(below) The Dashwood Memorial Community Centre under construction in late 1962 or early 1963.
“On May 20, 1963 Dashwood Memorial Community Centre was officially opened before a large crowd just after 14 months of negotiations with the councils of Hay and Stephen. At a joint meeting in [the] Dashwood Men’s Club rooms officials of both councils signed an agreement accepting joint responsibility for the property and both passed bylaws appointing the same board to administer the operation of the centre.
Promoters of the project, Dashwood Firemen and Men’s Club must secure approval of their plans from the Department of Agriculture. The blueprints were to be taken to Toronto the same week. After that, construction was to start on the hall and plans were to launch a campaign for funds. At the same time, Sydney Baker, president of the Men’s Club presented the deed to the community property to the Township Reeves, Glenn Webb and Valentine Becker. Ownership of the property, and hall, will be vested in the municipal authorities under the joint agreement. [Ed. note: The property on which the Community Centre stands was purchased from Ed Nadiger, April 20, 1953 for $600. (Rader; pg. 93)]
Elected to the community centre board were Reeve Becker, from Hay council; Deputy Reeve, Jim Hayter from Stephen council; Cliff Salmon, Police Village Trustee; Harold Schroeder, of the fire brigade; Mrs. Glenn Webb, W.I. Representative; Albert Miller, Men’s Club and Syd Baker, Stephen school area board. Plans for the 36 x 70 building were drawn by Clifford Salmon and Howard Klumpp; co-chairmen are Syd Baker and Jim Hayter.
Some 75 men donated their spare time to the project […] [Including] Jim Becker, Ted Ducharme, Louis Weigand, Lorne Genttner, Lloyd Fahner, Lloyd Willert, Harry Hayter, Leonard Schenk, Irvin Rader, Mervyn Tieman, Jack Ford, Harold Schroeder, Fred Schroeder, Hubert Miller, Bradley Klumpp, Peter Becker, Cliff Salmon, Jim Hayter, Ray VanDorseller, Eben Weigand, Bill Becker, Howard Klumpp, Stewart Wolfe, Lorne Kleinstiver, Sydney Baker, Lorne Becker, Emil Becker, Harold Stire, Albert Miller, Charles Snell, Elmer Rader, Edward Stire, William Wein, Jack Gaiser, Hugh Boyle, Mervyn Webb, Oscar Miller, Charles Martene, Hilton Ford, Ervine Devine, Ervin Schade, William Haugh, George Tieman, Ronald Merner, Ken McCrae, Charles Tieman, Ted Webb, Ernie Miller, Robert Hayter, Roy Morenz, Joe Bruce, John Snyder, Melvin Restemayer, Alex Becker, Joe Dietrich, Hugh Morenz, Ray Sweitzer, Valentine Becker, Leeland Restemayer, Karl Keller, Joe Merner, Elgin Kipfer, Elgin Adam, Wayne Sweitzer, Ed Hendrick, Harrison Weigand, Jacob Schroeder, Irvin Eckstein, Ivan Miller, Peter Kraft, Peter Crocker, Ken Gregg, Albert Rader and Glen Rader. [Ed. note: A handful of the names in this list are those of children (10 years of age or younger), who were included because they appear in the caption of the photograph of the building under construction on page 45 of Mary Rader’s book.]
Appearing on the program were the words ‘A community that works together lives together’. As well as the following:
‘The opening of our new Memorial Hall adds another milestone to the progress of our small community. It brings to an end a long awaited and needed place to meet our neighbours and friends. Not only will it serve the people of today but it will always be a standing memorial to our many generations that will follow. We, the committee that have worked so hard do certainly hope it will bring a closer relationship to people in the community and will be a meeting place for the young people to carry on their projects and social functions which are so essential to our everyday life.
The hall has been constructed and furnished at an approximate cost of $27,000.00. [Ed. note: in this context, roughly $300,000 in today’s funds.] It consists of a large auditorium 36×70 feet; a kitchen 16×20 feet; cloakrooms and washrooms. The basement has a meeting room and a furnace room. Three shuffleboard courts have been installed in the auditorium. We wish to take this opportunity of thanking many organizations, the residents of the community and everyone who have so graciously contributed in many ways in the construction of our Memorial Hall.
Your Building Committee: James Hayter and Sydney Baker, co-chairman; Lorne Kleinstiver, Secretary, Harry Hayter, Treasurer; Clifford Salmon in charge of construction; Harold Schroeder, Stuart Wolfe, Harry Hoffman and Charles Snell.’
The Dashwood Community Band under the direction of Harry Hoffman played before and after the opening ceremonies. Honourable W.A. Stewart [Ontario Minister of Agriculture] officially opened the hall before a crowd of about 400 persons who gathered on the newly sodded lawn. With the help of Honourable C.S. MacNaughton, Minister of Highways and co-chairmen Jim Hayter and Syd Baker, Stewart snipped the ceremonial ribbon and opened the door.
During Huron MPP C.S. MacNaughton’s address to the people, he presented a $5000.00 cheque, representing the provincial grant toward the project. Master of Ceremonies, Jim Hayter introduced the guests, Syd Baker, co-chairman; Walter Forbes, Warden of Huron; Glenn Webb, Reeve of Stephen, John Corbett, Reeve of Hay; Douglas Miles, Huron Agricultural Representative; Irvin Rader, Chairman of the Trustees of the Police Village welcomed the crowd. Others taking part in the ceremony were Rev. M.J. James, who dedicated the building; Rev. [Father] James Kelly, Mt. Carmel, who gave the benediction; Rev. William Gatz, who said grace for the dinner; and V.L. Becker. Ladies of the community served dinner to 400 people with two sittings. The hall was packed for bingo which followed the dinner. Games were conducted by Delbert Geiger, Deputy-Reeve of Hay.”
extracted from “Friedsburg-Dashwood 1860-1985” by Mary (Patterson) Rader, 1985; pgs. 45-47, ISBN 0-9692115-0-3