The Huron Expositor, 1975-06-26, Page 39I
Smyth's Shoes
Mitchell
THE HURON EXO )SOTOR, JUNE 29, 1975 —17
e .w .- .er,tet • e. el ILO 4l 4, 144, .1.11,0 • I awn • •.7. • r.
11.
,..0.6304 1 ller taught
is...cadeti to be. eet
TtI 1913 R, 6.14..:CADETS-, Back 1:(6w: Henry Kr9,se, Harold Starkf Percy Hoag,
NelSon.Gevenibck, Fred Weir) Torn -Downey, 1:3111 .,McKay, Muir ThoMpson, "JIM
Watt,,, Norman, Truemrier, Sperling, Finlay Rilss, Bob Sleeth. Middle RoW: Ross
Forbes, Harry Hinchley, Arthur Archibald, Normans .Miller, Clyde' Rankin, Jim
Gillespie, Howard. Hays. Seated in front -Archie Hays, 'Aubrey Crich.
OFF TO THE WAR IN 1914 — ThEire was a huge crowd at the Seaforth station on
the day that a group of local boys left to fight in the first world war. It's hard to tell
whether the group standing up on a wagon• near the rear' arethe prospective
soldiers or people trying to get a better view. The large frame building at the rear is
the old Seaforth skating rink,
By HarryHinchley ,, •
Norman Mill.et was' a
perfectionist: In 'his teaching he
wanted all things 'to Move with
the exactness and precision of a
mathematical eci,11401. Yet he
"was always fair and he never
showed favoritism: As long as
,tried he gave the same
attention to the, dulls pupils as he
did te'ilie more gifted,
In 1913, after Norman Miller
took over the trainingof the cadet
corps from Col: Alex Wilson he
infused his ideas of perfection
into the cadet drill. The boys
responded and gave him their
best efforts.
When it came time for the
Corps to .go to Cadet Camp at
London the Board committed -an
unheard-of act of extravagance
and bought new uniforms for the
boys. They were I made by the
Jackson Company of Clinton and
were fitted by Stewart Bros. In
color they were a sort of olive with
red trimmings but when worn
with the leggings from Duncan's
they were not unattractive.
At camp the boys did well in
the sports contests. Ross Forbes
won the all-round athletic
championship and little Bob
Sleeth took first prize in the
baseball throw. '^
But for Norman Miller the
great event was the winning of
first prize in team competition in
physical drill. He had worked
hard with the boys and had
practised them by the hour until
they had all the details down pat.
For the contest they needed white
sweaters, the Board find not
budgetted for such an eXpense
and the boys *ere short ottrioneY
so Norman Miller provided them
himself.
hitlie,contest Seaforth finished
first ahead of the crack city corps
from Stratford, Guelph and St.
Thomas.
It was a proud moment
for Norman Miller when Arch
Hays (in later, years Dr. Hays),
the smallest' boy in the corps,•
marched up to receive the
handsome silver shield presented
by the Daughters of the Empire. we nevef again saw Aorta=
Miller after our return from
Camp. He had resigned from the
S.C.I. st aff and left town to parts
unknown,
During the war we
heard that he• had enlisted for
overseas service with an artillery
battery. They had put him driving
a horse.After the war we heard
that he was a professor "n the
staff of Queen's University
he instructed in higher
mathematics. •
m#a.uaxa
Many years afterwards, one of
the old S.C.I. cadets had a son in
Grade 13. One time when he was
trying to give him a little
assistance with his Algebra, the
boy asked:
"Dad, how come you know so
much about this stuff?"
"Why not?", the father
replied. "Look who used to teach
me algebra - the man who wrote
your book - Dr. Norman Miller."
wA
e r
•
In Great War Veterans' Hall
at
Legion was organized in 1920
Seaforth Branch 156 of the then
Canadian Legion of the British
Empire Service League was
organized at a meeting held in the
G.W.V.A. Hall on October 15,
1929, following t informal
discussions that had been going
on for some months.
A charter was, issued to the
Branch on October 25, ' of the
same year, the charter members
being S. W. Archibald, Charles
Adams,' W. C Bennett, Dr.
