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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-11-23, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1988. PAGE 13. Belgrave Wl Hall marks 1OOth anniversary Cutting the cake was only one of the special events scheduled for the celebration of the Belgrave Women’s Institute Hall’s 100th anniversary on November 15, which saw a large crowd of both W.I. and Canadian Foresters out to eqjoy the event. Above, long-time members Norman Coultes, Sarah Anderson and Laurence Taylor were chosen to cut the anniversary cake. The Institute held its November meeting in the form of a birthday celebration for the 100 years of the hall. The Foresters built and owned the hall for 80 years and the Institute owned it for the past 20 years. Mrs. James Hunter read a poem she composed for the celebration. The roll call “An event or happening in connection with the hall that stands out in your memory’ ’ was answered by the members and visitors recalling the oyster suppers, school fair concerts and music festivals and many other events that happened in the hall. There was a display of old deeds and pictures of concerts, put on in the hall throughout the years. Forester’s water glasses, badges and pins were also on display. FORESTERS HALL BELGRAVE 1888-1988 If the walls of this hall could only talk we would notfind it so difficult to tell you the history of its origin and the important part it has played in this community. Records of the Foresters have been burned; at least the secretary’s books. In August 1880 a group of men applied for a charter which they received on January 1, 1881. The Charter formed Court Belgrave No. 48 of the Canadian Order of Foresters of Ontario. There were 17 charter members. The Foresters Hall was built in 1888 in Mo^iis Township, in the village of Belgrave on part of lot one on the rourth concession. This land had been bought for $35 from William McRea of Morris Township and held iu trust by these men: Robert Sterling, a carriage maker of Morris Township; William Wight­ man, a farme” of East Wawanosh; Duncan Robertson, a farmer of East Wawanosh. The hall was completed by a sign on,the front v.'nd a deer head in the hall in 1889. This was the meeting place of the Court Belgrave No. 48 of the Canadian Order of Foresters which had a total membership of 74 in 1893. Later it seemed that this hall was not large enough for all the concerts, social events, etc. as their records show and they bought more land to the north of the hall, an additional 30 x 87 foot section on July 18, 1912 from Knox Presbyterian Church (now the United Church). This land was registered in a deed with William Wightman, Robert McRea and John Hopper as joint tenants and as trustees of Court Belgrave No. 48 of the Canadian Order of Foresters. The land cost $30. Representing the church as trus­ tee were: Peter Wilson Scott.; David Alexander Dunbar and William Wightman, all of East Wawanosh; George Procter and Adam Halliday, both of Morris. The addition was built to the north side of the hall by contractors George Procter and W.G. Geddes. A basement was dug, a furnace installed and a large stage built about three feet above the floor level. They put up a beautifully decorated canvass type curtain Hand-painted curtain decorated stage which was attached to rollers and woundupanddownby means of a crankand ropes. The curtain was used until 1954 when the Women’s Institute bought track and material from parts of the proceeds of the Musical Comedy “Happiness Ahead”. The ladies made the green curtains and presented them to the Foresters Hall. The cost of building the addition was $700. During the first World War the Foresters Hall was alive with many activities and social events. Patriotic concerts were put on to raise money for war work. The Red Cross, the Farmer’s Institute or Club as well as the Foresters all met in the hall. The ladies and men of the Farmers’ Club met in the hall to play carpet ball similar to our bowling. In 1918 the Foresters made a special effort to pay off their debt and held an Irish and Scottish concert with a competition to see which could put on the better concert. Nobody rememberswhichwonbutDr. Harry Kirby (veterinary) told many tales of the wonderful talent presented. Volunteers from the community would split into two opposite sides and each prepare a programme of flamboyant nationalistic entertain­ ment. At the concert they would in turn present this programme to the audience and the winning team would be the one that received the greatest applause. Many plays were presented in the hall by all three churches, during the war years, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, “Deacon Dubbs”, “Lodgers Taken In”, to name a few in aid of the war effort. The Institute supplied an organ for the hall in 1914 and sold it after the