Phantom of the Frog Hop

PHANTOM OF THE FROG HOP Prologue Who would have dreamed that the finest ball room in the American Midwest would be built in Saint Joseph, Missouri in the nineteen twenties? At the time, Saint Joseph was the third largest city in the state of Missouri after Saint Louis and Kansas City. Population was about 80,000, with its growth and progress evident, but not remarkable, dating back to the latter part of the nineteenth century. Earlier in 1859 a rail line, largely financed by the state of Missouri, was completed across northern Missouri terminating at the settlement first called Blacksnake Hills but soon wisely renamed Saint Joseph. At that time the population was estimated at about 9,000 homesteaders. It soon was assumed that influential government officials, and certain political leaders agreed , that the rail line should follow the river south to Kansas City instead of crossing the Missouri River at Saint Joseph. The young community lacked the requisite politically powerful personages to mandate that the railroad push west across the river at that location. Despite this, the city became the premier municipality in northern Missouri. Its trade territory soon extended well beyond Buchanan County where it quickly became the county seat. The city’s businesses and industries found regular patrons as far north as the Iowa line a hundred miles away and more than twice that distance east, and also west across the river (via primitive ferries) into Kansas. Saint Joseph shared the trade territory to the south with Kansas City which was figured to be a little more than fifty miles away. The people living in and around the city of Saint Joseph were industrious and resourceful. Most reflected the genteel, friendly good manners of their forebears who had migrated to northwest Missouri from the mid south states of Kentucky and Tennessee. Also, not a few foreign immigrants found St. Joseph a fertile place to put down roots. Many hailed from the British Iles, Germany and northern Europe. For instance, two of this author’s ancestors emigrated from Scotland and settled in the environs of Saint Joseph in the year 1869. So how did that city acquire a ball room? The miracle happened because in the mid nineteen twenties there lived a man named Frank A. Frogge residing beyond the east city limits of Saint Joseph who was possessed of such a dream. Actually it was his enthusiasm, resources and drive that made the project become a fait accompli. Solely with the force of his often eccentric, rough and tumble, “don’t take no for an answer” personae , Frogge designed and built the huge ballroom. He had the concept but he also did a little research. Along with two close confidantes, Frogge chose to visit important ballrooms in Kansas City, Chicago and Des Moines, Iowa. He had also heard of a Democratic Party convention that took place in Houston, Texas in an enormous hall. He traveled to Houston in 1928 and learned that the structure there boasted what was called a Lamella roof which could shelter an area of 160 by 200 square feet of space. Most importantly, by using the Lamella roof design, his proposed ballroom would not require any pillars or columns for support, allowing most of that space for the dance floor. Frogge, (pronounced using the long “o”) who actually liked to be called “Frog,” was a truck gardener, hauler, owner of a construction company and, most importantly, a visionary /entrepreneur. By the mid- twenties he had sired eleven children and apparently provided a good living for the large family all of whom supported him in this new endeavor. With the advent of the early swing music era, Frank knew Saint Joseph needed a nice ballroom that would attract the bands and dancers, as he loved the new swing music. Thus he set about to build his dream. Locating the site involved give and take with family and close friends. But Frogge owned some land where Pickett Road joins what became the Belt Highway, outside the city limits of Saint Joseph. That plot of land would be commodious enough for the ballroom, an attached restaurant and vehicle parking. However there would be no available water, and electricity was not totally reliable. But the nearby flowing spring could be enlarged to supply ample water and a generator would be built to provide sufficient electrical power. Ambience was also enhanced by the existence of a nearby orchard. With these decisions finalized, that very site was chosen and the first stakes were soon driven prior to preparing the foundation. Summoning the local expert craftsmen required to lay the widely praised floor, was one of his first fortuitous moves. Decorating the interior was an amalgam of brain storming ideas. The colors chosen were appropriately muted neutral shades. Years later the decorating included the “trademark” silver leaves, a clever idea unequaled anywhere else at that time. The visual impact was striking as the decorative leaves seemed to be shimmering in a breeze above the heads of the dancers. From the beginning, name bands who were booked to play for the crowds unanimously declared that the acoustics from the bandstand were absolutely perfect. Nearing the final stages of construction Frank had not yet chosen an appropriate name for his brain child. After various suggestions were advanced, he settled on using his “nickname” of Frog which would be combined with that local ubiquitous hopping amphibian . Thus the new venture would be called The Frog Hop Ballroom..... Frogge and a close friend whom he had named on-site manager of the ballroom set their sights aiming for a grand opening on the night of December 31st,1928.... New Year’s Eve. The opening night band had been signed: Claude Bruce’s Troubadours. For several weeks in advance, advertising appeared in the Saint Joseph News Press announcing the New Year’s Eve dance at the new “$50,000 Frog Hop Ballroom.” By nine o’clock that night the room was packed. With the beginning strains of the mellow music, the Frogges proudly led the first dancers onto the floor.