November 12, 1917 – Port Arthur
Many of Port Arthur and Fort Williams’ local organizations were ready and willing to make donations to their chosen groups. The West Algoma Local Council of Women wished to donate $5.00 (equivalent to $81.56 today) to the British Red Cross. The Port Arthur City Council acknowledged this gift and passed on the funds in their name.
November 12, 1917 – Port Arthur
The Great War Veterans Association (G.W.V.A.) had requested a variety of donations from the Port Arthur City Council. In this case they sent a letter inviting the Port Arthur City Officials to participate in a meeting. The letter was filed.
November 12, 1917 – Port Arthur
In October the British Red Cross made an appeal to Port Arthur City Council requesting $1000 instead of $500, to which they agreed. The British Red Cross sent correspondence to thank the City Council for their funding.
November 12, 1917 – Port Arthur
The Militia and Defense Department sent a letter dated October 29, 1917 to Port Arthur City Council regarding Samuel J. Saull’s honourable discharge from his military services on the front lines. Corp. Saull’s story had been in the news because, while he was away fighting, his wife had become seriously ill and had to be sent to an institution, leaving their four children in the care of the Port Arthur children’s shelter. Saull had been injured on the front lines three times: one of such injuries was mentioned in the April 15, 1916 Port Arthur Chronicle News. Saull had gotten leave to return home to deal with this family crisis. Col. J.J. Carrick asked the war office to grant Corp. Saull an honourable discharge so that he could look after his family. The honourable discharge was granted.
You may notice above that Corp. Saull is referred to by the names “Samuel James” and “L.J.” or “Leonard James”. We have looked into their records and believe that these are the same person, as the military service number for Samuel in the April 15th article very closely matches the military service number for Leonard in his attestation papers, there are attestation papers for only one person with the last name “Saull” and both people are listed as living at the same address.
November 12, 1917 – Port Arthur
A letter was sent to the Port Arthur City Council from the Organization of Resources Committee regarding the War Bonds.
November 12, 1917 – Port Arthur
The Port Arthur City Council approves that the Property and Fire Committee should instruct the Fire Chief to ask for an exemption from Military Service for the men in his department as their skills were required in Port Arthur for the safety of the citizens.
November 13, 1917 – Fort William
The Fort William City Council received a letter from the City Auditor regarding the suggestion that the Patriotic Society Books be audited. The City Council referred it to the Finance Committee.
November 13, 1917 – Fort William
The Great War Veterans Association (G.W.V.A.) wrote a letter requesting the approval from Fort William City Council to hold Sunday evening concerts in the winter after the regular church service. The G.W.V.A. was given the permission to hold these concerts.
November 13, 1917 – Fort William
Port Arthur City Council sent a letter to the Fort William City Council asking for their support in the establishment of a Military Hospital and Vocational Training School for Returning Soldiers in “the Head of the Lakes”. They voted to support this effort and “urge upon the Government the necessity of establishing in Fort William a military hospital and vocational training school for returned soldiers.” They struck a committee consisting of Mayor Murphy and Aldermen MacDonald and Matthews to meet with the Great War Veterans Association (G.W.V.A.) of the City and their MPP, Mr. C.W. Jarvis.
November 19, 1917 – Port Arthur
H.B. Dawson and J. W. Hawker both had written letters requesting that the Port Arthur City Council construct a Miniature Rifle Range for soldiers to practice and train on. The Council instructs Mr. Dawson to determine a suitable location and bring it back to Council. They suggest he examine the basements of the Customs Building and the Orpheum Theatre as well as the second story of the old Chronicle Building.
November 19, 1917 – Port Arthur
Brantford sent a letter regarding the resolutions that made regarding the Canadian Victory Loan for their city. The letter was passed on to the Finance Committee for considerations and approval.
November 19, 1917 – Port Arthur
The Treasurer issued a cheque to the Women’s Canadian Club for $500 (the amount they were still allotted for this year’s patriotic tax levy.)
November 19, 1917 – Port Arthur
The City of Port Arthur bought many War Bonds through the years. In this case they decided to contribute $100,000 in the Victory Loan Bonds. This amount is equal to $2,175,000 in today’s Canadian dollars. The amount was to come from the General Strike Fund and the Railway Award Trust Fund.
November 26, 1917 – Port Arthur
The Board of Trade is advised that another meeting be held regarding the Vocational Training School for Returned Soldiers Committee. Port Arthur had sent a letter to the Fort William City Council that was discussed on November 13, requesting their presence at a meeting regarding the establishment of a Vocational Training School for Returning Soldiers.
November 26, 1917 – Port Arthur
Port Arthur City Council had decided to make a gift of $250 to the 52nd Battalion on October 1 of 1917.
November 26, 1917 – Port Arthur
There were a couple of taxes already established to contribute to the War effort including the Income Tax and the Patriotic Fund, which were both levied through municipal taxes and some fundraising efforts. The City of Guelph was protesting a further proposed Provincial War Tax. The City of Port Arthur did not think that there would be anything to gain by protesting the tax, and they believed it to be “perfectly legal” so did not support the City of Guelph’s protest. For more information on the Patriotic Fund, see Fundraising Efforts.
November 26, 1917 – Port Arthur
W.H. Sara requested newspapers and periodicals for the Great War Veterans Association’s (G.W.V.A.) Club Rooms for the reading pleasure of those utilizing the space. The request was granted right away. The Port Arthur Council lists the papers that they would be acquiring for the room as The Graphic, Illustrated London News, Toronto Saturday Night, The Saturday Evening Post, The Chicago Tribune, and the Toronto Globe.
November 26, 1917 – Port Arthur
The Garden Club had been very active in Port Arthur since May of 1917, and reported on their activities.
November 27, 1917 – Fort William
The Provincial Board of Health sent a letter to the Fort William City Council regarding returning soldiers. The Board stated that they were to be given a course to prepare them for jobs as sanitary inspectors. City Council referred the letter to the Fort William Board of Health.
November 27, 1917 – Fort William
Like Port Arthur, Fort William was contributing to the Victory Loan Bonds. They also decided on the same amount of $100,000, with a date of 1937. The money would be taken from the Sinking Fund.
World War One Thunder Bay Centennial Project 