war was over. The Community was blessed with many great actors and entertainers in the early days. Neil McCrea, Charles Keating, Leonard Cook, Norman Keating, Fred Cook and his step dancing as well Clarke Johnston the singing Irishman. Some of the orchestras that played for the many dances held in the hall were Arthurs, Jacksons, Carruthers, MacKenzies, Tiffins, Scotts and from Belgrave - Bruces and the Gully Jumpers with Freda Johnston on the piano. Herfather George Jordan was a famous caller for the many dances and also the C.K.N.X. Ranch Boys. The medicine man would arrive and puton a evening’s entertain­ ment to sell his medicine - was noted for his famous skunk oil which found its way into medicine cabinets of many pioneers. In the 1920the Belgrave School Fair was organized and held in the Foresters hall and surrounding shedsuntiltheCommunity arena was built in 1949. The two day Music Festival was held in the hall from 1945 until 1969. Some of the caretakers of the Foresters Hall were Mr. and Mrs. Ceasar, William Geddes, John A. Geddes, Bob McKenzie, Calvin Robinson, Harry McGuire, John Nixon, Sam Pletch. With interest in the Foresters Lodge declining around 1920 they offered to sell their hall to the Women’s Institute but no interest was shown by the ladies. In the 1950’s from 1952 - 1957 the Women’s Institute put on a series of yearly concerts and renewed inter­ est in making some improvements with the Foresters and Institute working together. Rent for the hall through the 1950’s was $7.00 for a reception $10 for a dance, bake sale and bazaars were $3.50. In 1961 the rates went up, receptions $10, and $15 for banquets and Music Festivals. In July 1961 the Wingham Foresters, because they didn’t have a meeting place amalgamated with Belgrave forming Court, Belmait No. 25. At a meeting of the Court Belmait No. 25 held on May 9, 1968, with 12 members present Mr. Norman Hill of Brantford presided. At this meeting it was moved by Norman Coultes and seconded by Lawrence Taylor that the Foresters Hall of Belgrave be transferred to Belgrave Women’s Institute for the sum of one dollar with Laurence Taylor, chief Ranger and Calvin Robinson, Secre­ tary-Treasurer to act as trustees. It was unanimously agreed by mem­ bers present to amalgamate with Court Constance. Many problems arose in both societies but Mr. Goodall gave the W.I. the deed of land and building registered in the Goderich Registry Office, December 30, 1968. Due to bad weather and sickness the transfer was not publicly made until April 11, 1969, at a euchre and social evening. The Direct Deputy of the Cana­ dian Order of Foresters Walter McClure a member of Court Con­ stance attended and officially pre­ sented the deed and key to the President Mrs. Ivan Wightman and Secretary-Treasurer, Mrs. Stanley Hopper. The hall was to be known as the “Belgrave Women’s Institute Hall”. A Forester’s badge belong­ ing to the late Thomas H. Taylor a forester of Belgrave Court 48 was donated by his grandchildren Ross Taylor, Bill Taylor and Mrs. Eleanor Dane. Itwaspresentedby Walter McClure a Forester from Court Constance to the president of the Belgrave Women’s Institute, Mrs. Mary Hunter to hang in the hall in memory of the Foresters who built and maintained the hall for 80 years. A moments silence was observed in memory of the Foresters who built the hall and all past members of the Women’s Institute who helped maintain it. A cake beautifully decorated for the occasion of the 100th birthday of the hall was cut by Norman Coultes, and Lawrence Taylor representing the Foresters and Mrs. Sarah Anderson representing the Insti­ tute. Old time music was supplied by Mrs. Norman Coultes at the piano; Gordon McBurney on the violin and Miss Mary Hehn on the guitar. They also accompanied the community singing of old favourites from a song book compiled for the occasion by Mrs. Glenn Coultes and Mrs. Jim Hunter. The history of the Foresters Hall was obtained from the Institute Tweedsmuir History records and deeds of the Foresters and given by Mrs. Ross Taylor; Mrs. Alice Scott andMrs. Garner Nicholson, allof Belgrave. History of the Institute Hall 1968-1988 was prepared and given by Mrs. Ivan Wightman ofBruce- field and Mrs. Glenn Coultes of Belgrave, Institute members. INSTITUTE HALL 1968-1988 NOV. 15,1988 Now we spent our most expensive and rewarding ($1.00) buying the hall and starting an ongoing renovat­ ing programme. Our first problem was the Wo­ men’s Institute is not a money-mak­ ing organization but our 32 members all felt the hall was too valuable to the community to let the opportunity go by when offered the hall. Tocarry out this project we had to form a corporation, without share capital, with 10 members of our W. I., in good standing, to be appointed as officers of the corporation to be legally qualified to hold property in the name of