Millbrook 1929 Cadet Corps: Pictured from right to left in the back row: Cadet cpl. Norman
Armstrong, cadet sgt. Nelson Davis, cadet George Harkness, cadet capt. Henry Gray, Lieut. B. B.
Dawson, Instructor, cadet Lieut. George Gray, cadet Alvin Widdis, cadet Grant Henry, cadet Eric Clark and in the front row: Cadet Lyle Nattress, cadet cpl. Henry, cadet sgt. Joe Thorndyke, cadet Gerald Todd, drummer, cadet Harry Kennedy, cadet Donald Lang, cadet Gilbert Howson.
By Dan Bourgeois
In the last Now and Then column, the military history of our corner of Ontario was described.
After the First World War, the Millbrook Armoury continued to house a local militia unit, now part of the Midland Regiment. For a time, the regiment commander was Lt Colonel A.V. Thorn of Cavan Township. There was also an Army Cadet Corps company. Evidently, the cadets spent a lot of time on the rifle range in the basement, as in1929 they were named the best small cadet corps in the Empire in Rifle Shooting.
Soon after the outbreak of the Second World War an active battalion of the Midland Regiment was formed. For a time, the headquarters were in Mill-brook and many recruits were billeted locally while receiving initial training before heading off to other units. After the war, a reserve platoon of the Hastings and Prince Edward County Regiment continued to be based in Millbrook, as was a Cadet Corps. In addition, in the1950s, a Girl’s Cadet group was formed at the High School. This was an unofficial group though the activities were similar to the boys. Harry Williams, a local high school teacher and RCAF veteran, was approached by some of the girls who wanted to learn how to shoot a rifle. He obtained permission to bring them down to the rifle range. After lecturing on firearms safety and teaching them how to strip down and clean the weapon, he gave a lesson on riflery. Apparently, the girls were pretty good shots.
In 1965 the local reserve unit was demobilized and the Armoury closed. So, what todo with a big, empty building in the middle of the village? This is where the Legion comes in.
The Royal Canadian Legion formed in 1925. Its mission is to serve veterans and their families, to promote Remembrance and serve our communities and country. In many towns across Canada, they were and are much more than that, serving as a vital community centre.
In 1946, a group of local veterans applied for and obtained the charter for Branch 402 of the Legion. Not everyone was pleased about this. Millbrook and Cavan were “dry” communities; the sale of beer and other intoxicating beverages was prohibited. Of course, one could travel to Peterborough or Port Hope to acquire these for-bidden substances, or stay home and buy local from your friendly neighbourhood bootlegger. The LCBO did grant a licence to the Legion in the early 70s. Some were appalled that a local den of iniquity could be setting up in the village, encouraging the local menfolk to meet, probably drink beer and whiskey and who knows what other trouble they could get into.
In spite of the temperance concerns of some, local garage owner and car dealer Marwood Chapman put up money to help buy an old freight shed beside the railway station and this drafty building became the first Legion Hall. From the 50th anniversary booklet, “This bleak building was merely four walls, a roof that leaked, and had no indoor plumbing. A makeshift unisex washroom was constructed from a container that coal came in, and tin Coca Cola signs made up the walls.”
In 1948, the Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed and this, in addition to rising membership, made it clear that a new Hall was needed. Funds were again raised; a parcel of land was bought on Distillery St across Baxter Creek from the old (now disappearing) arena and a cement block building was built mainly through volunteer work.
As mentioned, in 1965 the Armoury closed and became available. Once again, funds were raised and with help from village council the Legion moved once more (the old Hall was sold to the Loyal Orange Lodge. It was badly damaged in the great Millbrook explosion of 1975 and had to be demolished).
Over the years many renovations were done to the Armoury. The loft on the east side was closed in and become the clubroom. More recently it hasbecome a museum. The drill hall was originally open to the rafters causing much heat loss so a new, lower ceiling was put in place and finally a new entrance was constructed.
The Legion quickly became a community hub. Aside from meetings and other Legion activities, birthdays, buck and doe parties, wedding and funeral receptions were all held in the hall, as well as regular Bingo games, euchre tournaments and so on. For many years, the Legion sponsored a Junior Drum Corps, which was very popular at local parades and fairs. For example, in 1988 they participated in nine Santa Claus parades. The Preservation Barnyard Banjo Band was a local fixture for years as well. Pianist Bill Brooks also led the Drum Corps and sax player Sandy Herd once played for Glenn Miller as well as the Bobby Gimby Orchestra.
The Legion gathered contributions from local merchants in October and sponsored a very popular Hallowe’en party, with loot bags and prizes all around. Some were happy to see the kids kept off the streets as in those days, giving a trick such as egging a house was done as well as getting treats. Many local grocers would stop selling eggs to children for a few days before Hallowe’en. The Santa Claus parade was also sponsored by the Legion, with the big man taking the place of honour in the Hall after the parade.
It is fitting that a building whose original function was to help equip and train men to oppose others in battle has become, in its old age, a centre for bringing together the community, including those who served our nation in a time of conflict.
Many thanks to Carol Donaldson, Gary Snelgrove and Linda Adams for their helpful memories.
If anyone has photos of the first two Legion Halls, both the Legion and Historical Society would love to borrow and copy them.