Forces and trained in various trades, required by the mill. The town was in a terrible condition. Empty houses with broken windows, doors barely hanging or completely off, leaking roofs and heaving floors, were everywhere. Vandalism and property destruction was evidence that some people had succumb to any means, to barely survive the sixteen years, in which they were out of work. For the next five decades, the town of Sturgeon Falls and it's Masonic Lodge, slowly but surely, improved and left the depression and war memories far behind. Wor. Bro. Max Mandell and Bro. Haig Clark did a major roof repair and many other improvements to the lodge. On September 11th 1947, Right Wor. Bro. Deegan was put in charge of the "Food For Britain" campaign, to assist brethren in England, Scotland and Ireland. Letters of thanks were received up until the end of 1949, from brethren who had received food, from this campaign. On April 8th 1948, Right Wor. Bro. W.H. Armitage made his "Official Visit" as District Deputy Grand Master, with his secretary Wor. Bro. Max Mandell. Right Wor. Bro. W.H. Armitage presented Very Wor. Bro. W.C. Austin with a very expensive pen and pencil set, for his many years of faithful service, as secretary. He also presented the lodge with a fine sword, which was brought back from Holland, by one of his sons. CHAPTER 6 The brethren of the lodge began to prepare for the Fiftieth Anniversary celebrations of the lodge. Right Wor. Bro. Bert Batsford took charge of the task and designated brethren specific jobs. These jobs included refurbishing the lodge rooms as well as making improvements to the exterior of the building, obtaining accommodations for the visiting dignitaries and their ladies, arranging banquet facilities and picking a menu, finding a place to hold a dance, obtaining entertainment for the ladies and finally locating a quiet room, where people could visit with out of town members. Wor. Bro. Bert Olson declared the month of September be set aside, to celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Sturgeon Falls Masonic Lodge. On Sunday September 10th 1950, an Emergent Meeting was called to attend Divine Church Service, at the St. Mary Magdalene Anglican Church, on King Street. Bro. Rev. D.D. Macqueen held the service and preached the sermon. On Thursday September 14th 1950, the entire day was devoted to celebrations. The Masonic Temple was open for inspection, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. An Emergent Meeting was held at 2:30 pm, to receive the Representative of the Grand Master, Right Wor. Bro. Bishop Wright. A historical reading, of the past fifty years, of the Sturgeon Falls Masonic Lodge was presented and enjoyed by all. Bro. Paddy Jessup received his Fifty year jewel. At 6:15 pm, a banquet was held at the St. Andrews United Church Hall, on Holditch Street, with a dance and social evening following the banquet, at the Town Hall, just down the street. A parlor and rooms were set aside, at the Sturgeon Hotel, which is located on the point, for the convenience of visitors, to visit and renew old acquaintances. Lastly, an Emergent meeting was held on Thursday September 28th 1950, at 8:00 pm, to confer degrees on all eligible brethren. At the October meeting, Wor. Bro. Bert Olson extended thanks to Right Wor. Bro. Bert Batsford on his untiring efforts, in making the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration such a huge success. Right Wor. Bro. Batsford thanked his various committees and gave