London Citadel
Serving London, Ontario since 1882

1900s

1902-1912
With the arrival of a few Salvationists from England, the corps formed a permanent Songster Brigade in 1906.  The Songster Leader, Mr. J. Harp, led the twice-weekly rehearsals for a number of weeks before they sang in public, with the accompaniment of Mabel Horwood.  

The League of Mercy was carrying on its practice of conducting a weekly service at the jail on Sunday afternoons.  Up until 1910, there were meetings held at the corps every night of the week.  During the summer months meetings were held in Victoria Park under a tree, with the bass drum as a penitent form and the congregation sitting on the grass around.

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The Band's reputation was spreading and they were in demand to visit other corps.  On one trip to Windsor and Detroit, the train they were travelling on derailed, but thankfully there were no serious injuries, and after some delay the band continued on to its weekend away.

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The appointment of Corps Officers during this decade had slowed somewhat from previous years.  There were ten officers who had the leadership of the corps, one for each year.  Among these officers were Staff-Captain Perry, Adjutant J. Habkirk, and Staff-Captain Goodwin.

Cars were beginning to make their presence felt in London, and in 1904, the London Automobile Club managed to gather five cars and nineteen people for a road trip to Aylmer and St. Thomas by way of Belmont.  The London and Lake Erie Railway finally managed to complete the tracks to Port Stanley in 1907 after some very lengthy delays due to financial problems.  The London terminal of this railway was located on Horton Street, on the present site of the Men's Social and Thrift Store.  On 30th November 1910, the switch was thrown bringing Hydro power to London from Niagara at a charge of 4 1/2 cents per kilowatt-hour, a fee which was later dropped to 2 cents.  There was no fee for the meter rental.  The London Fire Department began testing the response of mechanical engines in 1911, but on the first three occasions the horses were faster than the engines.  A new self-starting motor finally allowed for the retirement of the horses.
 

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1912-1922
The whole of The Salvation Army world, but especially in Canada, was shocked when the Empress of Ireland sank in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in May 1914.  150 Canadian Salvationists went down with the ship, including the Territorial Commander, Commissioner Rees, and his wife.  All but ten members of the Canadian Staff Band perished.  They had been en route to the International Congress in London, England.  One of the survivors was Alfred Keith, who later became Divisional Commander of the Ontario West Division, and after retirement made London Citadel his home corps.

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The outbreak of World War I in 1914 brought changes to the London Citadel Corps.  In 1915, almost all of the Citadel bandsmen of military age joined up and formed the nucleus of the band of the 142nd Battalion, London's Own Regiment, under the leadership of the Citadel bandmaster, George Wilson.  The Home League began its operations in the corps in 1917, growing from the meetings held by servicemen's wives.  In 1916, The Salvation Army Guards, which later became the Girl Guides, were organized under the leadership of the Divisional Commander's daughter, Miss Reta Rawling.  In 1917, leadership was taken over by Miss Edith Salmond, (now Mrs. Edith Mann).

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The building on Clarence Street underwent extensive renovations in 1917, and a dinner and programme was held to celebrate the re-opening.  A total of 700 people were served dinner that night, with the corps officer providing the meat for each table.  The cost of the ticket which included dinner and the programme was 25 cents.  The incumbent mayor of London, Mr. Hugh Stevenson, was the programme's chairman.

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The major international event during this time was of course World War I.  London was headquarters for the Military District No.1, and Wolseley Barracks was remodelled to house the headquarters staff.  London became one of the most important recruiting centres in Canada.  Western Fair was taken over to house the troops in training, except while the Fair was on.  Various women's organizations were active in London at this time, and London acquired its first female driver in 1914, when Miss Meta MacBeth passed her driver's exam.  The Armistice on 11th November 1918, was celebrated by 20,000 people in Victoria Park.  Spanish influenza struck in London just as it did around the world, and churches, schools, theatres, and other places of public assembly, were closed in order to help control the spread of the disease.  A mini building-boom occurred after the war to handle both the increase in population and the fact that building during the wars years had been practically non-existent.  Funds began to be collected shortly after the end of the war to help build the War Memorial Children's Hospital as a practical monument to the men who went overseas.  The building itself would be opened in 1923.
 

