HAMLET – Sunday, September 23 was the Open House for the new Lakeside Venue (the former VFW) on Boyd Lake Road in Hamlet.
Guests filled the bar area and spilled out onto the screened porch and throughout the reception hall. The consensus among attendees was stated best by Linda Bayless: “This is so pretty!”
Barbara Cato gave her opinion of the new appearance of the building: “It is going to be a wonderful place. I’m real proud of her (Jo Jenkins).”
The building that served honorably as the former Hamlet VFW has been renovated by new owners Jo and Donald Jenkins as an event venue for weddings, receptions, reunions and parties in general.
Paying homage to the military history of the building are related photos, certificates and posters on display throughout the space.
Van McDuffie was in attendance at the Open House, pointing to a picture of his brother who was killed in action in Korea. Van is retired from the Army and National Guard and was the first commander of the National Guard in Hamlet in the 1970s. He is glad to see the former VFW get “freshened up” so it can continue to be useful to the community.
Pam Dillman and her husband Paul were enthusiastic about the facility and its possibilities for use as well. Pam said that at one time there was a mural, painted by Paul Hartgrove, on the far wall of the reception hall. It was a very realistic mural of a battle scene with airplanes overhead and soldiers in combat. There is wood paneling covering the walls now so it’s uncertain whether the mural remains underneath.
The history of the building, the alluring view of City Lake, and the aesthetically pleasing décor of the interior would seem to confirm this to be a successful venture by Jo and Donald as the new owners of the facility.
To learn details about the availability of the space, pricing for events, or to schedule a tour, email lakeside.venue@outlook.com or call (910) 434-6191.
