700 cold meat suppers served at Avening Hall opening
“The biggest event in the history of Avening,” reported The Creemore Star of July 12, 1951, “was the official opening on Friday night, July 6, of the splendid, newly built community centre.”
The grand old lady, Avening Community Centre, also known affectionately as the ACC North, is 64 years old and proudly serves the community yet.
Approximately 700 attended the exciting event, the weather was ideal and the program went without a hitch. Wallace Timmons, chairman, kept the program running smoothly bringing on many who brought congratulations. A ribbon cutting ceremony officially opened the hall, followed by musical entertainment.
Don Sutherland, Bob Carruthers, Art Carruthers, Doug McLaren, Gwen Woodward, Ruby Hammond, Rose Hammond, Joan Lennox, Gayle Millsap, Dorothy Timmons and Eunice Whitley were the members of various vocal groups.
Wayne Noble did a tap dancing routine. A cowboy act, a comedy act, piano and clarinet selections rounded out the entertainment.
A sense of cooperation must have prevailed as the community managed to serve 700 cold meat suppers. The evening ended with modern and old time dancing.
The 1984 history of Nottawasaga provides the background story of the hall’s early beginnings:
The prospect of a community centre started with Avening and Banda Farm Forums which had begun in 1941. In 1950 Jack Rainbird, president of Avening Farm Forum, learned that an Air Force hut was available near Sunnidale Corners for $1,000.
Jack Rainbird, Lorne Sutherland and Howard Noble were the key men who approached the bank, and put in money besides, to start the fund. Members of Avening and Banda donated $60 each with the result the hut was purchased for cash.
Carle Woodward’s farm in the village of Avening provided the ideal situation and two and one-half acres were purchased. The first chairman was Lorne Sutherland and he headed the operations for the next two years.
The hut, 30 feet by 130 feet, was dismantled and moved to Avening. All work was done by community volunteers except the head electrician, the plasterer and the one who installed the furnace.
The opening on July 6th was a happy time. The whole operation, valued at $20,000, was free of debt. Seven hundred people attended and were served a banquet in the basement.
To raise money for the bowling alley, a white elephant sale was held and a play, ‘Oh Henry,’ directed by Betty Coker, was put on in 14 communities and brought in considerable funds.
In the beginning, the kitchen was in the basement but under the chairmanship of Cliff Noble, the hall was renovated in June 1980 and the kitchen, now a most efficient one, is upstairs at the east end of the building above the furnace room.
Bob Stainton and Dennis Rainbird were the cabinet makers and also installed pie shelves and the centre island with three sinks.
The Junior Farmers began the update of the hall with the building of a fire wall to the furnace. Four beef barbecues since 1980 have added considerably to the funds for the renovations.
Wintario grants covered a portion of the $20,000 to upgrade the washrooms, kitchen and safety features.
Two new pin setters were installed in 1980 so that bowling would continue to prosper at the community centre.
By 1982 everything was paid for in the initial renovations, and thus the fund was closed.
Since that account was written in 1984 the hall has been used continuously.
The beef barbecues attract large crowds every July. It appears that everyone in the whole community throws themselves into hosting the event 100 per cent.
This is the 15th year for bringing in famous Canadian rock groups, some who have won Juno awards. These events are very popular and raise significant amounts to help with the upkeep of the hall.
Carol Rowbotham, from her earliest days, has spent many hours in the ACC. She served many years on the hall board and has enjoyed many of the centre’s events. One of her happiest memories is that of the Whitley family Christmases.
While the women were busy preparing the meal, the youngsters were shooed upstairs where they prepared their own version of a Christmas concert.
With costumes from home and previous experience on the stage they were ready to provide the show of the year.
These memories of Avening Community Centre might be summed up in a paragraph I recently read in a library book.
“You realize that the concerts and card games, dances and public meetings are like what happens at the kitchen table at home. People with memory in common get together for a single purpose – eating or praying or doing business or having fun – and it brings out surprising wonderful qualities in every individual.”
Archivist Helen Blackburn writes about the history of Creemore and surrounding area. She is the former editor of The Creemore Star, The Creemore Echo’s predecessor.
