The backstory of the 71 Club in Pumpkin Center is probably the most interesting of many interesting stories about nightclubs in Nodaway County. The Club ran from 1938 to 1941 and was in a DX Filling Station. The club offered a very eclectic range, from square dancing and white folks bands to black bands.
Its location was used for dance activities, and I think it was the site of the Pumpkin Center Fox Hunt Association dances (which I believe continued there during its tenure). The venue was often on the police logs for fights and dice gambling escapades in the parking lot. Since adultery was still a crime at the time, that crime inevitably got bundled in the charges. The charges were sometimes dropped on the condition that the violators never return to Nodaway County (I’m not including links to those stories since I don’t know the full details of their depositions).
Here are newspaper stories about the club’s history.
Lease Floor at Pumpkin Center For “71 Club” – The Maryville Daily Forum, June 29, 1938, Page 6. via Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-jones-dance-ch/196080164/
Raleigh Spoor and Ferd McGrane today announced that they will open “No. 71 C.ub” at Pumpkin Center on Saturday. Mr. Spoor, who has been a bulk dealer for the D-X oil company, has resigned to devote his entire time to this new club, which will be open at all hours and feature a dance orchestra and floor shows at least three nights a week. The two local men have leased the Jones dance floor at Pumpkin Center, where they have established the “71 Club.” In addition, gasoline pumps have been installed in front of the hall, and they will operate a service station.
PUMPKIN CENTER “71 CLUB” IS BEING IMPROVED – Nodaway County Tribune, September 29, 1938. https://www.newspapers.com/article/nodaway-county-tribune-71-club-improveme/196079125/.
Plans for further improvement of the “71 Club” at Pumpkin Center are being made by the owners, Rollie Spoor of Pumpkin Center and F. D. McGraine of Maryville. The next item to be worked on is a new ceiling for the dance hall. Decorations have already been put up in the form of flowers and colored paper streamers.
Raleigh Spoor Family To Live in California – The Maryville Daily Forum, February 4, 1939. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-71-club-2/26433196/
Raliegh Spoor announced today that he has sold his interest in the 71 club at Pumpkin Center and has purchased a lunchroom and confectionery in San Bernardino, Calif. Mr. and Mrs. Spoor and children, Milford and Dixie Lee, will move to California in the middle of this month. Mr. Spoor has sold his interest in the 71 club to his partner, Ferd McGrane. Prior to establishing the 71 Club, Mr. Spoor was in the oil and gas business here, being a distributor for the Shell Petroleum Company
ROY LOGAN IS THE NEW MANAGER OF “71” CLUB- The Barnard Bulletin, June 26, 1941. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-barnard-bulletin-logan-new-manager-o/196077589/.
The “71” Club, which is located at Pumpkin Center, is now owned and managed by Roy Logan. Mr. Logan purchased the Club from F. D. McGrane of Maryville. It is reported that Mr. McGrane had left for South Missouri. It is not known what his plans are. The new manager said that he would have an orchestra there each Tuesday and Saturday night. He plans to have colored orchestras on Saturday nights.
71CLUB DISCONTINUED The Maryville Daily Forum, September 22, 1941. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-maryville-daily-forum-71-club-discon/196078056/.
The building housing 71 club at Pumpkin Center. has been soid by Thomas Jones of Maryville to Ben Andrews, owner and operator of the Andrews lumber year at Pumpkin Center. Mr. Androws sari that 71 club will be discontinued
- The 71 Club had the best turnaround time: fill the tank, dance till dawn, and leave with a story the sheriff would never forget.
- They sold DX gasoline and moral ambiguity by the gallon.
- Big-name bands came for the crowd; the crowd came for the chance to see who the sheriff was chasing that night.
- Everyone left with boot-scootin’ feet and a plausible deniability.
- The club was so rural that directions started with “Turn at the scarecrow.”
- Square dances and secret rendezvous: two-step left, and an alibi right.
- The marquee said, “Tonight: Jazz!” The parking lot said, “Tonight: Jury.”
- They advertised free air for your tires and free rumors for your reputation.
- You could get your tank topped off and your reputation emptied in the same visit.
- 71 Club: fill your tank, lose your alibi.
- “The 71 Club was so out in the sticks, the band soundcheck doubled as a tractor’s alarm clock.”
- “They advertised DX gas — what they didn’t add was ‘may cause spontaneous alibis.’”
- “Big-name bands drew crowds; the parking lot drew the county sheriff like moths to a neon sign.”
- “At the 71 Club you learned three things fast: dance steps, drinking songs, and how to dodge questions.”
- “Square dances were orderly until somebody’s spouse showed up — then it became a new kind of caller.”
- “They sold gasoline and gossip in equal measure; both went for a dollar and a story.”
- “People drove hours to hear jazz and left with an unplanned subplot.”
- “The marquee promised music; the parking lot promised consequences.”
- “If you wanted a romantic duet, 71 Club had it — if you wanted a courtroom duet, same place.”
- “You could fill your tank and your tab for scandal in one stop.”
- “Directions to the club: turn left at the church, right at the barn, and if you see an argument, you’re there.”
- “They closed in ’41 — rumor is the last fight ran until rationing started.”
- “The 71 Club’s playlist: swing, blues, and whatever song someone used to explain themselves to the sheriff.”
- Out in the middle of nowhere with a front-row seat to somebody’s drama.
- Gasoline, gumbo, and guilty glances.
- They advertised music; the headlines wrote themselves.
- One-stop shop: fill your tank, empty your marriage.
- Bands drew crowds; dice drew deputies.
- Come for the rhythm, stay for the rumor mill.
- 1938–1941: three years of great music and questionable decisions.