Royal Canadian Legion
123 Main Street South, Seaforth, Ontario
( Year built: 1959 )
Long before Royal Canadian Legion Branch 156 built here, the McGinnis brothers, James and Isaac, bought the lot. In its December 1, 1871 issue, The Huron Expositor reported: “Mr. Reynolds has sold his block of buildings near the station to James McGinnis, one of his tenants, for the sum of $1,800.” Isabelle Campbell states in Story of Seaforth that the McGinnis brothers replaced the existing buildings with one large building containing four stores, ready for occupancy early in 1872.
McGinnis used the two north stores for their pork packing plant and a grocery. After James McGinnis died in 1906, his sister, Margaret, had a candy shop in the first store until 1909. James Gillespie, a saddler, had a shop in one of the middle stores starting in 1876. Gillespie was in business here until 1890. James Jamieson and Richard Smith, both shoemakers, had a store next door, Jamieson in 1876 and Smith from 1877-78.
In the third store Mrs. Annie Erwin did business for a short time for the Toronto Millinery Co. starting in September of 1870 to 1871. Miss Leech moved her millinery shop here for a couple years, from 1872-73. James Wright, a grocer, was the next tenant here in 1876.
Mrs. Charles M. Dunlop opened the Victoria Hall in the fourth store in May of 1872. It was advertised as a hotel, eating house and ice cream parlor. Victoria Hall lasted only one year as a hotel.
Hiram Deagon had his oysters and confectionery shop in one of the south stores in 1880. The next year he moved to the other side of the street between Robertson’s Hardware and Murphy’s grocery store.
Robert and John Beattie, at the time aged 25 and 23 respectively, were listed as grocers in two of the stores in 1890. 
They soon moved a little ways north to a store in William Hawkshaw’s Block. J.W. Snell, a dyer, occupied one of the middle stores in 1891. In 1892, Ralph Elliott opened a butcher shop in one of the stores and was in business until 1898. Gilbert Elliott is listed as the tenant of the shop in 1893-94. John Donaldson had a saddlery in one of the stores in 1895. The last tenant here was Alfred Hill, a shoemaker, who was still doing business after 1909.
Above Photo: This is half of a stereograph taken in the early 1880s. The large building at foreground right, with “Hotel” painted on it, is possibly the McGinnis store block. However, no hotelkeeper is listed in the tax assessment records for this lot at the time. The Advertisement Below: is from The Huron Expositor, October 21, 1870.
The building was vacant for several years after Hill left and was wrecked in the early 1920s. Malcolm McKellar purchased the lot in 1921. A stable provided shelter for McKellar’s horse, Dobbin, used to pull the express delivery wagon. The lot was sold to the Legion in 1945, but it was not until 1959 that the Legion hall was built. In the 1930s, Legion members met in rooms at the Post Office. Later, as WWII veterans began returning, larger quarters were needed, and for several years the Branch made use of rooms in Cardno Hall. In 1948 an agreement was entered into with the Town of Seaforth to use facilities in the new Memorial Arena and Community Centre, and this served the Branch for the next 12 years.
Many among the members looked to the day when Branch 156 could occupy its own building. Discussions to this end, extending over several years, were translated into action in 1959 when construction began on the Legion Memorial Hall. The building was occupied by early 1960 and the formal opening was held on June 2, 1961.
Seaforth Branch 156 of the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League was organized at a meeting held in the G.W.V.A. Hall on October 15, 1929. A charter was issued to the Branch on October 25 of that same year.
From its inception the Branch assumed responsibility for all matters to do with veterans’ welfare and with perpetuating the memory of those veterans who made the supreme sacrifice. One of the first activities of the Branch was to organize a church parade and Armistice Day program, held a few weeks after the Branch was established.
Throughout the 1930s the activities of the Branch were directed to assisting those who found themselves in need. With the outbreak of WWII in 1939, members spared no effort to provide full support on the home front. Branch 156 participated throughout the war in a series of events, alone and with other organizations, which produced thousands of dollars in aid.
In WWI 142 Seaforth men and women enlisted and 36 were killed. In WWII there were 350 enlistments, of which 20 died in service. A dozen Seaforth men took part in the Korean War.
Since its opening the new Legion Hall has become the centre for much social activity in the community. Not only has the Branch provided modern facilities for the people of the community, it has continued to accept responsibility for and co-operate with programs which have meant much to the Seaforth district. For many years Branch 156 has sponsored Saturday morning hockey and hundreds of area children have taken their fledgling steps as hockey players while participating in the Legion-sponsored program. Similarly, in public speaking, the Legion has provided encouragement to area school children. Branch 156, by its gift to a 1970 fund-raising campaign, made possible a room in Seaforth Community Hospital.
A Women’s Auxiliary was formed on April 14, 1951. Financing of the building and later improvements to it were made possible in the main by the dedicated efforts of Branch members as well as by the Women’s Auxiliary.
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