Memories come down as St Pat’s demolished
This week the walls of St Patrick’s Hall in Rewi Street came down.
Barricaded within temporary fencing the digger moved in and while I watched, started crushing what had been the kitchen and supper room off to the side. I’ve always loved that hall. It’s where I learnt the art of stage makeup for Talos productions such as Bless ’Em All and Guys and Dolls, tucked away in the labyrinth of rooms below the stage.
This was well before Talos moved to its new home at The Woolshed.
It’s also where I remember as a young girl going with a friend to try and learn some ballroom dancing and where I know the Good Companions used to meet for their monthly dances.
I remember going to functions in the days when supper was a buffet laden with a variety of dishes that would fill a large plate.
Young women of this town were presented to society at debutante balls held in this hall.
And throughout the 70s and into the 80s St Patrick’s Hall was used by the Te Awamutu Camera Club as its venue, and until recently the Rose Society used the hall for its annual Rose Show.
But the reality is that halls just sometimes outlive their use.
And sadly this is the case with St Patrick’s Hall.
The hall was built about 70 years ago and without some significant investment has simply come to the end of its life.
The hall’s location, while not that important in the early days had become a factor in the decision to demolish.
An anticipated new hall in a different location will enable a closer link with the parish while delivering the school’s needs for a multi purpose space.
Preliminary plans for a new hall are currently being drawn up and it is anticipated that a new hall can be built in a couple of years.
So gone is the quaint stage and proscenium arch of a bygone era.
And gone is the rather weirdly shaped hall that was once St Pat’s.