Founded on July 6, 1963, by the late Martin Stambaugh and Carol Stambaugh Yost with the club caller John Tucker. Club Callers have been: John Tucker, 1963-1968; Don Kinnear, 1968-1972; Hugh Johnston, 1972-1996: Gary Fesler, 1997 to 2005; Mick Hall; and Brian Fellows. Dancing locations have been: The Alamo, The Pleasant School, The Ohio National Guard Armory in 1968, Marion, Ohio; Jesse’s Auction House, from 1968 to 1970, The Sunny Acres Barn, from 1970 to 2012, Caledonia, Ohio; The Tomorrow Center (The old Edison School), Edison, Ohio; from 2012 to 2015; and The Park Ave. Elementary School, Mount Gilead, Ohio, 2015 to date.

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Hugh Johnston Special Sunday, June 11, 2006

 

The Hugh Johnston Special on July 11, 2006, was a great success with Caller Keith Rippeto and Cuer Charlie Hearn. There were 95 western dancers that enjoyed the afternoon, including several from the Cleveland-Akron area. Hugh Johnston was the Hicks and Chicks Club Caller from 1972 until his death in 1996. Hugh and Helen were the owners of Sunny Acres Farm where the Hicks and Chicks still dance. The farm now belongs to his family who were also in attendance Sunday afternoon, and talked with others about Hugh and Helen. Remember the “Fire Drill” call, it was used several times that afternoon. One of Hugh’s favorite sayings “Square dancing is a contact sport”. (Pictures and story posted July 2006.)

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Sunny Acres Barn Dance Location from 1970 – 2012

The Tomorrow Center (Old Edison School) Dance Location from 2012 – 2015

Clubs Member Circa 1980