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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1980-04-23, Page 39To the Members Of R.E. POOLEY BRANCH 167, ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION on your 50th ANNIVERSARY We appreciate your work in the community. imaiKONGSEILDAINIM111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111•111111111111 U.S. A. Branches 247 Saturn Dnver 1800 N Grand River Ontario Memphis. Tennessee 38109 Lansing Mpehigan 48906 19011 396.5866 1517) 489.7136 Star Route 1924 Cement)/ Drive P 0 Box 24 Davenport .lowa 52802 Pocatello Idaho 83201 1319)3216895 1208)232.4501 Other Subsidiary Companies Germany - Holland - Great Britain - France - Austria - Sweden - Italy - Finland - Brazil - Australia Canada: Head Office Konoskilde Limited P 0 Box 888 Exeter (519) 235.0840 Telex 064-5818 Parent Company Sore. Denmark DRUMHEAD SERVICE — As part of the Exeter centennial celebration, a drumhead service was held at the community park in 1973. Rev. George Anderson is shown addressing the members of 'the Legion in front of the grandstand. T-A Legion Special, April 23, 1980 Page 7 Hall extensively renovate m. d in percent of the total cost'for furniture, and 33 1/3 percent for all other items men- tioned. The total grant was an amount of $35,896.02, The Provincial Coats of Arms which are to be seen hanging in the auditorium were donated by our good friend, our-former Federal Member of Parliament, and photographs of Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip were donated by another good friend and member of the Branch. Other renovations carried 1977 Continued from page 6 have been held to be sacred, and by long standing tradition, Regimental Drums like Colours were consecrated and bore Battle Honours. For an open-air service the drums are "stacked" and draped with the Colours to form the altar table. To lose its drums in battle was held to be as humiliating as its was to lose its Colours[ The interest in the band began to wane in the seventies, and while some of its formed members are active elsewhere, this band like many others in the area, no longer exists. The Legion Hall has been the scene of many banquets, many of ' which have been outstanding because of their special significance. One such banquet was held on September the 11th 1970 to celebrate the '25th an- niversary of the Liberation of Holland. The hosts on that occasion were area citizens of Dutch origin, and the guests of honour were members of the branch. It was a most 'memorable occasion, one which was long remembered by those so honoured and especially by those who took part in the liberation. On this note the seventies are entered. The last major addition and alteration to be made to the Legion Hall was' com- menced in 1972 and com- pleted in 1973. The north- west entrance to the lower level was changed to permit a larger entrance hall, and a stairway up to the foyer of the auditorium. The original kitchen and secretary's office was eliminated —and replaced by the executive board room. Encouraged by a generous donation made by the Ladies Auxiliary who were in- terested in having their kitchen enlarged, an ex- tension measuring 12 feet by 72 feet was added to the rear of the building. The present parking lot to the north and which had been1previously rented, was purchased in 1975 and paved in the fall of 1976. Attention- was now turned to renovations and repairs to the building, and would be carried out over the next two years. The auditorium was repaneled, new lighting was installed, and a new floor was laid. A new Ladies Canteen was added, the foyer and cloak room repanelled, and toilet facilities remodelled. New tables and chairs were also purchased shortly thereafter. During August of 1977 when this work was in progress, an application was made to the Provincial Government for a Wintario Non-Capital Grant, with the support of-,our Federal and Provincial members of ' Parliament. As a result of this application the Branch received a very considerable grant from this fund. It was received in three part payments, and was applied to the following expenses. The total renovation of the auditorium etc and which included the electrical heating, the recoating of the exterior of the building, garbage room, floodlights, parking lot and new fur- niture. The grant represented 50 out at this time include the men's room, pool room, electric heating and new furniture; these ex- penditures, not -being in- cluded, with those qualifying for a Wintario grant, The Legion Hall can truly be said to be a community hall, and prior to the erection of the South Huron Recreational Centre it was the only one within the community. Over the years it has been made available to innumerable organizations, service organizations some have paid a nominal fee, others none. The auditorium has been used for approximately 15 years as a Provincial Court Room, and for a number of years the 5th Small Claims Court was held in the Ladies Auxiliary Room. The parking lot is open to the public for parking, and is used by the Department of Transportation and Com- munications when testing motorcyclists for their licences. One of the worst storms to hit this area in many years occurred in February of 1973, and a number of per- sons from the Essex County area found shelter in the hall and were provided with warm refreshments. Shortly thereafter. the hall was the scene of another Dutch-Canadian evening, on this occasion they were the guests at a dance and smorgasbord. It was also the year that Exeter celebrated its Centennial Year, and the branch joined with all other Please turn to page 10