By
Stephanie Chase
Guest
Columnist
New
York, NY, USA
This
Conversation is about an historic ballroom located in a rather unlikely
setting; not far from Des Moines, Iowa, and a couple of miles off a main
highway, but surrounded by corn and soybean fields that seemingly extend for
miles in every direction. It is also part of the story of my maternal
grandparents and their descendants: my grandfather was Pius Peschel, who left Hohenerlitz
in Bohemia in 1906 and journeyed to Iowa, where his sister and others from his
small village had previously settled. (Due, in part, to the Homestead Act of
1862, immigrants from Bohemia, Germany and Switzerland came to Iowa, where they
farmed and opened small businesses.)
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| Lake Robbins Ballroom |
Pius
was a violinist whose motto was “The Richest Child is Poor Without a Musical
Education,” and he soon settled in Cherokee, where he gave music lessons. He
also worked as a kind of musical therapist at the Cherokee Insane Asylum, which
had opened in 1902. Still in operation as the Cherokee Mental Health Institute,
in the early days it also evidently operated as a self-supporting farm, worked
on by patients whose mental health disorders were not overly severe. Pius
directed an orchestra comprised of patients, and it was at the Asylum that he
met Mette Marie Bjorkum-Hansen, an immigrant from Leikanger, Norway, who arrived
in the United States in 1904 and found work as an Asylum seamstress. (Family
history also has her working as a cook.) Within about a year of his arrival,
Pius changed the spelling of his surname to Paschell and married Mette, who
became known as Mattie.
The
last of their children – my mother, Fannie – was born in Cherokee. The family
remained there until 1939, when Pius and Mattie moved to Des Moines and opened
a family-run restaurant. Eighty years later, many of their descendants remain
in the area, including my cousin Lyn Paschell Wilkinson, who is the owner of
the Lake Robbins Ballroom in Woodward, Iowa. The daughter of Walter Claude (“Barney”)
Paschell and Lucille Bartlett, Lyn moved with her young children to Connecticut
in 1982, where she lived a few miles from my mother’s house, but returned to
Iowa about ten years later and shortly thereafter bought the Ballroom.
In
late September – after having only heard about it for many years – I visited
the Ballroom to celebrate Lyn’s birthday and fell in love with its setting,
history, music, and strong family connections.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: What are the origins of the Ballroom?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: It’s named for a manmade lake that was created
by 1920. There was a natural pond on the farm of Mr. Riley Robbins and he drugged
it out with a team of horses. Beaver Creek runs a mile south of the Ballroom
and it supplied the water to the lake.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: Who was Mr. Robbins?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: He was a successful cattle buyer who
owned a rendering company – they would pick up dead farm animals and dispose of
them. Soon after making the lake they built an eight-sided cabin and placed it
in the middle of the lake, with a boardwalk to the edge. In 1929, they started
building the Ballroom, which opened on Armistice Day, November 11, 1931. The
opening band was Herbie Kay, out of Chicago, with Dorothy Lamour as his female
vocalist. She later went to Hollywood and made movies with Bob Hope and Bing
Cosby.
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| Lake Robbins Ballroom (circa 1932) |
STEPHANIE
CHASE: She was a major movie star, and so beautiful! I had
no idea that she got her start as a singer with a band.
There’s
no lake now, what happened to it?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: In 1936, Iowa had a drought – it was
affected by the Dust Bowl – which dried up Beaver Creek and broke the seal on
the manmade lake, causing it to also dry up. Now there are about 10 acres that
are still marshy.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: So the lake lasted only a few years, but it must have
been lovely.
I
find it remarkable that in such a rural setting – the Ballroom is still
surrounded by corn and soybean fields – you’ve had some very famous bands come
through. Who are some of the bands and singers that have performed there over
the years?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: Most of all the Big Bands came here as
they toured through the area. The Tommy Dorsey band performed at the Ballroom and
I have a local guy who thinks his mom got Frank Sinatra’s autograph out here – he
was their male singer at the time. I’m checking this out. Ted Weems and Perry
Como came and a lady did give me their autographs, which she had gotten out
here. Another lady told me of dancing with Dutch (Ronald) Reagan out here when
he was a radio announcer for WHO in Des Moines, Iowa. She wrote me a letter, so
I have it documented.
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| Dancing at Lake Robbins Ballroom (historical photo) |
STEPHANIE
CHASE: That’s already remarkable, and I understand you have
more?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: Yes, many more – other performers would
be Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Five Fat Dutchmen, Jan Garber, Tiny Hill, Kay
Kaiser, The Vikings, Wayne King, Eddie Howard, Duke Ellington, and Russ Morgan.
