Stepney Barn
The Stepney Barn was constructed by Al Brundage. (Stepney is a district in the town of Monroe, CT.) You can read more about Brundage and the barn on this site. In Brundage's comments below, note that the barn opened in 1948 with 442 dancers, testimony to the popularity of square dancing at that time.
Readers interested in Brundage's early years as a caller will enjoy the interview that his brother, Bob Brundage, conducted in 1998. The full interview is available as an audio file and transcription here; below is an excerpt.
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"In 1947 I borrowed the farm truck, drove to Mass. and bought boards and timbers from a small mill. I had purchased about an acre .9f ground on Route 25 in Stepney, Ct. and proceeded to stack the lumber for drying until Spring. We dug the cellar and foundation with a bulldozer equipped with a four foot blade. It seemed to take forever. Three carpenters and myself went to work and built what was to be known as AL BRUNDAGE'S COUNTRY BARN. We opened on July 4, 1948 with a crowd of 442 dancers. I had my own orchestra by this time consisting of an accordion, fiddle, guitar and banjo which also doubled on "Slap Bass" and five-string banjo. They made good music and even after records and record players were being used extensively by most callers, including myself, I always used THE PIONEERS orchestra at the barn.
"In 1954 I sold the Barn to become a traveling caller but for the eight years of operation we had a Saturday night average of 329 dancers in attendance. When I opened the Barn the price of admission was $1.00 per couple. We checked your coat in the winter for 10 cents and sold soda pop and candy for a nickel. In the early 50's dancing at one of the Barns became the "thing to do." There were no dance clubs as we know them today and it was the hall owner, the caller or an organization, such as the Grange, Firemen, Elks or perhaps a Church which sponsored the dance. People also danced in taverns, back rooms and country inns like the old stage coach stop where I experienced my first taste of square dancing and country music."
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Jim Mayo notes: "Al Brundage was the caller who brought the earliest "modern" square dancing to New England when he returned from Lloyd Shaw's camp in the summer of 1949. The Stepney Barn Saturday night dances were traditional New England style with a wonderful band, the Pioneers. In 1951 my date and I danced at the barn before we went to my Yale University Junior Prom which didn't start until 10:00 pm."
Subjects: Modern square dance - general, Transitional/Western 1940s
Tags: Al Brundage, barns, Connecticut, dance hall, Stepney Barn
Item Relations
| This Item | is related to | Item: Al Brundage & the Pioneer Trio, 1951 |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Al Brundage recollections |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Al Brundage - photos |
| This Item | is related to | Item: Huntington's Pavilion, E. Thetford, VT |
| Item: Square Acres - square dance barn | is related to | This Item |
| Item: Oak Grove Barn | is related to | This Item |
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Title
Description
The Stepney Barn was constructed by Al Brundage. (Stepney is a district in the town of Monroe, CT.) You can read more about Brundage and the barn on this site. In Brundage's comments below, note that the barn opened in 1948 with 442 dancers, testimony to the popularity of square dancing at that time.
Readers interested in Brundage's early years as a caller will enjoy the interview that his brother, Bob Brundage, conducted in 1998. The full interview is available as an audio file and transcription here; below is an excerpt.
==
"In 1947 I borrowed the farm truck, drove to Mass. and bought boards and timbers from a small mill. I had purchased about an acre .9f ground on Route 25 in Stepney, Ct. and proceeded to stack the lumber for drying until Spring. We dug the cellar and foundation with a bulldozer equipped with a four foot blade. It seemed to take forever. Three carpenters and myself went to work and built what was to be known as AL BRUNDAGE'S COUNTRY BARN. We opened on July 4, 1948 with a crowd of 442 dancers. I had my own orchestra by this time consisting of an accordion, fiddle, guitar and banjo which also doubled on "Slap Bass" and five-string banjo. They made good music and even after records and record players were being used extensively by most callers, including myself, I always used THE PIONEERS orchestra at the barn.
"In 1954 I sold the Barn to become a traveling caller but for the eight years of operation we had a Saturday night average of 329 dancers in attendance. When I opened the Barn the price of admission was $1.00 per couple. We checked your coat in the winter for 10 cents and sold soda pop and candy for a nickel. In the early 50's dancing at one of the Barns became the "thing to do." There were no dance clubs as we know them today and it was the hall owner, the caller or an organization, such as the Grange, Firemen, Elks or perhaps a Church which sponsored the dance. People also danced in taverns, back rooms and country inns like the old stage coach stop where I experienced my first taste of square dancing and country music."
===
Jim Mayo notes: "Al Brundage was the caller who brought the earliest "modern" square dancing to New England when he returned from Lloyd Shaw's camp in the summer of 1949. The Stepney Barn Saturday night dances were traditional New England style with a wonderful band, the Pioneers. In 1951 my date and I danced at the barn before we went to my Yale University Junior Prom which didn't start until 10:00 pm."