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1922-1932
Many familiar names are part of London Citadel history.  Just a few names may bring back a memory or two, and of course some families are with us today: Judge, Hoe, Shepherd, McLeod, Baldwin, Wickens, Needham, Gibson, Potter, Davis ... and the list could go on!

There are many tales that can be told of the characters who were a part of London Citadel life.  One such story is about Songster Leader Herbert Horwood:  The band was going away for the weekend.  The Songster Leader worked for a bakery driving a horse-drawn van.  He did not have time to get the horse back to the bakery and was worried the band would leave without him, so he tied the horse to a tree, got in touch with the bakery and requested that someone come and look after the horse until his return!  Such dedication was typical at London Citadel.

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Some of the Corps Officers during this period included Commandants Ursaki, Ellsworth and Lang, Adjutants Leach, Alderman and Dixon, Captain Clague and Ensign Ellis, the last mentioned being a much-loved officer.  Unfortunately, Ensign Ellis was promoted to Glory after becoming ill while visiting his mother in Newfoundland.  His untimely death made headlines in the local newspaper.

The Citadel building on Clarence Street was redecorated in October 1931, with the corps paying half the expense and DHQ paying the other half.  In December 1931, there was a grand welcome meeting to welcome back to London Commissioner and Mrs. Edgar Hoe.  The Commissioner had been serving in India at the request of the General, who had called the Commissioner out of his retirement in London.  Eleven days of revival meetings were conducted by Colonel Clement Jacobs, beginning on New Year's Day in 1932.  The average attendance of the weeknight meetings was 180 people.

The Golden Anniversary celebrations were a great success, conducted by Colonel Dalziel, the Chief Secretary.  Bandmaster Hugh McGregor  wrote a march for this occasion entitled, London Jubilee, which was performed at the Saturday night festival.  In the Anniversary booklet is an advertisement for the Maple Leaf Cafe on Dundas Street, inviting people to visit them and enjoy a full course meal for either 35 or 40 cents.

London got its own radio station in November 1922, when the forerunner of today's CFPL radio, CJGC went on the air with an address given by Sir Adam Beck.  The London Street Railway began to phase out their electric street cars and replace them with gas powered buses in 1923.  Other methods of transportation were becoming popular, and by 1927, a municipal airport was necessary and one was established in Lambeth.  In 1929, a manually operated traffic light was installed at the intersection of Dundas and Richmond, to help control the car population in London, which now stood at almost 13,000. 

In 1925, there was a union of Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregationalist Churches, to form what is now the United Church.  In London, six Presbyterian Churches joined the United movement while five remained outside.  Two churches which joined, First Presbyterian and St. Andrew's Presbyterian, also joined together to become what is today, First St. Andrew's United Church.
 

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1932-1942
A diversion from the depression came to Londoners in 1934, in the form of a kidnapping.  Local businessman John Labatt III was held for $150,000.00 ransom, however, he was released after 3 days without the ransom being paid.  Another diversion of a completely different nature occurred in April 1937, when the Thames River overflowed its banks, submerging some 500 acres, mostly in West London.  There was only one fatality but property damage was estimated at almost $900,000.00 between the city and private citizens.

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In 1938, The Salvation Army Life Saving Guards, which were under the leadership of Oney Flowers here at the Citadel, became affiliated with the Girl Guides of Canada.  There was peak excitement during this decade when Canada received its first visit from a reigning monarch.  King George VI and Queen Elizabeth came to the country in June 1939, and were in London on 7th June.  Among the estimated 300,000 citizens and visitors who came out to welcome them was the London Citadel Band, who were to play at the corner of Grosvenor and Waterloo Streets.  As the band was preparing to march to their playing spot from the Citadel on Clarence Street, a car pulled up and an unknown American Salvation Army Colonel got out and stood behind the Divisional Commander for the march.  He was wearing a straw hat, Army tunic, grey trousers, and brown shoes, much to the consternation of the bandmaster, Hugh McGregor, who was a real stickler for proper uniform.  No one ever found out who the Colonel was!