Cab
Calloway was here in 1935, Louie Armstrong in December 1954, and Les Brown in
2000. We’ve also had Pat Boone, Asleep at the Wheel, Hank Thompson, Mel Tillis,
LeRoy Van Dyke, Johnny Rivers, Bobby Vee, Little River Band, Kitty Wells, Wanda
Jackson, Marvin Rainwater, Myron Floyd, Lawrence Welk – before he was on TV –
Dick Dale, Jeff Brandt, and many others.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: These are major bands and performers from the 1930’s
on! And in addition to the Big Bands, you’ve had some really famous country
western, popular and jazz musicians come through.
How
did you first learn about the ballroom, and what prompted you to buy and run
it?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: I grew up about four miles away from the
ballroom and babysat for couples who went dancing at the ballroom. As a kid, I
was only there once for just a second, to speak to someone, but I started
working out there as waitress and bartender in 1976. It didn’t take me long to
fall in love with the music and magic. I’ve always loved old movies from the
30’s and 40’s, and I remember my Dad used to let us dance on his feet to
Lawrence Welk.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: The Lawrence Welk show was a weekly fixture in my house
when I was growing up – that really was another era, and my parents enjoyed the
music. I still remember the Lennon Sisters!
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: Yes, and I’ve always loved to dance. After
a year or so another gal I worked with as waitresses, we tried to buy the Ballroom,
but the owner Pete wasn’t ready to sell. I ended up moving to Connecticut in
late 1982, but by 1993, I was looking to move back to Iowa. Iowa had a lot of
flooding that year and the jobs I thought I’d lined up weren’t hiring at that
time. My nephew had his wedding reception at the ballroom and my big brother
said, “Remember when you wanted to buy this … why don’t you do that?” I thought,
why not, and we started talking to Wilma, who was Pete’s wife – Pete had died
by then. I had remained friends with them and would always come back and visit
whenever I came back every summer, and Mom was still working for Wilma.
I
guess it was meant to be because I bought it October 1993. It was in pretty
poor shape when we took over. But I never saw that. I just saw the magic of the
Ballroom. My brothers figured it would not have lasted another two years if we
hadn’t taken over. There were side rooms falling in and it needed a lot of physical
help.
I’ve
been so blessed with such a wonderful family. It’s always been a
family-friendly place, and everyone pitched in and helped – I could not have
ever made it by myself. They are the best!
Wilma
had been with the Ballroom for fifty years. It was hard for her to sell but I
think she knew I would keep it as a ballroom and she was so pleased in seeing
us fix it up. It had been going down for a long time, and she would have been
better off shutting the doors, but she loved it so much she couldn’t. She would
still come out for the dances. She was wonderful in helping me learn the
business.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: There are labors of love – and a career in classical
music can feel like that – but when you love what you do, it is wonderful, even
if the financial end can be a struggle.
What
kinds of music do you feature now, and do you always have live performers?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: We have Big Band Music every Sunday night
– always live bands – and we are the only place that has big band every week.
Saturday nights we have Country Western or Oldies/Rock ’n Roll bands. Once or
twice a year we have a DJ. Occasionally
we dance on Friday nights, but most of the time that’s for a special event. And
sometimes we open during the week; for instance, when a band is coming though
we might dance in the middle of the week, and the Valentine Dance is always on
Valentine’s Day. We also do wedding receptions, banquets, and benefits, so some
Saturdays are closed for private events.
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| Recent Wedding at Lake Robbins Ballroom |
Sometimes
we do some shows for entertainment instead of just public dancing. We have a
Branson Show that comes once a year, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra once a year,
if we can manage. Our Christmas Formal is always a big event with Bobby Layne
Orchestra from Lincoln, Nebraska. Live bands seem to work better out here. Live
music is always more exciting.
Al Welsh Orchestra - "Hey Good Lookin'"
STEPHANIE
CHASE: That’s a nice variety of music – I’m so happy you
always have live music – and Lake Robbins has a great dance floor! Tell me
about your clientele – are most of them there for dancing, for eating a meal,
listening to music, or all three?
LYN PASCHELL WILKINSON: The dance floor is still the original wood floor from 1931. The patrons gave us the motto, “Lake Robbins is known for the finest dance floor in Iowa.” So, I would say it’s the dancing. We have food and a bar but that’s mainly to be accommodating – the sell is dancing. People do like to be able to get something to eat and drink, and it helps to get them here instead of eating somewhere else and then deciding they’re too tired to come dance. Since we have a cover charge, we don’t see too many coming in just to eat, though we have had a few.
LYN PASCHELL WILKINSON: The dance floor is still the original wood floor from 1931. The patrons gave us the motto, “Lake Robbins is known for the finest dance floor in Iowa.” So, I would say it’s the dancing. We have food and a bar but that’s mainly to be accommodating – the sell is dancing. People do like to be able to get something to eat and drink, and it helps to get them here instead of eating somewhere else and then deciding they’re too tired to come dance. Since we have a cover charge, we don’t see too many coming in just to eat, though we have had a few.
