  .....The colours of William Booth's army were first carried to Belleville
in September of 1883, a full 16 months after Canada's first corps opened
in London, Ontario; and 10 months after this first Officers Council
was held in Toronto. Many of those pictured here were instrumental in getting
this, the 10th corps of the Salvation Army off the ground: Thomas Moore
(with full beard in the centre), who oversaw the early work of the Army
in Canada; (to the left of him) his daughter who assisted in opening Belleville
Corps; Nellie Ryerson and Emma Churchill (2nd and 3rd from the left respectively
in the second row) Belleville's first Corps Officers; Capt Mottershead
(top row 4th from the right) who would become Belleville's third commanding
officer; and Abby Thompson (bottom right) popular officer who opened Kingston
Corps, then Divisional Headquarters for the area that included Belleville.
The photo also shows Addie and Ludgate (3rd from the left and far right
respectively, top row), whose colourful story is much intertwined with
the early days of this Division. Capt. Wass (hand on Maj. Moore's shoulder)
would have been one of the first Army officers to arrive in Belleville.
Met by Rev. William Stacy, a Congregational Church minister, as he stepped
from the train on Sept. 12, 1883, Capt. Wass inspected a number of available
properties in search of one suitable to serve as barracks. Metropolitan
Hall, formerly an opera house, which stood north of the four corners at
Campbell St., was secured at a monthly rental of $13. There, on an upper
floor, arrangements were made to "open fire" on the city of Belleville
on Sept. 23, 1883. Nellie Ryerson, 18-year-old daughter of a New Jersey preacher, converted to salvationism a mere 13 months earlier at the urging of Capt. Joe Ludgate, with probably not more than eight weeks preparation for officership, was appointed to take command of Belleville Corps with Lieutenant Emma Churchill. First meetings were scheduled for 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. each preceded one-half hour earlier by open-air gatherings, probably at Market Square. Nightly meetings continued through the following week. Admission to the Hall was 10 cents. And, on the following Sunday a 7 a.m. knee-drill was added as an official meeting. The Army was well received. A favourable press, popular officers, a population that regarded religion as stale and remote from the realities of everyday living, a number of supportive clergymen from other denominations, all aided in the early growth of the Army in Belleville. Overcoming controversy about the architectural fitness of old Metropolitan Hall for public gatherings, the mischievous efforts of a few detractors, the opposition of old established churches, and, last but not least, the unfortunate death of a woman attending an early meeting who mistook an unguarded elevator shaft for a stair well, the Army counted over 100 soldiers on its rolls in the first six months here. All Army meetings were well attended - the Army was known to put on a good show; for example, the Hallelujah Wedding of Capt. Ryerson to Army pioneer, Joe Ludgate. Ludgate had been a foundry worker in Belleville before moving to London, Ontario and meeting Jack Addie. He had been Nellie Ryerson's spiritual mentor, and had filled in for Nellie at meetings when frequent flare-ups of a mysterious illness during her short stay here forced Capt. Ryerson to seek treatment at a New York hospital. The Intelligencer of January 30, 1884 contained a lengthy account of that wedding, oddly enough held at Bridge St. Methodist Church (now Bridge St. United), since the Army of that day was recognized only as a movement, not a church, and officers were not ordained to perform legal marriages. Early friend of the Army, William Stacy, officiated. Over 1000 paid admissions witnessed the two-hour spectacle. Another 4000 outside cheered the blessed couple on their way to a reception at the new City Hall. And the Ludgates promptly farewelled to the U.S. territory (Joe later serving as chaplain to the United States Army), leaving Capt. Annie Hassen, for years credited with opening the work here, in command. Hallelujah Weddings were common in the early days. In 1912, Belleville's
57th commanding officer, Ensign William Hamilton, was also married in a
'10-cents-a-head' wedding. The only reason to mention this wedding is to
point out that 57 commanding officers, not counting assistant officers,
in the first 29 years was not an unusual turnover or sign of instability
among early Army leaders. Rather, it seems to have been a deliberate practice
designed to keep interest and enthusiasm high, and was typical for the
day. In fact, Belleville Corps changed officers four times a year in each
of 1896, 1899 and 1902. Three officers a year was better than average.
Few lasted an entire year; and only one ever served two stints here.... ......In 1886, during the tenure of Capt. William McIntyre, who later
became Territorial Commander for the Central U.S., Belleville Corps moved
into its first permanent barracks. A parcel of land, lot #28 on Pinnacle
St., deeded to the Army from William Bleeker at a cost of $550, would be
their home for the next 83 years.....At a cost estimated to be close to
$3400, a barracks (the first of two to occupy the site) was erected. With
a red and white brick front, a 30-ft circular ceiling in the centre, seating
capacity for 400 salvationists, heated by 2 box coal stoves and lit by
gas from a meter that consumed quarters, this hall was opened by a visiting
entourage from the Territorial War Office in Kingston on May 24, 1886.
