As cars began lining the country road and families came from all over to enjoy the old-fashioned event, the organizers, including the Rio Blanco County Rural School Research Committee, were overjoyed with the response.
They were especially happy when the dessert box social sales garnered prices that would be significant to the restoration of the old Coal Creek School.
“It’s really refreshing to live in such a generous community that can come together for a cause and knows how to laugh and have a good time.” said Ellene Meece, president of the Rio Blanco County Historical Society.
The fun was abundant, from sharing in the delicious cookout under the big striped tents to enjoying the auctioneering skills of Bryce Purkey, who kept the crowd laughing throughout the auction, to listening to the amazing voice of Dan Seely as he re-educated a room full of square dancers to lively square dancing.
Some of the music included a down home “Cotton-Eye-Joe” and Western swing dancing to the tunes of Dave Main and “friends.”
As the children eventually got involved on the dance floor, one person remarked how grateful they were for this opportunity to expose their grandchildren to the same magical experience they enjoyed as a child — box socials and dancing in an old rural school.