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War was declared on 3rd September 1939, and London again became an active military centre.  As during WWI, the Western Fairgrounds were taken over for use by the soldiers.  Unlike before, the actual fair was suspended and not held again until after the end of the war.  The Citadel band was used for church services at Wolseley Barracks many times, and several bandsmen joined the Army Service Corps Band (Reserve), which was conducted by Hugh McGregor, Wally Needham, and then Glen Shepherd.  On one occasion the band went to play to soldiers who were departing for overseas.  The bandmaster asked if anyone had any requests.  Someone did request, 'Roll Out the Barrel', and somehow the band were able to fulfill this request, which they played with their usual finesse!

Among the officers from this decade were Major Ellen Bird and Adjutant Ethel Hart, Major and Mrs. Calvert, and Major and Mrs. Raymer, who were the parents of Mrs. Brigadier Marsland.

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On 21st December 1941, the corps' first Christmas candlelight service was held with the band and songsters providing the music.  The 60th anniversary celebrations were highlighted by the unveiling of a memorial stone in Market Square, marking the spot where Jack Addie and Joe Ludgate held their first meetings.  This stone has since been moved to the inside of the Royal Bank building, opposite Covent Garden Market.

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1942-1952
During the war years, the London Citadel Corps in general, and the band in particular, were augmented by soldiers, sailors and airmen from other countries, as well as other towns in Canada.  In 1944, Bandmaster Hugh McGregor moved to Brantford, and Glen Shepherd took over the leadership of the Citadel band.  The end of the WWII in August 1945 was the cause of much rejoicing.  However, for three families here at the Citadel, the celebrations were tempered by the fact that their loved ones did not return: Bandsmen Ray Law and Eric Hames were lulled in action, and Ted Andrewes died while in the forces.  In 1945, the Citadel lost one of its most prominent soldiers when Commissioner Edgar Hoe was Promoted to Glory.

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The Corps was continuing its tradition of evangelistic campaigns each year, always with good results.  In 1945, the campaign was conducted by Adjutant and Mrs. William Ross.  The morning service on New Year's Sunday 1950 was conducted by the newly appointed Divisional Commanders, Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Keith, and was broadcast in its entirety on CFPL-Radio.

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The corps received many visits from other musical sections in the Army world, including Earlscourt Band, Kitchener Band and Danforth Songsters.  In 1952, London was visited by the International Staff Band under the leadership of Colonel Duggan and Bandmaster Bernard Adams.  The 70th anniversary celebrations were conducted by Commissioner and Mrs. Dalziel, during which the march of witness was rained out, but a service was held at the Armouries featuring the massed bands of Hamilton Citadel, Kitchener Citadel and London Citadel.

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Just as after the First World War, a building-boom took place in London after the Second World War.  There was a great move to the suburbs and the car population increased accordingly.  This led to the installation of the first parking meters in London in 1948.  Public transit now consisted of gas-powered buses, since the last street cars had been phased out during the war and the steel rails ripped up to be used in the war effort.

 There were changes to the commercial face of London also.  The long-standing London department store, Smallman & Ingram was sold to Simpson's, and grocery chains such as A & P, Loblaws, and Dominion, began to make their presence felt, causing many independent grocery stores to close.  Heavy industry moved into London when the General Motors Diesel Division opened in London in 1950.  Another flood of the Thames River in April 1947, led to the formation of the Upper Thames Valley Conservation Authority which would later be responsible for the construction of the Fanshawe Dam.
 

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1952-1962

London got its own television station when CFPL-TV went on the air at 6:00 pm on 28th November 1953, and that same year, the Fanshawe Dam was completed to offer London protection from floods.  With the completion of the Dam, came the creation of Lake Fanshawe with park and boating facilities.  In 1955 London celebrated the 100th anniversary of its incorporation as a city.  In 1957 Highway 401 opened from London to Woodstock, and all the way to Toronto by 1960.  The University expanded greatly after the war. King's College opened in 1955, and the Faculty of Law started to take students in 1959.  There were other familiar landmarks in London which date from this decade.  The new wing at Victoria Hospital, the Dearness Home, Marian Villa, The Salvation Army Children's Village, and the CNIB Centre on Ridout Street.  In 1956, the new Territorial Headquarters building opened in Toronto, together with the Bramwell Booth Temple.  The London and Port Stanley Railway discontinued passenger service in 1957, due mainly to the increase in the number of cars, owned by the general population.  London's Storybook Gardens in Springbank Park opened in 1958.

