Business cards and dance tickets left behind at Finn Hall in Hockinson. The years on these cards and tickets go all the way back to 1934.
Since purchasing the old Hockinson hall for $490,000, Heritage Bible Church has been working with Clark County officials to get the 86-year-old building up to code. Plans are in place to turn the longtime dance hall into a church. Pastor Tim Copper hopes to have a grand reopening sometime in the spring of 2019.
Finn Hall in Hockinson has stood the test of time for 86 years. After hosting dances, weddings, parties and other community celebrations for the United Finnish Kaleva Brothers & Sisters when it opened in 1932, the 8,500-square-foot building is now the new home of Heritage Bible Church.
“They built this well to last,” said Heritage Bible Church Pastor Tim Copper. “The building is representative of the kind of thing you find in this community. There’s foundations around here. Let’s hope it’s here for another 100 years.”
Cooper started Heritage Bible Church 25 years ago. It has operated out of Firm Foundation Christian School in Battle Ground for the past 10 years. During that time, members have been looking for a place to call their own. Once Finn Hall went up for sale in 2016, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Heritage Bible purchased it for $490,000.
Copper and company have been working with Clark County officials ever since. For starters, they had to get the old building up to code by installing a new sprinkler system, staircases, exits and fire alarms.
“The county staff has done a good job of making sure this is going to be a safe building but also allowing its restoration,” Copper said. “Without their approval, this wouldn’t have happened. A lot of people have gone the extra mile to make this work. They wanted to see the building be preserved and continue to serve the community. The only other option was to tear it down.”
Although the building has new parking spots and a gate on the outside, there is still a lot of work to be done on the inside. Copper hopes to have a grand reopening some time in the spring.
“My goal is to have a place of gathering for families to worship, but also have it available for our community as much as possible,” Copper said. “There’s a heritage here. This place has been a staple for the community. We’re members of the community. We’ll see how it works.”
For more information about Heritage Bible Church, visit hbcwa.com.
