HOLYROOD — For many years now, Holyrood’s American Legion building has attracted generations of polka dancers. Times were especially good when performer Barefoot Becky Livermore was at the microphone, fingers flying across the keys of her familiar accordion.

The music stopped in June after strong winds wrecked the metal buildings, also a community gathering place for wedding receptions, reunions, senior citizen meals and other events.

Legion commander Gary Wilkens and others in this Ellsworth County community of fewer than 500, hope to hear the music again. They just need a plan.

Wilkens said a meeting has been scheduled for this week to talk about the future. Representatives from local civic organizations, the Smoky Hill Development Corporation and other groups have been invited to participate.

The current 1940s-era building is past saving and will be torn down as soon as it is inspected for asbestos and other potential problems, Wilkens said.

That will leave American Legion members with an empty lot on the edge of downtown.

“We’re going to try to make it a corporation thing for the whole community,” Wilkens said.

He said the legion doesn’t have the resources to make that happen. Holyrood has about 35 members, six to eight of whom are active. Wilkens has been commander since 2013.

Insurance on the existing legion hall is enough to pay for clearing the lot with a little left over to help build a new building.

As a result, legion members, who say they are willing to donate the land for a community building, have reached out to others with an interest in Holyrood.

The original damage happened the Monday after Memorial Day and several days later the roof collapsed when another strong gust of wind hit the building.

Fortunately, flags and important documents and collectibles were saved.

Meanwhile, the senior citizen meals — which had been served Mondays through Fridays at the legion building — were moved into the basement of Holyrood’s United Church of Christ.

Wilkens said members of the Ellsworth American Legion have offered to give Barefoot Becky and her Ivanhoe Dutchmen from Iowa a home by providing a place for the polka dances.

He said that might work on a temporary basis; however, “some day we hope to be back in that mode, but we don’t know when.”

Wilson also has offered assistance. Holyrood’s American Legion had Becky booked Jan. 18. She now plans to play for an afternoon dance at Wilson’s Catholic Parish Center.

Steve Dlabal of Wilson said he called Becky about performing at the 2020 After Harvest Czech Festival, as she has in the past, when the discussion turned to the Holyrood dance in January.

Dlabal, who met his wife, Carmel, 42 years ago at a dance in Holyrood, said he expects Becky and her band to return to Holyrood when another building is available. At the same time, he hopes to bring her to Wilson. She already has agreed to perform at the the 2020 Czech Festival, at a dance and also at a Saturday afternoon polka mass.