MARSHFIELD HALL

Marshfield Hall played a vital role in the life of Marshfield and neighbouring areas for more than a century. The hall was built for the Marshfield Hall Company established in April, 1888 by an Act of the Provincial Legislature entitled An Act to Incorporate the Marshfield Hall Company. The Act stated that Isaac Crosby, William A. Stewart, William Thompson, James Wyatt, John Ferguson, their associates, successors or assigns are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate, by the name of Marshfield Hall Company. And by that name shall have all the general powers and privileges made incident to a corporation by the Acts of Parliament of this Island, relating to or concerning corporations.

James Wyatt, a founding member of the Hall Company was the supervisor for the crew who built the hall. The majority of the wood used in the building was hemlock. The window headers and window sills were birds-eye maple. Wooden pegs instead of nails were used throughout. The window panes were tear-drop glass and the floor was constructed with boards matched and fitted together over ten by ten inch joists.

ca. 1992

Some Interesting Facts Regarding Marshfield Hall

In 1912 a joint meeting of the Marshfield Hall Company, the Farmer’s Institute and the Temperance Society met to discuss rent etc. for the use of the hall. Rent was set at $0.50 per meeting with coal and lamp oil to be supplied by the Company.

The rent was gradually increased and in 1949 was $5.00 per meeting. Before the hall was closed the price for a meeting rental was $25.00.

In 1915 taxes on the hall were $0.48 set by the Land Assessment Act of 1912. In 1919 taxes were $0.65 and in 1923 were increased to $1.19. The Health Tax was $0.17.

Marshfield Women’s Institue Hall

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Rupert Godfrey was paid twenty cents per meeting to light the fire and he carried on at that rate for many years.

In 1915 there were two anti-auto meetings held at the hall.

Over these early years the hall was rented to the Farmer’s Institute, Women’s Institute, Young People’s Society of the United Church (1925), the Dunstaffnage Club (1927), Presbyterian Church suppers, Marshfield and Dunstaffnage Rural Telephone Company, Cooperative Commonwealth Federation, Temperance Society, School concerts, plays performed by neighbouring districts, bazaars, bean socials, goose suppers, etc. Tickets for the goose suppers were 35 and 40 cents. There was even a “Share the Wealth” concert and a fashion show.

In 1937 for a picnic the following was purchased for the canteen: 1,000 Turret cigars, 1,100 Sweet Cap cigars, 50 Marguerite cigars, 1 keg of apple cider as well as fruit, candy and orange ale.

That same year a stage was added to the hall and a small kitchen and dressing rooms were constructed. Woods used for this extension were hemlock, douglas fir, pine and spruce for the flooring.

In 1935 by the request of the Hall Company two Women’s Institute members Mrs. Ludlow Jenkins and Mrs. W. Gibson were appointed to the Board of Directors. In 1958 Marshfield Hall was conveyed to the Marshfield Women’s Institute for the sum of $5.00 of the lawful money of Canada. The Corporate Seal of the Marshfield Hall Company was affixed and Albert Boswell, President and Cecil Stetson, Secretary-Treasurer signed their name in authentication, the said grantor releases to the said grantee all the claims upon the said lands. And thus the Marshfield Women’s Institute became the owners of Marshfield Hall.

Once acquired by the Women’s Institute

Courtesy of Doris MacBeath