J.A.Munn, George Scott, Charles
Neely, Bert Muir, John H. Earle,
John H. Best, Edward Brown,
Fred Barlow, A. H.Douglas,- A.
M. Hill -and H.D. Chesney.
Officers of the new branch,
elected at a meeting held in the
Orange Hall on December 12,
1929, were: President, S, W.
Archibald; first vice-president, C.
Adam's; second vice-president
W. C. Bennett; secretary, Dr. J.
A. Munn; Treasurer, G. Scott;
committee: J. H. -Earle, B.O.
Muir and C. F. Neely.
- From-its-inception the ranch
assumed responsibility for all
matters connected with the
welfare of Veterans and with the
perpetuating of the memory of
those Veterans who had paid the
supreme sacrifice. One of the first
activities of the branch, was
organizing a church parade and
Armistice Day program a few
weeks after it had ', been ,
established.
'Throughout the thirties the
attivitida of the Branch were
directed to assisting those who
found themselVes in nee and
with the Outbreak of the nd
War in 1939, members sp a no
effort to provide full support on
the home front. Branch 156
participated throughout the war
years in a series of events, alone
or with other organizations, which
produced thousands of dollars for
the war effort.
- During this time
accommodation was made
available in the Post Office
building. However, as Second
War Veterans began returning it
became, necessary . to seek larger
quarters, and for several years
the Branch made us of rooms in
eardno's Hall, while,
consideration was given to
provision of a Legion Hall. In 1948
an agreement was entered into
with the Town of Seaforth to use
facilities being provided in the
new Memorial Arena and
Community Centre, and this
served the Branch for twelve
years.
While the Branch was assured
of the long-term use of the
quarters in the Community'
Centre, there were many among
--the members who looked-to-the-
day when Branch 156 could
occupy its own building.
Discussions extending,over
several years were translatd into
action in 1959, when construction
of the Legion Memorial Hall was
begun. Under the direction of a
building committee including D.
Sills, chairman, R.S.Box, John
Holland, Robert Smith and
Clayton Dennis and, with the
Volunteer help of members and-
citizens alike, construction
proceeded rapidly and it was
possible to occupy the new
building early in 1960.
In succeeding months the work
was completed making possible a
formal opening by Fred J.
O'Brecht, 2nd vice-president of
Dominon Command on June 2,
1961.
Since the opening nearly ten
years ago the Legion Hall has
become the centre for much Of the'
social activity in the community.
Not only has, the Branch provided
modern facilities for the people of
the community, it also has
continued to accept responsibility
for and co-operate with• programs
which have meant much to the
Seaforth district. • For more than
twenty years it has sponsored
Saturday morning hockey and
hundreds of area children have
taken their first fledgling steps as
hockey players while partici-
pating in the Legion sponsored
program. Similarity in public
speaking the Legion has provided
encouragement. Support of the
Salvation Arniy has been
indicated each year as members
assume responsiblity for the
annual campaign. Branch 156,
too; by its -gift- to -the recent-
Seaforth Community Hospital
campaign made possible a room
in the new hospital.
During the years the Branch
has continued to make
itnnprovements to the hall
including a major addition 'to
provide additional kitchen
facilities and the installation--6f
new bars and attractive panelling
throughout the auditorium and
meeting moms.
Financing of the building and
improvements was made possible
in the main by the dedicated
efforts of members of the Branch
as well as by the Women's
Auxiliary.
Members of the Auxiliary,
which had been formed 'on April
14, 1951, spared no effort in their
determination to clear the
building of debt and a total of
nearly $10,000.00 which was
made available to the Branch. It
was this continuing concern on
the part of all who have been
involved that made possible a
mortgage burning ceremony on
Saturday, May 23, 1970 when
members also marked the 40th
anniversary of the founding of the
branch.
Members continued to improve
the branch accommodation and
recently purchased an adjoining
property to serve for parking.
Best Wishes
to
SEAFORTH
on your
100th Anniversary
We look forward t
serving the residents of
Seaforth and area in the
years tc, come
a
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