In 1887, a well-liked officer by the name of Gideon Miller took command
of the now 130 uniformed soldiers that made up Belleville Corps. He was
assisted by Capt. Jettick, a colourful character reputed to have taken
a cow with him to Officers' Council in Toronto that year, a gift from a
local patron to the Toronto Home of Rest. Capt. Jettick left Belleville
Corps before his term here was up to tour North America with an all-star
baseball team. The external facade, as well as the interior of the barracks underwent
a number of changes during the ensuing years until 1939 when, following
a lengthy and at times contentious dispute with headquarters over what
sums of money were retained in Belleville' property account (Corps Treasurer,
B. W. Brown, even threatening resignation if clarification was not forthcoming)
the old building was demolished in July, 1939 to make way for a second
barracks on the site. Local contractor and former songster leader Thomas
Adams built the new hall and had it ready for opening on Dec. 9, 1939.
In the intervening months, services continued above a store on Front St.
A fire under the band room in 1947 destroyed 14 instruments and scorched
music that is still in use today. The building was eventually sold to the
city in 1969 and continues to serve Bellevillians as the home of the local
theatre guild. Cramped space, particularly for expanding Young People's
activities, dictated the move to property on Victoria Ave.
under Capt. June Dwyer. Sod was turned in November
of 1967. A song to commemorate the opening of the new hall in 1969
was composed by former Belleville bandsman, Gen. Arnold Brown. That
building was sold in June, 1999. ........One of the things most closely identified with the Salvation
Army here and everywhere is its bands. It is uncertain when banding began
at Belleville Corps. A newspaper report from August, 1884 claimed that
$17 had been raised for the purchase of band instruments. Recollections
by some of a Charles Smith who instructed beginners, and a bandmaster Jack
Hughes who came from Kingston in 1884, and later returned, could not be
substantiated. By 1906, however, the band was in full operation......David
Wardle is remembered by most as Belleville's first bandmaster.....Mr. Wardle
and his family arrived in Belleville on June 10th of that year, having
left behind the collieries of Chesterton, England. The story goes
that he had applied to become an R.C.M.P. constable and was on his way
to their Winnipeg headquarters when met in Toronto by a Capt. William Patterson,
who had been C.O. here in 1893. Capt. Patterson informed Mr. Wardle that
Belleville Corps was looking for a bandmaster, a position at which he had
had experience at North Chesterton. Given lodging by then Corps Treasurer,
John Consaul, and obtaining employment at the lock factory which stood
next to the old Pinnacle St. hall, Mr. Wardle decided to stay, and was
Belleville's bandmaster until shortly before his death in 1950..... .......1949 saw another ex-patriot collier assume leadership of the band. Jack Green, already for 20 years a Belleville bandsman, and bandsman in Wales before that, who had emigrated to Canada in 1928, won a gold medal for cornet solo at the 1929 C.N.E., been a member of the 1930's instrumental quartet (with good friend Gen. Arnold Brown) and vocal octet, leader of a 50-voice chorus and numerous other musical groups, had served a full apprtenticeship before becoming not only Belleville's bandmaster, but also mid-Ontario's divisional bandmaster.....He retired as Belleville's bandmaster in 1968..... In 1969, the baton passed to bandmaster Gord Grainger....[then, in 1987 to bandmaster John Kelsey.....and in 2000 to Dave Pearson.] .......Songster brigades in Belleville date back to about 1911 when
Bandmaster Wardle reportedly organized a group of 7 singers, all by the
name of Robinson - five girls from one family, and a brother and sister
from another, into the first ever Belleville songster brigade. Charles
Robinson became the group's first leader, but apparently not for long as
he left to become an officer. Mac Parks took over the brigade for awhile;
but when he moved to St. Catherines, Thomas Adams became leader and was
leader until about 1930......The songster baton then passed to Stan Lessels
[sometime before 1932]......1934 saw the staging of the first annual "Songster
Festival" by the Belleville brigade, from all accounts an outstanding show
that was never repeated! When Mr. Lessels became Corps Sargeant-Major he
handed over the reigns to Bert Wood who had emigrated from England in 1952....he
then to Gord Grainger, then Jack Hatfield, and Ron Lessels. In 1916....this building on Station St known as "The Branch", shown after it was lifted and given a new front, served as a Y. P. Hall and the beginnings of a Sunday School outreach that continues to this day.....
...to be continued
|
[Art Fudge led the brigade in the mid-eighties, then Sue Pearson has led
since the early nineties.]
The Home League, one of Belleville Corps' most successful ministries,
was begun in 1916 by Miss Bessie Humphries, who since 1914 had organized
mothers' meetings at the Corps and so she naturally became Belleville Corps'
first Home League Secretary, in addition to being YPSM at The Branch. Upon
her untimely death in 1918 she was succeeded by Emma Brown....Mrs. Burke.....was
first Assistant Home League Secretary....and Mrs. Naylor was first Home
League Treasurer.....In 1952, under Capt. Fred Brightwell, the League of
Mercy was inaugurated with Mrs. Arthur Breach, who had been Home League
Secretary since 1945, assuming the added responsibility of first League of Mercy Secretary.....