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| Lake Robbins Ballroom - Original Dance Floor |
STEPHANIE
CHASE: I really enjoyed the food there, but I think you
don’t charge enough for it! You also serve very reasonably priced drinks.
What
age range are your customers?
LYN PASCHELL WILKINSON: Sunday nights the age range is mostly retired; 60’s to 99. A few have made it to 100! We do have some in their 50’s. We do see, off and on, young people but their schedules are busier and working Mondays doesn’t help, although our Sunday hours are early, 5-8:30.
LYN PASCHELL WILKINSON: Sunday nights the age range is mostly retired; 60’s to 99. A few have made it to 100! We do have some in their 50’s. We do see, off and on, young people but their schedules are busier and working Mondays doesn’t help, although our Sunday hours are early, 5-8:30.
Saturdays,
the age range is mostly 40’s to 75, but then some bands bring out the college
kids. They like the Oldies/Swing. We also have some high school kids and church
groups – we are about the only place they can get in to dance except school
dances. Some of our dancers bring their kids or grandkids whom we hope will
like dancing and one day be our older crowd. As I said, we are very family
friendly.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: When I visited, the first night there were a lot of
college students [from Iowa State University] who were having the time of their
lives dancing to the rock and roll oldies. The next night was an older crowd,
some of them definitely in their eighties, dancing to more of a Lawrence Welk-style
music, so in addition to the pleasure they have from dancing to live music,
they’re also getting good exercise.
What’s
your greatest challenge with running the Ballroom?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: The biggest challenge, I think, it’s getting
help. Since it’s part-time work, it’s hard to get help. The ones I have are
great and have been here a long time. But extra help is harder to find. Younger
people just work when they need money and have poor work ethics, and it’s hard
to build up the business if you can’t get good help to help you pull it off.
Thank God, I have a big family! I have lots of new ideas but can’t pull it off without
help. It’s a big place and I find myself not being able to be everywhere. It
would help to have a couple more key people that could cover different areas.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: I was touched to see the support that your family
gives to the Ballroom; clearly, it’s beloved by everyone.
I
understand that you had a ticket taker for many years, who was something of a
legend? Tell me about her.
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: Yes, her name was Coloma Shannon – but
she was known as Kip – and she worked at the Ballroom for nearly 82 year and
lived to be 104! Kip tied the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest
serving employee. She loved the music and watching the dancing, and she was
featured in a lot of interviews, including one with Bill Geist [for CBS News
Sunday Morning].
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| Kip Shannon - Celebration Button |
STEPHANIE
CHASE: You grew up in a nearby town, Bouton, that is
positively tiny – the most recent statistic has the population at 129. When and
why did your family move there? What are some of the benefits and disadvantages
of living in rural Iowa?
LYN
PASCHELL WILKINSON: My folks moved to this area when I was a
baby, about 1949-1950. Mom was from Pleasanton in southern Iowa. After they
sold our Grandmother’s restaurant in Des Moines, they moved back to Mom’s town.
There wasn’t much work in that area, so Mom answered an ad for a telephone
operator and Dad became a lineman in Bouton. We moved to the country in 1953 or
‘54 where we grew up, about four miles from the Ballroom. It was a great place
to keep us out of trouble!
There
were only five houses in this area – it was an old town that had burned down
and they were the only ones left. Only one other kid lived there beside us six.
I guess we didn’t have a lot of opportunity and I always wanted to go out and
see the world. But while growing up, I think we had a lot of fun. We never had
much and later I thought we needed more, like a bigger house, etc. But after I
finished school, I did go to other places, which I enjoyed, and I love seeing
new places and things.
When
I lived in Connecticut, the longer I was there the more I missed Iowa and its
slower pace. I thought Connecticut was a better place for my kids to get better
advantages, but we all ended back in Iowa. Now that I’m older, I think you are
what you are to be, and that the opportunities will come to you no matter where
you are or what you have. I think growing up the way I did, I learned to work
and make my own way. I also thought when I bought the Ballroom, I would be busy
enough that I wouldn’t miss my kids as much leaving the nest, and that it would
keep me busy enough to not be too much in their lives and a nuisance!
I’ve
enjoyed it a lot. The music, the dancing,
and the people. It’s also helped to keep our family close.
STEPHANIE
CHASE: Well, I admire you for helping to keep this cultural
landmark alive and thriving, and I encourage anyone visiting the area to come
and enjoy a unique experience and important part of Iowa history.
The
Lake Robbins Ballroom has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, on local
KCCI television (which won a National Murrow Award), and in many Iowa
periodicals. It is located at 26726 150th St in Woodward, IA, about a half
hour’s drive from Des Moines.
(All photographs courtesy of the Lake Robbins Ballroom; Music courtesy of the Al Welsh Orchestra)
Links:
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