Tools

Choteau Pavilion Stands Tall After 89 Years

Choteau Pavilion Stands Tall After 89 Years

By KFBB News Team

Since 1921, the Choteau Pavilion has served as a city center for important events, big and small. But when the building required major renovation, the community rallied to fund repairs, keep it open, and make it better than ever before."

The pavilion is a community hub for the city as well as Teton County, hosting wedding receptions, conferences, family reunions, and events like the 4-H Fair, but following a 2006 building assessment, it was apparent that it would require major repair. A group of 11 women formed Pals of the Pavilion, and devoted years of hard work to raise the money.

"You simply stand back in awe of the accomplishment,” said Lila Dunn of Pals of the Pavilion.

Recent projects included new handicap accessible restrooms and ramps. Now, just underway is the latest project, replacing the 70-year-old furnaces and building a new ceiling and walls. Federal Stimulus dollars funded part of the renovation, but the remaining $68,000 was raised in Choteau.

“I hope when my kids are grown, they can have their wedding receptions here,” said Choteau Finance Officer Jodi Rogers. “It’s a very important place.”

The pavilion has stood for nearly 90 years, and thanks to some generous donations, it will continue to be a community center for generations to come.

Dunn realizes the building's economic and social impact to her community.

"In 2004 we hosted a wedding reception for my daughter. We realized what an asset it was to the community, and how important it was to keep it alive and running.”

Dunn says the biggest fundraiser for the pavilion is an annual auction in October, which raises about $15,000 each year.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Marie said on Wednesday, Feb 17 at 9:57 AM

Good job people saving the history of a town is worth the time in my eyes in any town . Rub some of your knowledge on Great Falls.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

News, Sports, Weather for Great Falls, Helena, and all of Montana and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Icon
Great Falls Great Falls Intl Airport, MT
Current Temp 29.0 °F
Fair
Wind : South at 9.2 MPH (8 KT)
Pressure : 1032.7 mb
Humidity : 69 %
Icon
Helena Helena Regional, MT
Current Temp 24.0 °F
Fair
Wind : Calm
Pressure : 1035.1 mb
Humidity : 77 %
More Weather
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

AP Video