The Killam community recently inducted 5 of it’s citizens
into the Hall of Fame for 2011.
Again this year, for the second year in a row, the
committee chose to honor inductees who have made a past contribution, as well
as those who have made a difference more recently.
It was a very good evening with a large crowd, great
meal, entertaining musical interludes, and a chance for all of us to learn the
storys of a few people who have made significant contributions to our
community.
My thanks and appreciation go to the organizers of this
event – it has become an evening I look forward to every year.
Doug Munro spoke of Ralph Sorenson and his contribution
to our community through sports & recreation, political involvement,
volunteering in various capacities like the Community Charity Auction, and
being a cornerstone in the Baptist Church community. Ralph has been a life long community supporter, and a big reason Killam is a great place to live.
Herb & Marion Wilson farmed near Killam for years,
and were invloved in the community in many ways. Sharleen Chevraux spoke of their dedication . Herb was a member of the Co-op Board of
Directors for over 25 years. Marion was
very involved in the Knox United Church, serving on the board and leading the
Choir. Their love of their community and
the value they placed on it was evident.
Daughters Joan Widmer and Margaret Peterson accepted the nomination on behalf
of their parents.
Denis Boutin introduced Bob Gabruck. Bob has spent the past 30 + years at Killam Public School as the Physical
Education Teacher. His love of all sports turned into many many hours outside
of school time coaching all school sports – resulting in 81 County &
Regional Championships over those years.
Add to that his passion for and commitment to the Killam Spartans Volleyball
Club for the past 25 years. He is past
President of the Killam Agricultural Society, past Chairof Killam Rec Board,
Project coordinator for the Centennial Park Redesign, and 21 year member of the
Royal Canadian Legion. Bob's dedication to his community over the years is awe inspiring, and a great example for younger generations to follow.
I was given the honor of introducing J.A. (John Albert)
Neely to the Hall of Fame. J.A. was Killam’s
first Mayor in 1908, and it’s Mayor from 1925 to 1945, very difficult years
during the great depression and WWII, years when Killam was starting to define
itself as a community.
We were very pleased to have Mr. Neely’s grandsons,
Grant, and his wife Margaret, and John (Woody) and wife Marjorie, join us to
accept this honor.
My introduction for Mr. Neely follows.
Induction
of John Albert Neely
Into
The
Killam Hall of Fame
April
21, 2012.
It is my honor to tell you the story this evening of one
of Killam’s earliest residents, and it’s first Mayor, John Albert Neely. I would like to acknowledge those who
contributed to Killam’s History books, “The Ten Dollar Bets” and “The Pleasant
Country”, excepts of which appear in this intorduction.
J.A. Neely was born in 1865, and emigrated to Canada as a
young man in the late 1800’s. He and his
brother James left Northern Ireland, and worked their way over on a cattle ship
to settle in Carp, Ontario.
Mr. Neely made his way west and settled in Killam. He met, courted, and married his wife Sarah,
who was a twin sister of Rachael, Mrs. F.E. Nichol. The Nichols were proprietors of the first
hardware store in Killam.
Mr. Neely earned a living in several ways in the Killam
area. He contracted Gabe Clement to
build the first livery stable in Killam (Mr. Clement hauled some of the first
lumber into the Killam area). J.A. was
the first owner & operator of the livery stable. He was an implement & machinery agent,
eventually selling to D.V. York. He was
a real estate agent for several years, and as well operated the post office for
seventeen years, from 1910 to 1927.
Killam was developing as a community at that time –
population surged from 30 people in 1906 to 197 citizens in 1911. With this growth the need to solve various
community issues, such as water, sanitation, burials, and the keeping of law
& order became apparent. To deal
with these issues initially the overseer system was implemented. Community members would gather for a meeting,
the issue was debated, and a decision was made.
Mr. Neely was responsible for calling these meetings, and making sure
any decisions made were carried out. The
first such meeting was held at F.E. Nichol’s store in 1907.
In January, 1908 Killam was incorporated as a village,
and the first village Council was elected.
The three chosen to serve were J.A. Neely, W.R. McGowan, and John
Cotton. At their first meeting Mr. Neely
was elected as Chairman, a position he held until 1911. These Councillors received an honorarium of
$2.00 per meeting. J.A. Large was
contracted as Secretary – Treasurer and Constable for the Village, receiving
$75.00 per year plus 1% of taxes as
compensation.
J.A. & Sarah had three sons: Eldon Albert, Wentworth,
and Vernon. Tragically, Sarah died
during the birth of a daughter in 1911, and J.A. was left to raise his sons alone,
with the assistance of his sister-in-law Rachael.
While on a visit to Ontario, J.A. met Sarah McInnis. They were married, and J.A. and his new wife
returned to Killam.
J.A. and Sarah had several grandchildren –
·
Grant, Ardythe and Woody, children of Eldon
and Julia.
·
Michael, Richard, & Douglas, children of
Wentworth & Phyllis.
·
Donald, child of Vernon & Lucille.
Mr. Neely was active in the Anglican Church, and
instrumental in the effort to build the Anglican Church in 1912. The Reverend J.A. Partridge was the first
Recor, and Mr. Neely the Rector’s Warden.
A map of the village from 1920 notes the Neely property
situated at the corner of 50th (Lorne) Avenue and 54th
(McGuire) Street, across from the Nichol home, that would eventually become a hospital
operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of London. Additionally, 55th Street was
first named Neely Street.
The Ten Dollar Bets, Killam’s first History Book, states
“If residents were asked who contributed most to the village of Killam in it’s
early years, many would mention J. A. Neely.
For forty years he was a dominant community figure, not only as
implement agent, postmaster, and real estate agent, but primarily as Mayor of
Killam during over twenty of it’s most difficult years – it’s foundation years
when he was first Overseer, then Chairman of Village Council from 1908 to 1911,
then Mayor from 1919 – 1922, then during
the depression and war years when he was Mayor from 1925 to 1945, retiring at
the age of 80 years.
“In many ways Killam is a memorial to the leadership of
J.A. Neely.”
John Albert Neely passed away in 1953 at the age of 88
years.
