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The Mara
Community Hall is one of the few original landmarks which is still being used today. Built
by constructors in the local area in 1911, it was financed through selling shares at
$25.00 per share to the members of the community. However they were not able keep the hall
running by this way of managing it, so it was turned over to the Government to manage.
This was also better in that the property taxes would be eliminated and it would also be
able to qualify for Government grants.
The inside of the Mara Hall was very impressive, and in 1928 more renovations were done to
it; a new kitchen was added as well as a stage.
The Hall was a very popular entertainment place for the community of Mara in the early
1900's. It had activities such as dances, various sports and plays in which the Mara
residents were all involved. It was not only the people from Mara that would attend these
events, but people would come from out of town, as far away as Kelowna and Revelstoke,
even by way of the handcars on the CPR railway tracks.
One such dance and concert was sponsored by the "Mara Live Wires". This was a
five-piece orchestra and a group of chorus ladies: Agnes Bennett, Margret Ludwig, Emily
Kenyon, Gena Davy, Madeline Dale, Frances Keddy, Rosy Ludwig, Gwen Cadden and Mary Ludwig.
"Arizona Cowboy" and "Pied Piper of Hamlet" were just two of the
popular plays that were presented at the Mara Hall. These plays were organized and put on
by teachers and members in the Mara Community. The "Arizona Cowboy" was a
fourteen-cast play, produced by the Mara Hockey Club.
The Mara children enjoyed themselves playing badminton in the Hall, put on and coached by
Eva Bradley. Not only did they play in the Mara Hall, but travelled to Salmon Arm by all
piling in the back of a old broken-down truck.
The Hall is still used to this date by the Mara citizens. Most of the renovations and
improvements to the Hall are paid for by the remainder of the grants.
Dawn Gerlib, Niels Konge, Kurt Schubert
ALF School, 1989