The Kettle Squares was organized in 1975 by a group of teachers. Dorothy Willers, a gym teacher, and Wayne Havey, a Sheboygan Falls High School teacher/later principal, wanted to form a club of square dancers. Starting out with an introductory set of lessons at the Sheboygan Falls Elementary & Middle School gym, with caller Ralph Everson of Two Rivers as the instructor, a good share of the participants were teachers. As the 11 couples became more interested, they formed the Kettle Squares.

​

In square dance clubs, unless a member is single, offices are held by couples. Therefore, Don and Janet Klemme were elected the first presidents. Long-time charter members of the club included Evelyn and Wayne Havey, Roland and Veronica Gilles, Don and Mary Ann Otte, Gary and Judy Henderson, Klemmes, and Tom and Pat Pibal.

​

The club grew to include members from virtually every walk of life and with it grew each dancer's circle of friends and acquaintances. And with that in mind, square dancing lends itself ideally to a celebration: the dancers are a party waiting to happen. Over the years that the club has been in existence, the Kettle Squares have danced at countless anniversaries, weddings and birthdays. The club has attended sad occasions as well, such as funerals, where of course, nobody danced.

​

The club has danced in several halls: the Croatian Hall in Sheboygan, Lyceum Hall in Plymouth, the Plymouth YMCA, and mostly at the following schools in Plymouth: Fairview Elementary, the cafeteria in Plymouth High, and at Riverview Middle, with occasional dances at Parkview and Horizon Elementary Schools. Beginning in July 2021, the club began renting the fellowship hall at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Plymouth.

​

The club has kept active in the community with a float in parades, and doing exhibition dancing at occasional special events. One of the former members, Frieda Heckmann, led our group for a number of years at nursing homes in the Sheboygan County area. We danced an exhibition from records, and she did simple calls for square dancing with the residents in wheelchairs. The residents loved getting pushed around in a square by dancers and volunteers.

​

Various aspects of square dancing have changed in recent years and can be seen at our club's dances. Women's attire now includes longer, more comfortable prairie skirts, as well as occasionally slacks. The music is a mix of country, rock n roll and contemporary songs that are upbeat and easy to dance to. Also square dancing is seen as a form of aerobic exercise that can be enjoyed by young and old, married or single.

​

What hasn't changed is the fun reflected in smiles and laughter throughout an evening of dancing.