TROUT LAKE DANCE HALL
Twp. Of Seguin Museum Board Summer 2003 - Project
THE TROUT LAKE DANCE HALL The idea of a dance hall started when Fred Gould, a young teacher at Humphrey School, now known as The Humphrey Museum, decided he wanted to stay in this area for the holidays. He was unable to find a job and was discussing this problem with Walter Kingsland, who was later to serve as Reeve of Humphrey Township. He suggested that Fred should sell shares in order to obtain funds to build an open air hall. Walter Kingsland bought the first $100.00 share and assisted Fred in obtaining a lease from Mrs. Margaret Merrick for a small area of land on Trout Lake with access to Highway #532 now known as Highway #141.
Fred quickly sold his shares and constructed a rough road to haul the lumber to build the hall. He then worked on the building with help from his many friends. The hall was not completed on the opening day, July 13th. 1946 so a number of men in the area decided to have a bee. There were many local men, many of them dead now, who came to the bee. Some of these men included: Fergus Mullen, Kay Wilson, Ross Kingshott, Doug McKinnon, Austin Hicks, Charlie Fraser, Henry Stoneman, Elgin Stoneman, Charlie Lashbrook, Herbert Todd. This group also consisted of a young Minister from Christie, Gordon Winch who became quite famous for his work with the poor in Toronto.
There was a very sad event on this opening night. Some of the men who had worked through the hot day decided to go to the Paignton House on Lake Rosseau for a beer before the dance started. On the way home their car struck a cement bridge on the old Peninsula Road and Herb Todd was killed instantly. This did sadden his many friends but the huge crowd that attended the dance was very encouraging for Fred Gould.
The hall building was approximately 50 ft. X 30 ft. and was only closed in up to four feet. This allowed for plenty of air and seemed to give it an open concept. The music was supplied by Aubrey Bailey and his wife, Norah as well as Tom Bailey. Norah Bailey tells me that Orland Bailey and Elgin Stoneman assisted