|
|
|
|
|
HISTORY OF STREETSVILLE OVERSEAS VETERANS CLUB BRANCH 139 October, 2010 The
Streetsville Overseas Veterans Club was organized To
contribute by joint action when necessary and possible for movements having
their objective of safeguarding the interests of overseas veterans. To
contribute by personal and joint effort to perpetuating among the younger
generation of To
assist by corporate action in all movements seeking the welfare of the
community or country by the development of the spirit of service rendering
citizenship." The
founding Officers and Members were: -
President - Captain Reverend Frank Vipond -
Secretary - Sgt. H.F. Staley -
Treasurer - Captain Reverend
W.T. McCree -
Members - Captain D.V. Reed / V. Campenalla / J. Buckingham / W.C.
Arch / George Coyne / George Burgin / W. Drysdale /
B.L. Drennan / C.R. Evans
/ W.F. Lovatt / E. Graydon
/ W. Petty / J.A. Hammond / J.Waddell /
Russell Langmaid / A. Tutton
/ J. Anderson / Sgt. Fred Webb / B. Toffano / Sgt. G.V. Plankenhorn. -
There were three other
members whose names are not recorded. At
the first meeting it was decided to undertake the erection of a Memorial to
those 'Who did not come back'. As a result of their efforts the War Memorial
(Cenotaph) that stands in Main Street at the intersection of Queen Street was
unveiled and dedicated on Each
child in attendance was given a small Union Jack which he or she held in his
hand and repeated slowly after Reverend Vipond: 'I.......
promise and vow that so long as I live in or near Streetsville, I will never
disfigure or otherwise dishonour this memorial, but will revere it and care
for it as the token of my remembrance that true men laid down their lives for
me.' Short
addresses were presented by Major-General Lessard, Brigadier H.S. Cooper, lt-colonel T.L. Kennedy, M.P.P. Sam On
Capt.Rev. Frank Vipond / W.C.
Arch / Wm. H. Davis / J.W. Buckingham / Lt. Rev.W.T. McCree / C.D. Evans / H.F. Staley / W.J. Tracey /
Capt. D.V. Reed / George Coyne / G.F. Thompson / Fred Elderfield
/ Lt. J.W. Drennan / A.
Hammond / B.L. Drennan /
A. Hammond / B.L. Drennan
/ R.T. Epps / C.R. Evans / Fred Haddon. Records
of the early years are very sketchy but minutes are available of most of the
meetings from 1933 on. In the early years meetings were held in Church's Hall
above the printing plant of the Review. The Legion's principle function
during the depression was to strive to obtain for the Veterans an opportunity
for employment if any were available. Some welfare work was done but the extreme
difficulty experienced in raising money curtailed their efforts in this
regard. In October 1934 it was decided that if the Branch was to survive,
suitable clubrooms of their own must be obtained. A
committee was formed to study the matter and reported back the following
month that materials for a suitable building could be obtained for $600.00. Although
this seems an insignificant sum now, it must have appeared very large in the
heart of the depression. Lesser men might have given up at this point but not
these determined Veterans of World War I. By April 1935, Branch finds totaled
$80.00 and half of this was used to establish a building fund. During
the balance of 1935 efforts were made to obtain property for a building site,
and for a time it was thought that they would be able to obtain a lot being
used for a sawmill at the corner of William and Ontario Streets. When
this proved unobtainable, their attention was directed to a small lot on
Church Street and plans were finalized to proceed with a building 30 ft. by
65 ft. at this location. On
By
Although
there is little mention of it in the records of the Club an event still
brings chuckles from the OLD SWEATS. The big stag held in the Dugout when the
entertainment was reportedly so exotic that it had a detrimental effect on
the domestic life of some of those who attended. Even now incoming
entertainment chairmen are cautioned on this point with the result that
Branch social functions never quite measure up to the big bash of the
thirties. Steady
progress was made in reducing the mortgage and by During
the years of World War II, membership dropped somewhat but the World War I
Veterans carried on throughout the war and as a result many thousands of
cigarettes were sent to the boys overseas and the Club was alive and healthy
when the World War II Veterans returned. In
February 1946, a banquet was held for the returning World War II Veterans and
the Club membership expanded rapidly about this time. By 1953 the Club
decided they required a larger building for clubrooms and auditorium but it
was not until March 1956 that the present Legion building on Church Street
was started. It was completed during 1957. In
1954 the Ladies Auxiliary to branch 139 was formed and has played an active
and valuable roll in Legion activities from then until now. In
1960 the Legion gained Royal accent and became The Royal Canadian Legion. The
Legion is proud of the facilities it has to offer Veterans, their spouses,
sons, daughters, other family and citizens of the community who support the
Aims and Objects of The Royal Canadian Legion. Clubrooms on the ground floor are
spacious and equipped with billiards, darts and other games. The second floor
is available to the public on a rental basis when not being used for Legion
activities. In
1980 S.O.V.C. purchased the lot adjoining our
present location to add horseshoe pits and a picnic area. In 2003 an outside
patio deck was added to the north side of the building for the pleasure of
our members. In August 2006, the pavilion housing the Field Artillery Gun
Carriage was completed facing Church Street on our adjacent lot opposite the
Branch Cenotaph which was erected in 2002. Wrought iron railings were added
in September 2007. Through
the years that the Streetsville Overseas Veterans Club has been in existence
it has helped many Veterans and their dependents to obtain pensions, benefits
and medical assistance to which they were entitled. It has also helped in a
material way those if their comrades who are in less fortunate circumstances.
The legion today focuses their charitable efforts and money towards youth and
seniors activities and causes in our community through the Poppy Trust Fund,
Bingo and Nevada Funds with our primary responsibility being to the Veterans
who we will always remember. The
Streetsville Overseas Veterans Club proudly sponsors the 105th Royal Canadian
Army cadet Corps, and the 186th Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Haida. We also
help fund the Navy League Cadet Corps Revenge and The Royal Canadian Air
Cadet Black Forest Squadron #800. Originally
submitted in 1985 by Mac Hunter - Past President Updated
since 1985 by Benjamin R.C. Pearce - Life Member / Secretary |
|
|
|