In January 1958, the London Citadel Corps received a new flag, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Archie Andrewes in memory of their son, Ted, who died during the War.  This flag was presented during meetings conducted by the Chief Secretary, Colonel and Mrs. Clarence Wiseman.  The four city corps united in April 1958 to hold ten days of evening meetings led by Colonel Rich and fourteen cadets from the College for Officer Training in Toronto.  The Duet Club at the Citadel (a group for couples), led a weekend at the corps with meetings conducted by Brigadier and Mrs. Thomas Murray, former corps officers.  The executive of the Duet Club at this time consisted of Rody and Jean McLeod, Bert and Girlie Thompson, and Bill and Jean Grey.  One of the last pioneer members of the corps, Mrs. Smallman, died in 1958.  She was associated with Jack Addie and Joe Ludgate as a teenager, and they were just starting the work of the Army in London.  Mrs. Smallman was the grandmother of Mrs. Grace Murphy.

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A series of meetings were held over Easter 1959 by Senior-Major Pindred, including two services on Good Friday, and a programme presented by the songsters under the leadership of Songster Leader Ed Judge.  In 1959 the Citadel underwent more renovations when new seating and lighting was added.

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In 1961, London grew by over 42,000 acres overnight with the annexation of parts of Westminster and London Townships.
 

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1962-1972
The Corps Officers in the early sixties, Major and Mrs. Gordon Holmes, became the first Corps Officers to welcome a new baby into their home, when their son Philip was born.  The welcome meeting for Captain and Mrs. Fred Watkin in 1965 was held without the participation of the band, whose instruments were in the process of being converted to low pitch.  The band was now under the leadership of Bram Gregson, who took over at the end of 1964.  Later that same year it was decided that the evening meetings would begin at 6:30pm, instead of 7:00pm.

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In 1966, the 'New Building Committee' was formed, and in June 1967, at a special meeting of the entire corps, it was decided to purchase land on Richmond Street, north of Cheapside, for the building of the new Citadel.  This land was sold again when the existing neighbours protested, believing that The Salvation Army would attract drunkards and other undesirables to the neighbourhood.  Some people in the corps also felt that the new Citadel should be located in a newer area of the city where there would be young families with children.  The corps then purchased the land here on Springbank Drive.

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The Salvation Army took part in the Canadian Centennial celebrations in 1967.  There was an Army float in the parade on July 1, 1967, and the Citadel band participated.

The building on Clarence Street was sold in November 1970, and meetings were held in Woodland Heights Public School on Springbank Drive.  The new citadel building was officially opened by Commissioner Clarence Wiseman on 4th September 1971.  The total cost of the land, building, landscaping, paving, furniture and equipment was $514,799.

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Canada officially got a new flag on 15th February 1965, and the Centennial celebrations in 1967 were highlighted by the opening of Centennial Hall on Wellington Street.  The first concert there was a production of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.  London's new airport in the former hamlet of Crumlin in London Township opened in 1965, at a cost of more than $1.56 million dollars.

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1972-1982
The 90th Anniversary celebrations were held in September 1972, and were highlighted by the unveiling of a stained glass window at Wesley Knox United Church on Askin Street, commemorating the first time Jack Addie and Joe Ludgate met at a revival meeting in the church.

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In the City of London, an annual tradition began in 1974 with the first Home County Folk Festival in Victoria Park.

