ALL EYES ON A MEMORIAL
/It was Dec. 1, 1920 when a small group of councillors from our three municipalities convened at the Town Hall in Marmora to “organize a movement that would result in the erection of a suitable memorial to the men of this district who served in the Great War”. While the sentiment was unanimous that a memorial was an appropriate expenditure, what form it should take was a matter of discussion.
Henry Reginald . Pearce
A committee of twelve was struck to prepare plans of action to bring before the public. Chairing the committee was Henry Reginald Pearce (builder of the present day Marmora Inn), who was president of the Marmora, Deloro and District Branch of the Great War Veterans Association (the predecessor of the Royal Canadian Legion). Along side was two other member of that organization, as well as the Reeve and two other reps from each of the Municipalities.
Mr. S.B. Wright, Reeve of Deloro, made it clear from the start that Deloro reserved the right to remain independent to consider fundraising for a a memorial for Deloro. He, however, assured the committee that Deloro would work to the best interests of everyone.
Sidney B. Wright, Reeve of Deloro
One suggestion that received considerable favour, made by Mr. John Wesley Richardson, Reeve of Marmora and Lake Township, was to plan a memorial in connection with the new Continuation School. (This building at the corner of Madoc and Victoria Streets burned down in 1989, replaced by Drummond Apartments). One thing was clearly agreed upon, though. The memorial should be something useful.
The rest is history…….
The memorial was to be a building that was of service to the whole community and a fitting tribute to the men who served overseas, and to the G.W.V.A. - a library, with a reading room, with perhaps an office of some kind, residences upstairs and even perhaps a hospital.
The Proposal looked like an ambitious one and the amount required would probably be considerably more than many had contemplated. But as the Marmora Herald commented, “Compared with what was accomplished during the war, the task of financing the project would be small.”
Although it took eight years before the memorial was erected, isn’t it perfectly fitting that all the memories of those that served in the wars, along with all the stories of their communities, are now housed in that very memorial building erected so long ago?
