MARTINSBURG — Every other Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the Martinsburg community center, the Bunkhouse Band plays square dances, slow dances, hoe-downs, line dances, waltzes, two-steps, cake walks and oldies-but-goodies for the ongoing event residents call the Martinsburg Square Dance.
Earl Scoles on electric guitar, Fred Gerber on acoustic guitar and the mayor of the village, J.R. St. Clair, on an acoustic bass named Gert, break into “Back in the Saddle Again,” to the delight of the dancers.
Then Gordon “Scotty” Scott, a square dance caller and Gambier native who is teaching his calling skills to St. Clair as a favor, called for “squares” of four couples to form.
“Let’s square ’em up,” he said into the microphone, and broke into the caller’s trademark sing-song instructions to the dancers, in time to the music.
Scott began calling square dances in 1951 after following an experienced caller and learning from him. He receives no pay for calling.
“I just like to see other people have a good time,” he said. “I probably know 70 square dance calls and 30, 40 hoe-downs. There are no specific calls. You can do whatever comes to mind.”
After a rousing rendition of “Skip To My Lou,” dancers hold hands, raise their arms, come close together, then back away and bow, while calling “thank you” to each other.
Old theater seats line the walls of the center, where people rest between dances, or just sit and visit with each other.
“We used to bring our kids when they were little,” said Anita “Susie” Lahmon, who for years came to the dances with her now-deceased husband, Shorty. “They would fall asleep in these same chairs.”
Malinda St. Clair, the mayor’s wife, said, “I’ve been coming to these dances for years. I like to people-watch.”
Ginny Davis and Donna Johnson serve on the community center committee and volunteer at the dances, selling tickets and 50-50 drawing chances.
“I enjoy it,” said Davis. “It gives us something to do.”
“It keeps us very busy,” added Johnson.
They explained that the dances have been held for years, originally taking place in the Martinsburg High School, which burned in 1969.
“These dances have been around a long, long time,” said J.R. St. Clair. “And now callers are getting harder to find. There are people who want to square dance, so I thought I’d better learn to call. We’re one of the few dances that has young people coming out and getting involved. And we have people come from Ashland, Bellville, Coshocton, Marysville, Cardington ... they want to keep coming, but the gas prices are hurting them.”
“We’ve been coming to the dances six or seven years,” said Jane Rager, who was dancing with John Prinkey. “You don’t have to worry about smoking or drinking. It’s fun entertainment, clean entertainment and it’s great exercise.”
Rager noted that three generations of her family were represented at a recent dance, including her mother, sister and her sister’s children, one just 5 years old.
J.R. St. Clair said novice square dancers are encouraged to attend and learn, and that no one needs to be embarrassed by lack of experience.
“These guys are great about teaching people,” he said, referring to the dancers. “They want new people to come and dance.”
The children especially have a fine time, dancing with each other and the adults, tussling, playing, chasing each other and trying to catch the colored lights that whirl across the floor.
“I’ve watched kids grow up over the years at these dances,” said St. Clair, shaking his head over their antics. “We just let these kids play. At least when they go home from here, they sleep good.”
He walked back to the microphone to sing “Happy Birthday” to one of the dancers, then to play a rousing “Wabash Cannonball” as Scott called the directions and the dancers took to the floor.