Royal Canadian Legion Sauve Branch 235, Eaglesham fonds. — 1947-2003. — 58 cm of textual records. — 1 photographs.
Agency History
On January 21, 1936, a group of returned men gathered at the home of A.E. Powers for the purpose of forming a local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Temporary officers appointed pending the receiving of a charter were President J.P. Sauve, VP Harold Moulton, and Secretary Allan Powers. Other members present were Ted McDaid, Louis Peterson, Tony Desgagne and Xavier Lamothe. This branch also referred to themselves as “The Returned Men’s Association” and held regular monthly meetings. They organized dances, planned Remembrance Day activities, and even raised money to send local children to Edmonton for the Royal Visit in 1939. There is, however, no record of any charter for this group, and it appears to have disbanded during World War II.
On September 8, 1947, a formal branch of the Royal Canadian Legion was formed for the three districts of Watino, Tangent and Eaglesham. Branch 235 was named in memory of J.P. Sauve MM, who did the groundwork for the branch but was killed in an accident before the charter was obtained. Regular meetings, socials and dances raised money for community projects. In the late 40s and early 50s, their numbers were swelled by a large number of Veterans who settled in the Lassiter Project, so the Branch bought a lot in Eaglesham and moved Ray Emerson’s old house into town. This was called the Legion Hut, and both the Legion and Legion Auxiliary (formed in 1952) held their meetings there, as well as regular events such as the annual Christmas Party for veteran’s children. The hall was also used for many other community purposes such as health clinics, school events, and clubs.
In 1947-48, membership in Sauve Branch 235 reached 200. The club regularly won awards for increasing memberships more than 6% in a year. They raised money first through holding bingos, and in the 1970s, began selling Sweepstake tickets, Lucky Sevens, Western Canadian Lottery, Provincial and Nevada tickets. They accomplished a great deal through their fundraising, starting with $500 to build a community hall. They also donated to the Polio fund and sponsored Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and juvenile hockey teams.
The Legion involved themselves in the community in pratical ways as well. In 1952, they began holding a community picnic each year at different farms. In 1954, they assumed responsibility for the local curling rink by mortgaging their own Legion property and raising donations from local businesses and donated grain hauled to the local elevator. Soon they had added a hockey rink beside the curling rink with volunteer labor, and in 1958 took over the organization of the July 1st Sports Day. The rink, named the “Eaglesham Memorial Curling Rink”, was sold back to the community for $1.00 in 1962.
At this point, the club was low in funds and down to 34 members. They gave the now-delapidated clubhouse to a veteran to be moved to his farm and raffled off the lot. For several years they held meetings in basements. Then, in 1976 they entered a joint project with the Senior Citizens Social Club. Property was purchased and a combined club hall built, with the Legion owning 25% of the property and assets. Now they could offer lawn bowling, a pool table, a billiard table, a shuffle board, a 16 mm projector and weekly movies. They supported the Centre with weekly Friday night bingos and the sale of Nevada tickets.
In 1978, the Branch erected a cenotaph in the park in Eaglesham. It is built of rocks from the Peace River and sand from the Smoky River. It was officially unveiled September 11, 1978 with members from the Legislative Assembley in attendance. In 1980, a memorial plaque was unveiled at the Centre. The Branch also has a field of honour in the Eaglesham Cemetery where a number of Veterans are interred.
Royal Canadian Legion Sauve Branch 235 operated until 2003, and surrendered its charter on December 31, 2003.
Custodial History
The records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives by Morris Burroughs in 2007.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of legal documents and the written history of the organization, meeting minutes, membership records, activity files, financial records, correspondence and material relating to associated organizations. There is one photograph of Lieutenant J.P. Sauve M.M., after whom this branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is named.
Notes
Title based on the contents of the fonds.
Table of Contents
Series 327.01 | Legal documents and history |
Series 327.02 | Minutes |
Series 327.03 | Membership Records |
Series 327.04 | Activities |
Series 327.05 | Financial records |
Series 327.06 | Correspondence |
Series 327.07 | Associated organizations |
Series 327.01 | Legal documents and history. — 1951-2003. — 1 photographs.The series consists of legal documents created by Sauve Branch 235, including the original Land Titles document on the Legion’s lot in Eaglesham, financial agreements and loans with the Senior Social Centre Club of Eaglesham to operate their shared building, an agreement with the Village of Eaglesham to take over the Curling Rink, an agreement with St. Francis Xavier R.C. Parish for a Veterans Field of Honor in the Eaglesham R.C. Cemetery, and the updated version of their by-laws, dated December 2002. There is also one photograph of Lieutenant J.P. Sauve M.M., after whom the branch is named, a written history of Sauve Branch 235, a history of the Eaglesham Memorial Curling Club, and a list of presidents, secretaries and life members from 1947-1984 | ||||
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Series 327.02 | Minutes. — 1947-2003. — 8 cm of textual records.The series consists of Minute Books dating from the beginning of Royal Canadian Legion Sauve Branch 235 in 1947 until its dissolution in 2003. Included in the minute books are the minutes of executive, special and annual meetings; membership lists; and some financial records and statements. | ||||
Series 327.03 | Membership Records. — 1947-2004. — 12 cm of textual records.The series consists of membership applications from 1972 to 2004; a alphabetical register of ordinary members from 1947-[1990] with biographical information, service numbers and description of where and when they served; awards and life membership applications accompanied by biographies of each member thus recognised; last post forms and a diagram of the Eaglesham Field of Honor to show where they are buried, and a Guest Register for Legion events from 1976-2003. Accompanying some of the applications are copies of service records, discharge certificates or birth and marriage certificates showing proof of relationship. There are also four felt crests for the various categories of membership. | ||||
Series 327.04 | Activities. — [1970-2001]. — 5 cm of textual records.The series consists of records relating to the activities of the Royal Canadian Legion Sauve Branch 235: assisting Veterans with applying for government services such as pensions and funeral expenses, and for benevolent services supplies through the Poppy Fund; Remembrance Day Services (programmes from 1980-2003), Remembrance Day essay, poetry and poster contests, and Teachers’ Guides for discussion around Remembrance Day; operating the Legion Hall in partnership with the Seniors Social Club; and miscellaneous activities. Included in this series is individual applications for assistance from the Poppy Fund. There is also a publication called “Valour at Sea” which gives the history of Canada’s Merchant Navy. | ||||
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Series 327.05 | Financial records. — 1958-2004. — 8 cm of textual records.The series consists of financial statements, ledgers and reports. There is also a file on Poppy Campaigns from 1975 to 1992, a file on the building of the Seniors Social Centre, and a file on the lotteries which were encouraged by the provincial and national commands and funded the activities of the Legion. | ||||
Series 327.06 | Correspondence. — 1975-2004. — 8 cm of textual records.The series consists of correspondence from 1975 to 2004 from provincial and national Legion headquarters and from districts and zones in the area. | ||||
Series 327.07 | Associated organizations. — 1973-2003. — 16 cm of textual records.The series consists of reports and correspondence relating to Zone and District rallys held in the Peace Country, information from the Alberta-NWT Command in Edmonton, and material from the Royal Canadian Legion based in Ottawa. Included are two 45s containing the Last Post and O Canada; an audio cassette for use at the site of a service with “Alert” (sounded when the dignitary comes into view), “Still” (to call all to attention as they arrive), “The Last Post” and “Reveille”; a VHS tape called Presenting the Black Rod, and a tape of Remembrance Day music called “Lest We Forget” by Tim Lawson. There is also a | ||||
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