Royal Canadian Legion: Bobcaygeon Branch 239

From A History by Ruth Ewell)

Early in 1932 a chance meeting at the village water fountain resulted in three World War 1 Veterans forming a Bobcaygeon Legion. The three Veterans were Andy Anderson, Dr. Scott and Alfred Nichols. They had all been members of an organization called Great War Veterans Association which was formed in 1922 but ceased to exist in 1927. This organization held its meetings upstairs at Cecil Pogue's garage on Bolton Street and sometimes at the old town hall.

1932 the following veterans applied for and received the Canadian Legion Charter (239) of the British Empire Service League.

Major H.O Boyd.....Lieut. R.G. Scott......Major B.E. Kelly......E.C. Anderson...... P.G. Rumball.....F.A. Gendron .......J.R. Johnson......T.G. Bivand......W.N. Wilkie...... W.J. Junkin......W.T. Reynard......J.W. Lyle.

The newly formed branch of the Canadian Legion did not hold regular meetings until 1949. At that time they bought an old church, tore it down and moved all the lumber, windows and doors to the present site at 96 King Street. Alfred Nichols solicited the Boyd family for the land.

World War 1 Veteran, John Grant who was a master carpenter, supervised a construction crew of fifteen men. By the end of the summer the building was closed in and an open box stove was installed. Work continued inside throughout the winter and meetings were held around the old stove.

Construction and painting was designed by Len Mills. The Memorial Board on the north wall was designed by Tom Powell and a new furnace was installed by Bill and Rod Robinson.

The first President to preside over the meetings in the new hall was Nigel Pilcher who attended school in England with King George VI. Secretary was Air Force Veteran Lloyd Beatty and treasurer was Army Veteran, Jack Kennedy.

In 1952 Bobcaygeon Legion, Branch 239 was officially opened by Premier Leslie Frost. At that time Bobcaygeon was a "dry" town and the branch didn't have a liquor license, however a large punch was served to the select fifty couples attending the opening.

The members worked hard and ran raffles and 50/50 draws to keep up the cost of running the building. Members paid their dues years in advance to pay for the hardwood floors. In this way they managed to run the Legion debt free until 1965 when they borrowed $12,500 for a badly needed addition. At that time Lloyd Beatty approached Sheila Boyd who donated the needed 63 1/2 feet of land.

Social members were accepted until 1973 when Dominion Command established Associate Memberships for sons and daughters, husbands and wives of Veterans.

In 1985 President Olive Boyd and her executive opened tenders for a new addition. A construction manager and architect who promised to use local tradesmen were hired. The Boyd Estate once again donated land, this time for parking. The Branch had $83,000 and Peter Connolly arranged a $115,000 mortgage. Construction began October 19, 1985 and was completed in 1986. The grand opening of the new wing was held on Canada Day. This addition formed the building as we know it today.

The Bobcaygeon Legion is an integral part of the community. Membership today is in excess of seven hundred and most of the work is still done on a volunteer basis. Thanks to Nevada, Bingo and Lottery events, donations exceeding $25,000 are put back into the community each year.