Freewheelers Square Dance Club

The history of the Freewheelers Square Dance Club is one of innovation.   Prior to the club being founded, square dance clubs were either couples only or singles only.  Edith Townsend graduated from a singles group's class but couldn’t join the club because she was married.  And she couldn’t join a couple’s club because her husband didn’t dance. 

 

A club was needed where singles and married people (dancing together or not) could dance and be welcomed.  On the 3rd Sunday of July 1985, the club was formed with Edith as our 1st member.  She was quickly joined by 55 charter members and caller the late Bob Wright Jr.

 

As a result of a contest, the name "FREEWHEELERS" was adopted.  Our badge was designed as the result of another contest.  Both our badge and our banner are a representation of a square dance couple dancing on a large wheel.  Our banner was made by Charter Members, Shirley and Roger Olsby.  

 

To assist with the club’s caravanning to “couple” clubs, the Freewheelers members formed the group “Caravanning Solos” allowing the single dancers to attend couples club dances through the use of a “solo board”, so they did not impose on the married members for partners.  The Caravanning Solos faded out as the other clubs started to welcome singles. 

 

The club’s original caravan outfit for the ladies consists of a turquoise blouse, white skirt, turquoise petticoat, and white shoes.  The men wore dark trousers, a white shirt, and a turquoise tie.  Slightly changing over time, the ladies’ outfit now consists of any combination of turquoise and white for blouse, skirt and slip, with an option for a black skirt.  The men now wear dark trousers, a white shirt with turquoise tie or a turquoise shirt & optional white tie.  Leading the way again, Freewheelers encourage members to wear outfits in support of the dance theme, even when we are caravanning.

As noted above, our original caller was Bob Wright, Jr.  We added Debbie & Paul Taylor as our cuer in 1990 until Debbie’s untimely passing in 2024.  Leo Urquhart cued for a while, and then Randy & Marie Preskitt became our club cuer in the fall of 2024.  In 1995 we added the late Don Wood to our calling team.  In 2002 Don moved on and Roger Spiese joined our calling team.  After Bob's retirement from calling in 2010, guest callers joined Roger calling our dances.  In 2024 Roger reduced his calling schedule, ending his 20+ years with the Freewheelers.  In 2010, Dennis “Spyder” Webb was sought out to teach our classes and call our level dances.  And in 2024 Spyder stepped up to be our club caller, where he alternates calling with guest callers.

 

The last couple years, the Freewheelers have teamed up with the Sky Valley Whirlwinds to offer mainstream classes with Spyder Webb teaching on Thursday nights at the TriWay Grange.

 

The 3rd Sunday of February traditionally has been our President’s Day & Pie Dance.  The club members bring pies, and the club furnishes the ice cream.  We now celebrate the club’s anniversary every June and host an Experienced Clothing Sale at our Student Level Dances.

 

With almost 40 years of history many dancers have joined and moved on or passed away over the years.  Each played a role in maintaining and changing the Freewheelers.  Dancers are welcome to join the Freewheelers on their continuing journey.  

Continuing our innovative ways, the Freewheelers Square Dance Club continues to be a club to change the norm.  Recognizing the need for more plus dances, in 2018 the Freewheelers changed formats to host alternating mainstream and plus dances.  We dance mainstream on the 1st Sunday of the month and plus on the 3rd Sunday.  Every dance begins with higher level pre-rounds from 6:30pm - 7:00pm followed by the dance from 7:00pm - 9:00pm.  On 1st Sundays, we have plus tip after the mainstream dance.  

 

Come dance with a club that doesn’t follow the trends but establishes them.