A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNION HALL AND IT'S COMMUNITY

Before the arrival of settlers from the British Isles in the early 19^th century, the Algonquin Anishnaabek people occupied this part of eastern Ontario as well as western Québec, still unceded territory today. Treaty negotiations with the federal and provincial governments are currently ongoing.

As early as 1820, settlers were clearing forests and establishing farms in the Union Hall district, then part of Upper Canada. The colonial government surveyed the land into counties, townships, concessions and lots, and created a land ownership and registration system. Union Hall was situated in Ramsay Township, which had a population of some 850 people by 1822. Today it is part of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills.

In the early 19th century, it is likely that children whose parents were not able to provide home schooling were sent to learn at a neighbour’s home. The first school, of log construction, was built near the site of the current hall, in 1847. The last school on the site was closed in 1964 and moved to the Ramsay Township works yard, where it was used for storage until it was demolished a few years ago.

The area had no church or public hall until the 1850s, when a decision was made to construct a hall where all Christian denominations could worship. in 1856, the deed was registered to the Directors, Ramsay and Lanark Library. It is not clear whether the name of the hall was in reference to the union of the churches, or the fact that it served residents of both Ramsay and Lanark Townships. Early on, the name was adopted to describe the surrounding community, becoming a place name in its own right.

The original frame building, still in use today, was constructed in 1857. It served as a lending library and was used as a place of worship until 1874. Subsequently, Union Hall was used for meetings (including those of the Sons of Temperance and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union), community events such as school concerts, dances, plays and musical events, and community get-togethers.

The Union Hall Women’s Institute, established in 1932, played a major role in maintaining the hall until it was disbanded in the 1990s. These women supervised improvements such as the extension of the stage, the addition of a serving counter and general maintenance. They kept the community united during the Depression and later raised money and supplies to contribute to war efforts at home and abroad.

Some early industries in the area which came to be known as Union Hall included maple syrup production, a pork packing establishment and potash making. In 1873, the Rosedale Union Hall Cheese Factory was erected. In 1947, a new cheese factory was built across the road, ceasing operations in 1970. Later, a service station and a beauty salonr operated nearby for many years.

In 1988, major improvements to the hall were begun, including the construction of an addition for a kitchen and washrooms, as well as a second exit. The ownership of the hall was vested in the newly incorporated Union Hall Community Centre, a Registered Charity. The hall has been substantially upgraded in recent years, including improvements to the water system, the kitchen and bathrooms, to bring it up to modern standards so that it can continue to operate as a community hub and meeting place.