The Tingley Community Building was built right after World War II as a memorial to veterans of that war and housed the theater. The old theater had burned down and the town was in need of such a service. It was built by the town.

Meantime, the community, with civic groups, had been maintaining the old railroad station in the south part of town as a community building. Two such structures seemed a surplus, so they decided to sell one - the old station at auction. The JARRED Construction Co. of Tingley bought it to use as its shop.

The theater had discontinued operation, and except for some storage purposes, it had fallen into little use. In 1968, the town administration, the Lions Club and the American Legion Post remodeled the Community Building.

The theater stage at the north end was lowered and a kitchen installed. A new heating system was installed and hot and cold running water put in, two bathrooms, various paneling work done, etc.

Community meetings from all around are held in the Community Building: American Legion Auxiliary, the Legion, Lions, Boy Scouts, 4-H clubs, etc. The town council holds its meetings there.

Don KINNE, the postmaster, has been named a sort of manager of the operation. He maintains the calendar for using the building. The Lions, American Legion and city help with the upkeep. Groups like the 4-H can use it without charge. It is rented out for other groups. The Tingley Friendship meals are held there three times a week. The hall will hold around 150 to 200 persons seated for a banquet. Tingley is proud of its Community Building.

  SOURCE: Tingley, Iowa Centennial: 1883 - 1983. p. 195. PSI, Inc. Belmond IA. 1983.
Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, September of 2011