Chapleau Legion Hall opened as St John's Parish House marks its 100th anniversary in April 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Here we are at a new year and a new decade. My very best wishes to all of you!! MJM

As 2020 gets underway, a highlight of this year in Chapleau will be the marking of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion Hall -- officially opened in April, 1920 as the parish house of St. John's Anglican Church.

It was built during 1919 by Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Nicholson in memory of their only son Lorne and his friends. Lorne was killed in action just before the end of World War I. Mr. Nicholson was the first reeve of Chapleau, serving from 1901 when the municipality was established until 1913. Mr. Nicholson also served as Member of Parliament and president of the Austin Nicholson Lumber Company. He died in 1935.

Writing about the hall, the late George L. Evans long-time assistant principal and teacher at Chapleau High School made reference to the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson did not include their names in dedication of the hall. (See plaque)

At the memorial service some of those participating  at St. John's Anglican Church and official opening at the hall included  Rev. John Nelson Blodgett, Rector of St. John's Anglican Church; Rev. Dr. Robert John Renison, later Bishop of the Anglican Church diocese of Moosonee; Rt. Rev. John George Anderson, Bishop of Moosonee; Reeve Max Brunette, Township of Chapleau; Rev. George Prewer and Rev. White of Trinity United Church..

Lt. -Col. C. H. LeP. Jones , the commanding officer of 227th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and Major D.M. Brodie also participated.

When I wrote about the hall some years ago Ian Macdonald, retired head of the department of architecture and professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba, who has researched and written extensively on Chapleau buildings kindly agreed to let me share some of his thoughts about the building, now commonly referred to simply as "The Legion".

"A building as distinctive and prominent as the Nicholson Hall accurately reflected the public honour for war sacrifice, military service, veterans and the Union Jack that the World War I vets fought under. The Victorian gothic revival style of the building, which is closely associated with monarchism, reminds us of the significant cultural role of architecture and the British Dominion that we were at the time," Ian wrote.

"The Canadian Parliament buildings were also built in the same style to echo the architecture of Westminster and provide a permanent reminder of our British heritage."

"The Legion Hall is formally organized around a central axis, and the gothic revival windows, doors and details are what most individuals would associate with a religious building," Ian noted.

Ian also speculated on what the Legion in Chapleau might have built, had it not been for the philanthropic act of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson, albeit that it was first given to St. John's Anglican Church as a parish house.

"There are plenty of examples of other Legion facilities in small Canadian communities to provide an idea of what might have been", Ian wrote, adding that the Nicholson generosity "has left Chapleau with what is probably the most elegant and distinctive of all Royal Canadian Legion properties in Canada. It is clearly the most sophisticated building of its time in Chapleau."

Thanks so much Ian!!!

Other public buildings in Chapleau at this time included the Town Hall, Lady Minto Hospital, the Anglican, Roman Catholic and United churches.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, St. John's was no longer able to afford the upkeep of the hall, and for a time it closed, and in due course was used by Branch 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion. It was not until 1955 when B.W, "Bubs" Zufelt was reeve that the Legion officially took over ownership of the building from the municipality.

For his efforts Mr. Zufelt was made a life member of the branch. (In the interests of full disclosure, Mr. Zufelt was my uncle)

Congratulations to the members of Branch Number 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion who have ensured that the hall has been an integral part of the community for many years. My email is mj.morris@live.ca