Branch History at a Glance
Through a shared vision of Ted Crafter, Sandy Dick, Al Hogue, Carl Lewis, and Fred Bates, the initial efforts to form a Branch of the Legion commenced. They canvassed other veterans in the area who did not belong to an organization to determine their interest in forming one. Meetings were held, initially in Al Hogue’s basement and as interest grew, meetings were convened at the old Highland Golf Course, now known as Pelham Hills.
In the spring of 1966, 28 veterans voted for and signed a request for Charter status. Meetings continued, in the since demolished Davis Hall on Haist Street, and then at a brick farmhouse on Tice Road. This Tice Road location became the first Branch 613 Clubhouse.
On August 10, 1966, the charter was granted, and business carried on as usual at the Tice Road location until the move to our present-day location in June 1968. The first expansion of the Branch occurred in 1972 and included the addition of a good-sized hall. It is named after a long-standing Branch member, now deceased, Comrade Lloyd King. Our hall has been the home of many community initiatives over the years’ and continues to be booked regularly throughout the calendar year.
In 1984, a fire caused significant damage to the Branch lounge. Through the efforts of many, the Lounge was quickly rebuilt and re-opened.
Our Branch members are active in the community of Pelham, supporting activities and initiatives where possible. Membership has increased steadily, post-pandemic, and is approaching 300 members. We have also formed good working relationships with the Town of Pelham, its council, and staff and with service clubs including the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, and the Kinsmen Club.
In 2021, our Branch received a “Niagara Region Impact” award for our Heat and Serve program, an initiative in which meals were produced and delivered to veterans and seniors in need during the pandemic. There was no cost to the senior or veteran. While the program was designed to close after the end of the pandemic, meals continue to be produced and delivered until the end of 2024. All in all, over 35,000 meals were prepared and delivered, and we remain grateful to the Pelham residents and businesses who supported this initiative with monetary and product donations.
Calendar years 2024 a nd 2025 were busy for the Branch and its members related to building renewal and upgrades. Three main projects were completed, namely; the installation of a new walk-in cooler and freezer unit for the kitchen, a new and fully accessible main entrance and hallway and the creation of a fully accessible washroom and four unisex washrooms adjacent to the Lloyd King Hall. The façade of the entire building was also refreshed.
This year we will be celebrating the 60 th anniversary of the Talbot Trail Branch. In the late summer or early fall, we will be holding a celebration to mark this anniversary.
This is a brief history of the Branch. Our members are very proud of the work we do to support and honour our Veterans as well as supporting our fellow citizens in our community of Pelham.