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In September 1975 many families from the London Citadel Corps went on a weekend retreat to Echo Grove Camp in Michigan.  The Corps Officers' quarters at the corner of Ridout and McKenzie Streets were sold in 1976, and a new house purchased on Nottinghill Crescent, which was much closer to the corps.  That summer, London Citadel Band, led by Bandmaster Bram Gregson, undertook a two-week tour of England, which was a great success in spite of the oppressive heat in England that year.  The tour's highlight came at a performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

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In 1977, one of the older members of the corps, Colonel Clinton Eacott, earned his Master of Divinity degree from the Faculty of Theology at Huron College.  One of the more prominent visitors to the corps during this decade was the well known theological author, Malcolm Muggeridge, from England.  The youth sections of the corps were playing a prominent role, and the Young Peoples Band, under the leadership of John Yates, undertook several 'away' engagements.  During 1977, they united with the youth bands of Brantford and Etobicoke Corps for a series of three festivals, one at each of the three corps.  In 1978, the Young People's Band went on a weekend trip to Woodroffe Temple Corps in Ottawa.  That same year, many corps members of various ages came together to participate in a production of the Gowans-Larsson musical, Jesus Folk.  The musical was produced and directed by Howard Phillips and Paul Green.  The musical was performed three times, once in Goderich, once in Windsor during Youth Councils, and once in London at Oakridge Secondary School.

The Grand Theatre on Richmond Street was restored during 1977 and 1978, and has been serving Londoners since in its beautiful building.

On January 26, 1978 one of the worst blizzards in London's history struck. One foot of snow fell and after it was all over, there were 8 people dead. 

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In November 1981, the Songster Brigade undertook a ten-day tour of the west coast, both in Canada and the United States, under the leadership of Songster Leader Wayne Taylor.

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1982-1992
The 100th Anniversary celebrations held in May 1982 were a great success.  The special guests for the weekend were Commissioner and Mrs. William Goodier.  The weekend began with a banquet at the Lamplighter Inn, and throughout the weekend there were numerous events with all sections of the corps participating.  On the Saturday night there was a presentation of the Gowans and Larsson musical, The Blood of the Lamb, by the young folk of the Ontario West Division.  In October 1982, the whole corps was very proud when it was announced that Colonel Leonard Kirby had been awarded the Order of the Founder.

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In 1982, the corps paid off the mortgage on its building, then 1983, the first major renovations to the Citadel were carried out.  The ceiling in the gymnasium was lowered and acoustic tiles were added to try to reduce the echo effect.  Other renovations since then have included the addition of classrooms off the gymnasium, the redecorating of both the band and songster rooms, a portable classroom behind the junior chapel, and a recent coat of paint on the interior hallways.

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In September 1984, a tornado tore through the White Oaks area of London, and although there were many injuries and much property damage, there were no deaths.  A neighborhood carol service held in December 1984 at Saunders Secondary School attracted over 900 people.  

In 1985, the Westminster Campus of Victoria Hospital opened after 30 months of construction and a cost of $73 million.

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Mrs. Major Joyce Birt was promoted to Glory in June 1986.

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In 1989 London was visited by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother who dedicated the "Flame of Hope" at Banting House on Adelaide Street. This flame is to burn constantly until a cure for diabetes is found.

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The musical sections of the corps were as active as they had always been, both in visiting other corps and hosting musical guests.  The Band went on a tour of the west coast, and the Songsters, under the leadership of Ron Gilbert, went for a weekend to New York City as the guests of the Central Corps, and the Youth Band toured Southern California.  Among the guests who visited the Citadel were: Winnipeg Bible College Singers, Sydney Congress Hall Band, Enfield Citadel Band, Mississauga Temple Songsters, and the International Staff Songsters.

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January 1990 marked the beginning of the People Profile feature in the weekly bulletin.  This was intended to enable people to know more about the members of the Citadel, whether they were newcomers or long time members.  In May 1990, Kirby Manor was officially opened on Commissioners Road West, under the auspices of the Wonderland Non-Profit Housing Corporation.  The proposal for a non-profit building came from Bandmaster Bram Gregson, and with the support of the corps officer, Major Earle Birt, the Corporation was founded.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation was made up of members of the London Citadel congregation.

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The Sunday School at the Citadel has always maintained high standards, and in the last few years a very dedicated group of leaders and teachers under the leadership of Young People's Sergeant-Major Joyce Hawkins has expanded the Sunday School through outreach and the bus ministry. The Citadel is now consistently among the top Sunday Schools for attendance in the territory.