TRAVELLER’S REST HALL

The Excelsior Sons of Temperance Division promoted the building of a hall at Traveller's Rest around 1890. It was built on land leased by Thomas Townsend for 100 years. People of the community contributed their time and labour to the building of this hall. It was used as a commun- ity center and paid for chiefly with basket-socials and lectures for which tickets were sold.

Two of the lecturers were: Father Gillis, the parish priest of Indian River, who lectured on a trip to the Chicago World Fair, and Charles Murphy of Summerside, on John Boyle O’Reilly.

Church services were held regularly in the hall for the members of North Bedeque Charge, living in this area. Rev. Thomas Whent was the last minister to hold service in the hall as these services were discontinued permanently in the fall of 1968.

There was also a non-denominational Sunday School with supplies being obtained from David C. Cook Publishing Co. The first Superinten- dents were Colin Townsend, Percy Marchbank and Delbert Rayner.

A popular use of Traveller’s Rest Hall was the holding of the Annual School Concert, an event very important in the life of the teacher, pupil and parent. Amateur plays were presented almost every winter and their dramatization was eagerly looked forward to by everyone.

In 1921 the hall was moved to the north side of the Post Road, now Highway 2, on land donated by Robert Marchbank, who had purchased the Townsend property. The old lot reverted to the Marchbank property. The next year, 1920, the War Memorial was placed beside the hall.

A big revival service was held in 1924 at the hall when Rev. D. K. Ross was minister and Rev. Dr. Sidey was the Evangelist. Huge crowds

came every night for two weeks and over two dozen people were received as church communicants.

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