Last dance for Polka Days?

Ballroom property for sale

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

GIBBON -- The heat and humidity were oppressive outside but the music and mood was light and airy inside as the 34th Annual Gibbon Polka Days began Wednesday at the Gibbon Ballroom.

Dozens of large recreation vehicles dotted the 12-acre property site as the sound of the Marv Nissel Band of New Ulm wafted out of the Boom Room.

Polka lovers flocked to a good-sized salad bar and savored strawberry and lemon pies in the air-conditioned Pumpernickel Room. Dancers dominated the Main Ballroom and Boom Room.

Avon farmer and truck driver Elmer Maciejewski and his dancing partner, Dolly Sicora of Delano took to the Boom Room dance floor.

"We love to dance. She'll dance 10 to 12 hours a day. She just never wears out," Maciejewski said, referring to Sicora.

The realization that this year may be the final Gibbon Polka Days was sobering to him. He's been coming to the event for about 20 years.

"I wish it wouldn't close," Maciejewski said. "It's sad. It used to be such a big party here. It was unbelievable. If I win the lottery, I'll buy the place. I keep hoping."

Sicora echoed his feelings.

"It's got good bands, good floors and good partners. It's a great place," she said. "Dancing is good exercise. It's too bad more young people don't do it."

Ballroom owner Dick Seeboth of New Ulm said operating the facility has been a family affair for five years. However, the facility is for sale.

In hopes of a new owner continuing the event, the ballroom is taking booth reservations for 2005 to encourage a new buyer.

For this week's affair, booths are sold out for Friday and Saturday but there is plenty of overflow room in both ballrooms. The main ballroom seats 1,200 and nearly 800 can fit in the Boom Room.

Seeboth, who is also a Brown County Commissioner and member of New Ulm's Concord Singers, said his family has enjoyed making many loyal friends at Polka Days.

"Our customers are very loyal. They always come back," Seeboth said. "We hope everybody interested comes out and participates in this year's event."

Perhaps a sign on an RV parked in the Gibbon Ballroom parking lot said it best: "Old friends never die, they just polka away."

Meanwhile, Gibbon continues to grow around the ballroom. Seeboth is developing a 6-acre subdivision of residential and commercial lots nearby. A medical fabrication plant in Gibbon plans to expand, making Gibbon property even more attractive, pushing up land values.

Sharon Seeboth said she hopes the next ballroom owners will continue Polka Days, which is she called a slice of Americana.

Many avid dancers told Seeboth that this year's event has the best-ever band schedule. Music runs continuously from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Saturday and till 7 p.m. Sunday.

New bands this year include Chuck Thiel and the Jolly Ramblers, Julie Lee and the White Rose Band, Dale Dahmen and the Polka Beats, Craig Ebel and Dyversaco and Ray Sands and the Polka Dots.

Other standbys are Becky and the Ivanhoe Dutchmen, the Leon Olsen Show, Gary's Ridgeland Dutchmen, the Top Notchmen, Rhythm Playboys, and Wee Willie.

Fritz Busch can be reached at (fbusch@nujournal.com)