PASSING OF RICKIT'S HALL

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 193, 7 October 1955, Page 4

PASSING OF RICKIT'S HALL

Built in 1907 by the late Mr Joseph Rickit, one of Taupo's pioneer business men, niainiy as a social centre for his family and other young people of the then tiny village, Rickit's Hall was for over 40 years the scene of all the town's public and social gatherings. Its years of service as a hall terminated on Saturday evening, October 1, with a successful social organised by Mr G. R. Reid, a grandson of the late Mr Rickit, and Mrs Reid, and on Mondav morning the work of converting it into shop premises was begun. Among older residents present was one, Mr Ernest Glass, wlio was present at the dance lield on the opening of the hall, and who referred in a brief speech to the generous way in which the Rickit family had over the years made the hall available for many worthy causes, and to the sentiments of regret that older residents would feel at its closing. Mr Glass recalled that when the hall was built there were only seven buildings in the Main Street. Present at the gathering were two daughters of Mr Joseph Rickit, Miss Fllen Rickit ancl Mrs Olive Story, a son, Mr Toru Rickit, and a number oi grandchildren ancl great-grand-children.