On July 29, 1921, thirty-six residents gathered at the home of Ferdinand J. Hahn and organized the Haller Lake Improvement Club, citing a need for an organized voice for the community to push for road construction, street lighting, and the opening of a school.  Officers were elected two weeks later, and articles of incorporation were requested from King County in a letter dated July 27, 1922.  Dues began at fifty cents per month, but were halved the following April to stimulate more membership.

A building committee for the construction of a clubhouse gathered the following January, and residents were requested to invest in a building fund.  The fund grew rapidly, and the building site was purchased that summer for $800 from a certain Mr. Anderson.  A groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 4, 1922.  The building was projected to cost $8000.  Although the club’s board started holding meetings in the building in mid-1923, a celebratory event marking its final completion was held on May 16, 1925, at a final cost of $12,000.
– Greg Dziekonsk, HLCC Historian


HLCC Building Honored
The Shoreline Historical Museum has recognized the Haller Lake Community Club building for its historical significance with its first Trillium Award for north Seattle. Each year the Historical Society will bestow this honor on three buildings of historical value, one in Shoreline, one in Lake Forest Park and one in north Seattle. We are honored to be among the 1st recipients in what will be an ongoing program to promote awareness of these treasures among our midst. Be
sure and look for the plaque soon to be place outside the front door. Thank you Shoreline Historical Society for all you do to preserve our history.

If you should find anything, old letters, appliances, photos etc. that might be of interest to the Historical Society contact them before you throw it away.
– Larry Smith 12/06

For several years now, the Haller Lake Community Club building has been the home to the Creative Dance Center (www.creativedance.org), and Kaleidoscope Dance Company. The Creative Dance Center offers a variety of classes for students of all ages. They teach the concepts of dance through engaging activities and BrainDance exercises appropriate for each age level. They believe that the students who have the chance to experience dance in a joyful way will make it part of their lives. In this way CDC is more than a dance school. It is a place where a person can develop his or her creative potential in a warm, positive and non-competitive atmosphere.

Creative Dance Center a non-profit organization, has been providing brain-compatible dance education for people of all ages for 25 years. Kaleidoscope Dance Company, CDC's performing company of young people, offers professional performance opportunities for children and, in so doing, provides powerful and playful dance performances accessible to people of all ages.

At CDC the emphasis is on education and enjoyment. Anne Green Gilbert is Director of the Creative Dance Center and Kaleidoscope Dance Company, which she founded in Seattle, Washington, USA in 1981. The Creative Dance Center is a unique private studio offering creative and modern dance for infants through adults. Kaleidoscope is a modern dance company of children ages 8-14 that performs throughout Washington State and tours internationally. Anne is recognized throughout the United States and abroad as one of the leading dance educators. When not teaching creative dance at CDC or choreographing for Kaleidoscope, Anne trains teachers through her Summer Dance Institute for Teachers and for Seattle Pacific University and Seattle University as an adjunct professor. Anne has conducted hundreds of workshops for children and adults across the United States and in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Finland, Russia, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Brazil, and Portugal.

One of the better kept secrets in North Seattle may well be the wonderful theatre pipe organ tucked away in Haller Lake Community Club. With its three manuals (keyboards) and eight sets of organ pipes, it is similar to the organ enjoyed by thousands of patrons at the former "Pizza & Pipes" restaurant in the Greenwood area during the 1970s and '80s.

Theatre organs were developed beginning about 1912 for a specific purpose-to provide accompaniment to the silent movies of the time. When sound came to the big screen in 1927, organs were no longer needed, and the early 1930s brought the end of production. Over the years many were dismantled, lost in fires, moved to other venues such as churches and roller rinks, and some were installed in private residences. A truly American invention, they are a unique part of American musical history.

The organ at HLCC is the focus for a number of events at the Club each year. Valentine's parties, St. Patrick's Day celebrations, "Pipes & Pizza" events, Oktoberfests and holiday parties become especially unusual and festive with live music provided by talented musicians on the fascinating theatre pipe organ.

The instrument is owned and maintained by Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society (www.pstos.org), and never had a theatre home. Originally installed in Dayton Ohio's Eagles Hall in 1926, it was eventually sold to a private party who moved it to Seattle in the 1960s. It was acquired by PSTOS and installed in the clubhouse in 1968 through the interaction of members of PSTOS and Haller Lake Community Club. Harry Harkness, then HLCC president, is to be credited with having the vision of the organ as a positive community asset, and helped to pave the way for the two groups to work together to install it. Dick Chang, another active HLCC member, was an enthusiastic part of the installation crew.

The Northwest Fly Anglers Club (www.northwestflyanglers.org) meets on the third Thursday of every month except July and December, at the Haller Lake Community Club from 7:30 til 10:00 pm, with an educational meeting demonstration usually happening at 7:00 pm. The Northwest Fly Anglers was formed in 1972, and grew at a rapid pace from the first meeting which was held at the Green Lake field house. The club has maintained a membership in the neighborhood of 120 to 150 people since this time. The club was formed with the idea that this sport was for the whole family, most if not all of the other clubs at the time were either fraternal, were not accepting more members or both.

The founders of the NFA were teachers of the now almost forgotten art of crafting bamboo fly rods. This historic connection is symbolized in the NFA logo which is the cross section of a split cane rod and a mayfly.

The Northwest Fly Anglers is a club dedicated to education, service, conservation and support while pursuing the art of angling with a fly. These ideals still prevail today with fly tying, rod building and casting classes, stream surveys, tree plantings and  river cleanups, top name guest speakers, outings to local and long distance local streams and lakes, these are to name just a few. The club also maintains a library of books and videos.

The club was also founded and based on a strong participation from the membership which is why the club has been such a great success. This occurs at all levels as the membership is very diverse in its experience levels, from beginner to expert.