April 9, 2021

New exhibit on Bands, and features items from The Rustic Tavern

Dance Floor at The Rustic

Dance Floor at The Rustic

The Dubois County Museum is hosting a party on April 15, 2021, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. ET, at the museum, with the special opening of an exhibit for those who loved The Rustic Tavern (and Dance Hall).
This will be the  Once a Month Free Night, which we call Third Thursday.

The Rustic was located on Jasper’s Northwest side.

On display will be part of the unique bar that graced The Rustic. This right side was salvaged from the fire that destroyed the building and operation in January 1980. The Gary and Brendan Aders family had recused the bar and have recently donated it to the museum. The exhibit can also be viewed during the museum’s normal operating hours.

The Rustic opened its doors on July 4, 1933 in the woods on State Road 45-56. It operated as a dance hall, roller skating rink, wedding reception venue and convention center. It was later known as the Sportsman Club and the Legion Club Canteen. It was originally operated by Hilbert Fritch and Cyril “Toots” and Christine Haller. When it was destroyed by fire in 1980 the owners were Donald “Marty” Vogler and Virgil Mathies. The popular venue for youth saw the place as a hangout for dances, weddings, music, big name entertainers through the 30’s, the 40’s, the 50’s, the 60’s and the 70’s. It was also notorious for fights and underage drinking. In one famous raid by excise and state police in December of 1971, 60 people were arrested for numerous counts of possession of alcohol, underage possession, and carrying in alcohol. A school bus was borrowed from Washington to transport the offenders.

The museum invites you to visit the museum this evening ( April 15, 2021) and reminisce about those times spent at the Rustic.

Also on display are a collection of articles about the Rustic, names of bands that played in the area, and band instruments from that era.

Rustic building

The Rustic building

Rustic bar

The bar at the Rustic

For additional information contact:

Kathy Bachman, Publicity Committee Telephone: 812.482.2074 — Email: [email protected]