All Fuller wanted was a place with free restrooms and recreational facilities for youths, adults and families. Rumor has it, growing up he had to pay to use the restroom in Chicago.

Fuller’s vision dates back to 1929, when he had a dream of building a community center in Webster City. He stated this in his will drafted by attorney Max M. Hemingway. In his will, he established a trust to oversee the funds used for construction.

Fuller wanted this community center to have the following: a gymnasium for public gatherings and athletic events, a swimming pool, an area for banquets, including a kitchen, and a place to conduct meetings. It would be a center for all ages. Fuller had a passion for children and wanted to make sure children of disadvantaged people who could not pay were able to use the facility at no charge.

Fred Fuller died in 1932, and his wife, Minnie, in 1953. It was then that the Fred M. Fuller Hall Trustees were formed to oversee the construction of Fuller Hall.

—Daily Freeman Journal photo by Kolleen Taylor
Playing basketball after school in the Fuller Hall gymnasium are Jeremy Rachu, with his son Macklin Rachu and Henry Rolffs.

In 1956, Fred Fuller’s dream became a reality and the Fuller Recreational Hall was built.

In 2002, approximately 47 years after Fuller Hall was opened, a huge renovation project was completed. Fuller Hall was made an ADA-accessible building. Yes, Fuller Hall has an elevator. This project also included in the lower level, a 25-meter indoor swimming pool, fitness room for cardiovascular workouts, and a strengthening-weight conditioning room. Both rooms have up-to-date equipment. There are locker rooms as well.

On the main floor you will find the Sampson multipurpose room. This modern meeting room includes a kitchenette, and is equipped for technology presentations. It also hosts a very active, dedicated BASE — Balance, Aerobic, Strength and Endurance — exercise group that meets three times a week.

Fuller Hall also has a game area on the main floor that consists of pool tables, ping pong, shuffleboard and air hockey. There is also a television lounge.

It is a hot spot after school for many kids and is a safe haven for them. You can feel the energy of the kids as you enter the building. The hustle and bustle of kids shooting pool, dribbling basketballs and meeting up with friends keeps the facility a favorite for students and parents. There are also many special afterschool activities planned. It is not a quiet place.

During the morning, there is an indoor park so little kids can come play and burn off energy with their parents. There is a cost for this, but it is well worth it.

Adults come and go, getting their workouts in. There are several ways to pay for the use of the facilities. A punch card or pass can be purchased to use the facilities. Whether it is in the cardio room, weightlifting room or swimming laps, aquasize or Zumba aquasize in the pool. In the summer the indoor pool is closed for maintenance and the outdoor pool is open for lap swimming, swim lessons, swim team and pool parties. This is also supervised by Fuller Hall staff.

Fuller Hall is the center for recreational activities for both adults and kids. Pickleball is played at Fuller Hall as well as at East Twin Park. The employees create activities for kids. This is where all seasonal recreation is born. Kids’ softball leagues, tennis lessons, swimming lessons, basketball teams, volleyball teams, track, flag football and more. Through these programs, kids learn the fundamentals of sports, good sportsmanship and how to have fun.

There are fees to swim at Fuller and to register for the various youth sports leagues. The staff at Fuller are constantly planning on how to keep kids active and involved as well as adults.

The Fred M. Fuller Hall Trust members continue to look to the future with vision and hope to add an additional gym (or gyms) and a walking track.

Thank you Fred Fuller for making your dream come true. Webster City is very blessed to have Fuller Hall Recreational Center.

Anne Kness is a member of the Fuller Hall Trustees. She is a retired teacher who lives in Webster City.