The Citizen, 1991-07-31, Page 11Letter to the editor
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31,1991. PAGE 11.
Stratford resident shares history of Hall
THE EDITOR,
The following letter was printed in
the July 20 issue of The Beacon
Herald in Stratford in response to
an earlier article by Canadian
Press reporter Michael Smyth who
had visited Blyth earlier this sum
mer.
Re: Article of July 8 entitled
“Blyth seems unlikely location for
successful ‘home grown’ theatre”.
I wish to applaud Mr. Smyth for
his article. Perhaps I might share
some additional background of the
village and the history of the the
atre hall (Memorial Hall).
The hall was erected in 1920 as a
memorial to those who gave their
lives in the First World War. It was
dedicated to be used in future years
for cultural and community purpos
es. As a young boy, I was present at
the ceremony which honored these
soldiers who gave their lives and
the veterans who returned.
The crusading newspaper editor
instrumental in the founding of the
Blyth Festival was a man who fol
lowed in the footsteps of J.H.R.
Elliott in the printing of the Blyth
Standard and so was no doubt
acquainted with the uses made of
Memorial Hall in the years follow
ing its erection.
The Chautauqua Circuit of plays
and concerts brought the very best
of music and drama to this area of
Huron County as it did to all of
Ontario.
The production of Cantatas such
as “Queen Esther” and “Belshaz
zar” with casts of 60 or more were
produced and performed by area
talent under the direction of Dr.
Charles Toll, D.D. S.
Minstrel shows under the capable
direction of the local funeral direc
tor, J.S. Chellew, were always sold
out performances. All this in the
depression years of the 20s and
30s.
Mr. Smyth refers to the barber
shop. It was in this same barber
shop that Stanley Sibthorpe, the
local barber and outstanding musi
cian, and Dr. Toll plotted the path
that these productions would take
from casting to props to ticket sell
ers.
The fire department was located
in the rear of the hall and in the
winter months many a destitute
person found overnight refuge from
the cold and stormy weather during
the Depression years, due to the
compassion of Fire Chief Jack Fer
guson who was also police chief of
the village.
Perhaps it might add a touch of
insight to the ingenuity of those
who planned Memorial Hall to note
that the bell in the tower has two
hammers or flappers - one on the
inside of the bell to denote the time.
It rang at 7 a.m., 12 noon, and 6
p.m. The one on the outside of the
bell was the fire alarm with a dis
tinct sound that was audible in
every section of the village and
summoned the volunteer firemen.
Such is part of the heritage that
the Blyth Festival has inherited
from a generation past. Perhaps it is
not such an “unlikely place”, but
history repeating itself in new and
expanded ways. What better way is
there to utilize a facility built as a
memorial to those who gave their
lives that we might enjoy both our
freedom and great theatre.
R.W. “Pat” Powell
33 James St.
Stratford.
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