The Royal Canadian Legion Saskatchewan Command LEST WE FORGET 219 The first annual dance for the Branch was on October 26, 1951. Admission was 50 cents per person; the orchestra fee was $55.00, hall rent of $15.00, and the net profit for the evening was $4.00. Other firsts for the Branch are: first annual Legion bonspiel on March 3, 1954; first entry to the Legion Curling playoffs in 1955; first Legion carnival in 1957; first turkey bingo in 1957; and first annual Legion deep-pit barbecue in 1966. The carnivals were held annually for seven years while turkey bingos continued for thirteen years. The deep-pit barbecues reached twenty years annually in 1985. The barbecue in 1978, which was Hazlet’s 50th Anniversary year, had the largest attendance, catering to approximately 1100 people in one hour. In 1956, we purchased the Trent School for $3.00. A cement basement was poured on November 10, 1956, and we had our first meeting on February 14, 1957, in our own Legion Hall. In 2004, the Hazlet Legion made the decision to close the Legion Hall due to the increasing costs of maintaining it, and the limited use of the building. Meetings are now held in the local Café. In 2005, the Hazlet Ladies’Auxiliary joined the Legion to bring their experience and much welcomed comradeship to Hazlet Branch’s small, but proud group. HAZLET BRANCH 202 (...Cont’d) Fifteen soldiers who returned from WWI had taken up land in the area and decided to form a Legion Branch. A meeting was held on November 13, 1938 to elect officers with M.A. Devine as President. They received their charter on February 5, 1936. Many others joined, especially after WWII. A small clubroom was used in the late 1940s. Around 1950, the Legion purchased a building from Denis Meeks. It became the Legion Hall after many additions and improvements over the years, such as the installation of a new roof, new maple hardwood floor, natural gas and water and sewer. The Legion raised funds by having pie shoots, bingos, Saturday night dances, New Year’s Eve dances, Easter Monday dances, Valentine’s Dances, and Remembrance Day Dinner and Dance. The Legion sponsored the organization of the Cub Scouts and Air Cadets. The Legion built a Cenotaph and unveiled it in August 1965. In 1978, the Legion decorated a Jeep for Arborfield’s 50-year parade. The same Jeep was decorated in 2005 for Arborfield’s Home Coming parade, celebrating one hundred years for the province. The Branch currently has twenty-two members. Several Legion members gathered on June 9, 2003 at the Jordan River Memorial Plaque. Similar Memorial Plaques were placed by the Legion at Moose Range, Catholic, Zenon Park, and Aborfield Cemeteries to remember fallen comrades. LADIES’ AUXILIARY TO ARBORFIELD BRANCH 203 After WWII, some Veterans’ wives decided to form an Auxiliary. They met in the Legion clubroom on February 2, 1948 to elect officers. On March 3, 1948, Zone Representative, Mrs. Swanson, installed the officers with Mrs. Pearl MacNutt as President. The first Bake Sale was held on April 17, 1948, with an angel food cake raffled. On October 27th, they catered to a banquet for fifty Elks Lodge members. On November 17th, they served lunch at the Legion Dance. The charter arrived, dated April 14, 1950, with fifteen charter members. The ladies held meetings in different homes until the Legion purchased a building for a hall and they helped furnish the kitchen. The Auxiliary bought a piano on April 14, 1951. The Auxiliary and Legion sponsored Jean L’Arrivee and Hilda Pickersgill to walk in the 15-mile Walk-a-thon to raise money to build the new community hall. The Auxiliary and Legion held their first meetings in their new hall on May 8, 1972. The Auxiliary disbanded on December 31, 2000 and joined the Legion in 2001. ARBORFIELD BRANCH 203 Arborfield Legion #203 with Memorial Plaque at Jordon River Cemetery.
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