MAYVILLE, N.D. – Over the years, Elroy Lindaas spent many hours tossing hay in the loft of his barn.
For the last 20 summers, however, he’s found more enjoyable pursuits in the hayloft than swinging a pitchfork. Lindaas and fellow members of the aptly named group “The Hayshakers” have hosted 7-10 dances each summer, spreading joy while reviving a tradition.
Eighty to 100 people, coming from a radius of 100 miles, routinely attend the Saturday night shindigs. The twin attractions are the foot-tapping old-time music and nostalgia.
“It’s the romantic old charm of something out of the past,” Lindaas says about the attraction. “It gets the older crowd thinking back to the days of barn dances and house parties.”
The loft is 40 feet by 60 feet, providing a large plywood dance fl oor. It’s ringed by folding chairs and a collection of sofas, love seats, recliners and rockers in a mishmash of styles and
designs.
“When people have auction sales and the furniture doesn’t go, they bring it here,” Lindaas says with an approving nod. “Not much of it would be in style these days, but it works here.”
Few seats are empty, as about one-half of the crowd comes to listen to the collection of waltzes, polkas, a few country tunes. Th e others are on the dance fl oor, cutting a rug, as some
of them still say.
“It gets going pretty good up here,” Lindaas said.
The classic-look barn was built in 1949, mostly from lumber recycled from the family’s 1900-built barn. The raft ers reach about 25 feet off the loft floor.
The Janice and Elroy Lindaas family believes in preserving more than barns. Not only is the barn being used 20 years aft er they’ve had cattle, but part of their home is from the original homestead of 1878. “My dad and I were born in the same bedroom that I sleep in every night,” says Lindaas, a 72-year-old retired farmer. They also believe in preserving traditions and wholesome family fun. Everyone is welcome to attend the dances and everyone is welcome to join the band for a few numbers.
There is no admission charge. But when the fl oor needed repair, a hat was passed and the required $600 was collected. Guests bring cookies and bars to share. Although most are senior citizens, all ages are represented. Each dance lasts 3½ hours, ending at 11 p.m. The goal of preserving a family atmosphere is shown by its only rule – no alcoholic beverages.
It all started in 1989, when twin daughters Naomi and Roberta, then could hold a barn dance. Sure, dad said, if they cleaned up the loft . It took almost all summer, but the loft was ready for the record-spinning event. At that time, Lindaas was part of a group that “liked to jam and was
always looking for a place to play.” So, they set up in the newly clean loft .
“After a while, a few people started showing up with lawn chairs to listen,” he said. “Pretty soon, some started dancing. Word spread and it just progressed from there.”
The Hayshakers performances historically start on the first Saturday in June. Th e standard rule in the early years was if the temperature reached 50 degrees that day, there would be a dance that night. Recently, they have put out a formal schedule that has roughly two dances a month. The last event of the season was Sept. 19.
Lindaas said performing is fun, not work, for him and band mates Kenneth Aamold on bass guitar, James Flaten on harmonica, Jerome Braaten on the fiddle and Collin Wahl and Ray Roller on the accordion.
“Even if it’s some work, no one is enjoying it more than me,” says Lindaas, who plays the guitar.
“For me, it’s also the satisfaction of seeing people enjoying themselves. And they’re so appreciative for what we do.”
Article reprinted from the Nodak Neighbor Sept/Oct 2009
