.
As architect Victor Madge put it, “It will just get better and better…”
As it stands, the building has 11,000 square feet of usable space on the first floor. After completion of Phase II the facility will offer 18,603 square feet, with a fully furnished kitchen, an elevator, an office for Oktoberfest, a mezzanine around three sides of the main hall and public meeting rooms on the second floor.
The building will be completed with signage, murals and artwork throughout the hall.
The financing organization for the project, the Mount Angel Community Foundation, has so far raised $2.38 million toward its goal of $2.47 million for the completion of Phase I, leaving about $90,000 to be raised.
The cost of Phase II has not been finalized, said Dave Kohler, chairman of the fundraising committee.
Lori Pavlicek, president of the foundation, said the organization will continue fundraising to complete Phase I and start Phase II. Among events planned are a New Year’s Eve party, a Western Ho-Down and others.
“We need to continue our efforts to accomplish these phases to be able to promote this key element in revitalizing and enhancing our businesses and community,” she said.
The building was designed to be used by a variety of organizations, civic, church, industry, business and social groups. Events will include weddings, trade shows, reunions, family gatherings, Christmas parties, auctions, business and commercial meetings, among others. It also has showers and can serve as an emergency shelter.
Oktoberfest President John Gooley said two couples have already booked the hall, planning the wedding on the stage and the reception around the dance floor.
Gooley also noted that for the first time in the 46 years Oktoberfest has had a hall, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission will allow minors in the Biergarten, as they are allowed in the Weingarten and Alpinegarten during Oktoberfest.
Madge said when Gooley approached he and fellow architect Michael Wellman with a vision for a Bavarian-style community center, Gooley said the Oktoberfest Board wanted to work with local architects.
“What started with a small picture of a building in Munich and a loosely drawn sketch, eventually developed into this truly remarkable festival hall,” Madge said. “This fine building is destined to become a regional landmark, further cementing the Bavarian character of this little town.“
The Festhalle replaces a metal “barn” built in 1972 as the Oktoberfest beer hall.
From the start the old ”tin barn” was flawed by low ceilings, deafening acoustics and crowding during major events. The old building had sustained significant damage over the years, making it unsuitable and uneconomical for repair.
The new hall is spacious, with attention paid to acoustics, air flow, public facilities, parking, food and beverage service stations and pleasing landscaping. The stage and sound system are of professional quality
The name Festhalle, German for festival hall, was chosen in a community–wide contest sponsored by the Mount Angel Community Foundation in July.
The building took seven months to reach this point in development. At the start of construction in March, the contractor, Rick Duncan promised it would be ready for Oktoberfest 2011.
Fundraising for the project began in July 2009. The Mount Angel Community Foundation hired grant writer Jamie Johnk to help. She brought in more than $600,000 in grants, Kohler said.
Among major contributors are: Oktoberfest $750,000; The Ford Family Foundation $250,000; Meyer Memorial Trust $200,000; Todd Woodley $100,000; Cindy Woodley $100,000; five local families contributing a total of $300,000; the Farmers Auction $60,000; and Spirit Mountain Foundation of the Confederate Tribes of Grande Ronde $50,000.
SEDCOR Construction Alliance provided $300,000 in-kind services and material. Many smaller gifts from individuals, corporations and civic groups also contributed to the total.
A plaque will be installed in the Festhalle honoring the creators of Mount Angel’s Oktoberfest, the members of the first board of directors in 1966: Jim Unger, chairman, Dick Zeis, Paul DeShaw, Virgil Diehl, Ron Hannon, Ed Jenck, Sam Bates, Leonard Butsch, Francis Schmidt, Harold Barbonnais, Don Schmidt and Willie Verboort.
Bill Predeek, president of the Mount Angel Historical Society announced that a time capsule containing items of current interests and events will be placed in the hall to be opened in 50 years.
