A BRIEF HISTORY OF 40 YEARS
In 1972, there was only one Sussex County club in the Northern New Jersey Square Dancers Association. Caller Dick Pasvolsky taught the class for that club, Sussex Spinners, and thought it would be good to have at least one more club in the county.
Dick and his wife, Joanne, met with some members of Sussex Spinners to begin a new club. Terry and Bill Armstrong, Judy and Emmett Evans, Betsy and Ed Hull, and Hazel and Andy Lertora chose the name Kittatinny Rangers and designed a badge. “Kittatinny” comes from a Lenape Native American word, Kitahtëne, meaning “endless hill” or “great mountain.” Thus the club’s name is a tribute to the mountain range that traverses Sussex County.
The principal of Stillwater School, George Anderson, was a friend of Dick’s. With his permission, Dick began teaching classes in the school on Monday, September 18, 1972. On Wednesday, September 27, 1972, the first dance was held there as well. The first class of 17 students graduated in June 1973.
Living and dancing in the country had some challenges. “Driving in all kinds of weather through the woods to Stillwater School was memorable,” recalled Dick. Joanne remembered once sliding into a ditch on an icy road.
On April 30, 1973, the club adopted its first bylaws. In 1974, Kittatinny Rangers became a member of the Northern New Jersey Square Dancers Association. (Since the disbanding of Sussex Spinners in 1993, Kittatinny has been the only square dance club in Sussex County.)
Dick Pasvolsky was the club’s main caller and teacher for nine years. Subsequent club callers were Bob Tarrant, Dick Lighthipe, Lewis Jewell, and Ted Knauss. Eventually, in place of a club caller, Kittatinny Rangers began featuring different callers throughout the season.
The club also offered round dancing in the 1970s and 1980s. The first cuers were Jesse and Jean Elrod, followed by Peg and Joe Dockry and then Al and Gale Spinks.
Kittatinny Rangers became incorporated on October 26, 1981. The club’s 10th anniversary gala was held on October 30, 1982 at the First United Methodist Church in Newton.
Currently, classes are held at Halsted School in Newton on Tuesdays and the club dances at Florence Burd School in Andover (Newton) on second and fourth Fridays.
Thank you to all the club officers, members, callers, cuers, and visitors who have made Kittatinny Rangers a vibrant club for 40 years.
In 1972, there was only one Sussex County club in the Northern New Jersey Square Dancers Association. Caller Dick Pasvolsky taught the class for that club, Sussex Spinners, and thought it would be good to have at least one more club in the county.
Dick and his wife, Joanne, met with some members of Sussex Spinners to begin a new club. Terry and Bill Armstrong, Judy and Emmett Evans, Betsy and Ed Hull, and Hazel and Andy Lertora chose the name Kittatinny Rangers and designed a badge. “Kittatinny” comes from a Lenape Native American word, Kitahtëne, meaning “endless hill” or “great mountain.” Thus the club’s name is a tribute to the mountain range that traverses Sussex County.
The principal of Stillwater School, George Anderson, was a friend of Dick’s. With his permission, Dick began teaching classes in the school on Monday, September 18, 1972. On Wednesday, September 27, 1972, the first dance was held there as well. The first class of 17 students graduated in June 1973.
Living and dancing in the country had some challenges. “Driving in all kinds of weather through the woods to Stillwater School was memorable,” recalled Dick. Joanne remembered once sliding into a ditch on an icy road.
On April 30, 1973, the club adopted its first bylaws. In 1974, Kittatinny Rangers became a member of the Northern New Jersey Square Dancers Association. (Since the disbanding of Sussex Spinners in 1993, Kittatinny has been the only square dance club in Sussex County.)
Dick Pasvolsky was the club’s main caller and teacher for nine years. Subsequent club callers were Bob Tarrant, Dick Lighthipe, Lewis Jewell, and Ted Knauss. Eventually, in place of a club caller, Kittatinny Rangers began featuring different callers throughout the season.
The club also offered round dancing in the 1970s and 1980s. The first cuers were Jesse and Jean Elrod, followed by Peg and Joe Dockry and then Al and Gale Spinks.
Kittatinny Rangers became incorporated on October 26, 1981. The club’s 10th anniversary gala was held on October 30, 1982 at the First United Methodist Church in Newton.
Currently, classes are held at Halsted School in Newton on Tuesdays and the club dances at Florence Burd School in Andover (Newton) on second and fourth Fridays.
Thank you to all the club officers, members, callers, cuers, and visitors who have made Kittatinny Rangers a vibrant club for 40 years.