The Folk Circle Association is housed in the Russel Acton Folk Recreation Center in Berea, Kentucky. It began with the generosity of Russel Acton of Danville, Illinois who was a regular attendee of events sponsored by the Berea College Recreation Extension program. In 1985, Acton made an offer to the dance community of Berea to provide partial funding for the construction of a center for traditional folk dance. The Folk Circle Association was organized to accept the funds, raise additional funds, manage the project, and continue fulfilling Russel Acton’s dream of providing the community a place to enjoy folk dance and other recreational opportunities. Click Here to learn more about the construction of the Russel Acton Folk Recreation Center!

Even before the Folk Circle Association was formed, Berea College and the larger community had many folk recreation opportunities. Most were organized through the Berea College Recreation Extension Program. Many of the activities were semi-autonomous with separate Boards or Policy Committees (e.g. Mountain Folk Festival, Christmas Country Dance School, Danish-American Exchange, Berea College Alumni Country Dancers, Folk School Association of America). There was a clear need for a separate organization and facility to develop and market folk recreation events in Berea beyond the capabilities of Berea College. Russel Acton’s donation made this feasible.

The director of the Berea College Recreation Extension Program during this time was Dr. John M. Ramsay; he was in contact with Mr. Acton. Dr. Ramsay was elected President of the new Folk Circle Association. This allowed full cooperation and support between the Folk Circle Association and the Berea College Recreation Extension Program. The association was formed in December, 1985. Its members immediately began developing plans for the building, raising money, and generating community awareness of the upcoming project.

To express his appreciation and love for the Berea dance programs and to further develop Berea as an internationally known center of folk dance, Mr. Acton pledged $100,000 to the Folk Circle Association and also offered to match additional money generated by Folk Circle Association fundraising. The Folk Circle Association fundraisers generated over $20,000, which meant that Russel Acton’s monetary contribution to building the Center totaled over $120,000. John M. Ramsay, William R. Ramsay (at that time Berea College Dean of Labor and Student Life), and R. B. Davis traveled to Danville to see Mr. Acton, who was hospitalized for treatment of terminal cancer. Arrangements were made for additional funds to purchase a residence adjoining the property which was being considered for the actual Center. The Committee and Mr. Acton realized the importance of program funds in addition to construction funds if the project was to be successful. (The meeting with Mr. Acton was recorded on audio cassette and is archived in the Folk Circle office.).

In 1986, plans were submitted to the city. Through a flurry of correspondence between Dean William (Bill) Ramsey, Mayor Cliff Kirby, various inspectors, and the president of Berea College, plans were adjusted and fine-tuned and finally approved. The city of Berea provided the land on lease for the Center. A design committee was organized and met at Ogleby State Park in West Virginia to draft original plans for the building. Dr. Ramsay was eager to have an octagonal building which would give the most floorspace for the amount of materials. Mr. Acton encouraged the use of logs such as those at Ogleby. John Grossman sketched out the four clever, 24-foot square log rooms on alternate walls of the central octagonal dance floor. The Folk Circle Association chose Peter Gott, master log cabin builder and folk musician, to build the log portion of the facility. A log building course was offered in which registrants paid to construct one of the cabins.

The building stands today as a beautiful reminder of the generosity of Russel Acton and the dedication and perseverance of the Berea dance community. The logs that make up the walls are aged and dark. The floor is well-worn with years of dancing and other events. The roof, once brand new eastern cedar, has settled into a weathered gray. The dance hall is a landmark in Berea, and it is used for many community and private events.

The Folk Circle Association and its member groups continue to sponsor events, programs, dances and dance workshops in the 3,000 square foot dance hall. Many of these events would be impossible without the Russel Acton Folk Center. The building allows the FCA to continually find ways to enrich the community of Berea though traditional folk dance and other forms of folk recreation.

More History information to come!!!