the corporation (Belgrave Women’s Institute). The initial fee was $20 and a yearly fee of $1 mustbe paid by the corporation. Back in 1968 we had to consult the Agriculture Representative, Doug Miles, of Clinton and our Federated Women’s Institute of Ontario in Hall ownership transferred amid much paper work Toronto to get forms to apply for our Charter. We contacted lawyer Jack Goodall, Wingham, to do this paperwork for us. September 23, 1968 our Charter was signed and registered October 9,1968. This was signed by Honourable Robert Welch, Provincial Secretary and Minister of Citizenship, granting the 10 members and any other who become members of the Corporation hereby created a corporation with­ out share capital under the name of the Belgrave Women’s Institute for the following objects: (A) tocarry on the work of a W.I. outlined by the F. W.I.C.; (B) to maintain a Com­ munity Hall to provide facilities for instruction and recreation. The members of this charter were: Mary Grace Wightman, Mary Elizabeth Coultes, Alice Louise Scott and Leona Katharine Black, all of the township of East Wawanosh, in Huron County, Province of Ontario, housewives; Jean Alice Hopper, Alice Edna Nicholson, Sara Jane Anderson, Edna Pamelia Procter, and Margaret Elizabeth Michie, all of the township of Morris, said county of Huron, housewives; Dora Ella Irwin, of the village of Belgrave in said County of Huron, houswife, constituting hereby created a cor­ poration, without share capital under name of “Belgrave Women’s Institute.” Since then Ruby Louise Margaret Hanna was appointed January 1970 after the death of Edna Procter in December, 1969; Alice Procter to replace Alice Edna Nicholson April 1972; Wilma Jean Higgins to replace Alice Louise Scott - September 1973. The Foresters were very generous paying part of the lawyers fees and helping us in any way they could. Heating the hall was another problem. We decided to lower the ceiling and put panelling on inside of hall. Mr. Sam Pletch who had been caretaker, was hired by the W.I. and remained caretaker until 1977 when Mrs. LawrenceTaylortookonthe job. Arnold Bruce and his men were hired to do the ceiling and walls. We had a lot of volunteer men helping him as well as many hours free labour from Arnold and his men. The window frames were painted and the hall given a new look. In February 1972, the hall board composed of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hanna, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Coultes and myself (Mrs. Ivan Wightman) met at Hannas’ to discuss buying a new furnace - our wood furnace was smoking badly. By March a second hand oil furnace was bought and installed by Mr. Bill McWhirter of Brussels for $970. The Co-Op at Belgrave gave us 200 gals, free oil to start us off. As expenses grew and non-members offered us money, we applied and received our receipts to become a Charitable Institute so we could issue receipts for income tax purposes. A canvass of the community was made and we received over $ 1,500 as well as a lot of volunteer labour. The next big project was to have a kitchen on the main floor instead of downstairs where the hot food was handed out a hole under the east corner of the stage. This problem became more acute with the advent of the “Mini Skirt.” Norman Coultes came to our rescue. He had a dream about the hall (He had spent a lot of hours helping with the hall work). The back and side wings of the stage were removed and the east side and back half was lowered todance floor level. Washrooms were put in backing the stage and leaving a hallway leading to the door into the kitchen at the northeast end of the hall. The stage was left 10 feet by 17 feet with steps at the west side and a door at the back northwest corner with steps down to the kitchen and also stairs to the basement. We spent $2,914.06 in 1972 so the money received in the canvass and banquets etc. was all needed. Clarence Hanna and Lewis Cook made a centre island cupboard for the kitchen and Ross Anderson put in two sinks and heavier wiring. They also put pie or jello shelves along the south wall which all helped with our catering. We had a lot of men and women helping in this big project. Norman’s dream was a lifesaver. Many things were donated for the kitchen, a refrigerator, electric stove, hot water tank, dishes, etc. An electric clock was donated by Pepsi Cola and hung at the back of the hall over the door. The hall roof was another head­ ache. Theloose nails were driven down in 1968 and it has been painted and repaired many, many times since then. Another problem in 1968 was property taxes. Other W.I.’swho owned halls were not paying taxes and we were. After many discus­ sions with Morris Township Reeve, some members of the Institute went to Goderich May 15, 1972 to the Court of Appeal. We were granted continued on page 14