Visit Indianola, and one of the first things you’ll notice is how it feels: time seems slower here, as people walk their dogs along the narrow roads or linger, chatting, outside the country store. Look north from the store and you’ll see tangible proof of the community spirit that suffuses this place: the Indianola Clubhouse.

The clubhouse shares a rich history with the people who live in this tiny community. It began as a vision in the late 1920s, when two local women, Marian Godman and Emma Pickrell, suggested that a library might help the year-round residents pass the long, cold winter nights. The idea took root and quickly expanded: if we can build a small house for books, people asked, why not a larger library? And why not include a meeting place? Folks mobilized around this goal. A community club had long been part of Indianola life, and in 1927 its members decided to enlarge the summer carnivals − already an Indianola tradition − in order to raise money for a proper clubhouse. The early fundraising events were quite successful and led to the incorporation of the Indianola Beach Improvement Club (IBIC), an organization that continues to operate today as this unincorporated community’s informal governing body.

The IBIC trustees moved fast and by the end of 1927, had purchased two lots for the clubhouse. But controversy surfaced regarding the property location: many felt it was too far from the center of town. The project stalled as the community split into factions. After much heated debate − and skillful mediation by IBIC Building Committee Chairman Clifford Rogers − a workable solution was arrived at: the club officers would raffle off the lots and use the money to buy property near the center of town. In November 1928, the IBIC passed a resolution to borrow $2,000 to complete the project and by 1930, the building was finished. The books moved in and so did the community. Since then, the clubhouse has formed the backdrop for many memories as potlucks, teen dances, ice cream socials, spaghetti dinners, plays and the annual stunt night (as well as IBIC and other club meetings) have drawn people out of their homes and toward community involvement.

Mary Maxwell spent her summers in Indianola as a child and young woman. The clubhouse was part of her experience growing up. “I love the clubhouse,” she recalled. “There was always something going on there.”

Maxwell credits her mother, Dorothy, for sparking her interest in community service. “She was very involved in Indianola affairs. As a kid, I’d tag along. I learned the value of volunteering from her. We had a teen club and I was part of that. We got together − supposedly − to raise money for the tennis court, though I think it was really a way for the adults to keep track of what we were doing.”

Maxwell recalled other memories as well, including a painted backdrop of the town portraying the beach, dock and post office that hung inside, done by local youth. “It was a neat thing, and stayed up for a number of years,” she noted.

The youth activities had value for many reasons. “Kids got involved in what was going on in the community,” Maxwell said. “You got to participate, and learn what it was like to volunteer. It gave me a real sense of ownership of the facility and of the beach. You feel like it belongs to you, and because of that, you want to take care of it.”

Time and climate are hard on a building; currently, the Indianola Clubhouse is closed, undergoing a much-needed renovation. This too, is part of the rhythm of community life, renewing the structure of a place that has been well-loved, well-used, and has given much in return. When the clubhouse reopens and people again cross its threshold, the building − and community it serves − will begin a new chapter. That chapter is not yet written, but whatever develops is certain to be influenced by the solid presence of the building, a monument to those who understand the value of community and the importance of maintaining it.

Looking Ahead:

The Indianola Clubhouse Renovation Project

At nearly 80 years of age, the Indianola Clubhouse is in serious need of repairs and upgrades. Like all things Indianola, the renovation project is a community-based endeavor involving many people and volunteer hours. The proposed design was developed by Indianola residents and landscape architects Laurie Larson and Brad Casteel, of The Larson Casteel Company, Kingston, and involved extensive community input. Renovation work began in mid-September; because some of the work is weather dependent, there is no firm date on when the clubhouse will be back in service.

Planned improvements include:

Major building repairs – constructing a new concrete foundation; replacing support posts; pouring a new concrete pad for furnace and storage area; replacing furnace and adding ductwork; replacing entry steps; adding entry door sidelights, constructing ADA ramp to expand rear deck; painting exterior; and installing a complete roof drainage system around perimeter. Estimated cost: $176,369.

Interior improvements – painting interior; installing new pendant light and sconce fixtures; adding a drapery room divider; replacing flooring with commercial grade vinyl. Estimated cost: $28,070.

Entry improvements – adding an ornamental wood screen, gates, fence, handrails, guardrails, story poles, and benches; paving courtyard; installing landscape and hardscape elements; adding outdoor lighting and irrigation. Estimated cost: $33,509.

Playground improvements – site preparation; installing new play surfaces; building gate, arbor and fencing; installing new play structures; constructing mock Indianola dock and play pavilion; adding plants and lighting. Estimated cost: $66,984.

Fund-raising is ongoing, and all contributions are tax deductible. Cash donations can be sent to Clubhouse Restoration, P.O. Box 212, Indianola WA 98342. For more information, or to volunteer your time (as a carpenter, painter, general laborer, or fund-raising organizer), contact Bo Blakey at (360) 297-2337.