Understanding the historical significance of the Hespeler bandshell and our fallen soldiers
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| Hespeler plaques rededication ceremony, June 24th, 1967, Forbes Park Bandshell |
A recent article in the Cambridge Times on April 22nd, 2023 titled, What's going on here, stated that the Cambridge’s Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) narrowly voted 4-3 to approve staff's recommendation.
To educate people on the historical significance of the bandshell and the memorial to our fallen soldiers, here is some information. The numbers of soldiers that died from Hespeler are:
- WWI - 65
- WWII - 21
- Korean War - 4
- Peacekeeping Egypt - 1
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| Hespeler old bandshell |
On September 28, 1924 at 3:30pm, memorial tablets were unveiled and dedicated to the soldiers who had given their lives in WWI from Hespeler. The bandshell and tablets were dedicated by the Hespeler’s Women’s Institute with representatives of the Town Council and Veterans Association. Originally placed in the old bandshell.
Enjoy this photo of the bandstand in use in 1935 with the Hespeler Kindergarten Rhythm Band. Photo courtesy of Sam Inglis.
On June 24, 1967, Hespeler Women’s Institute president Mrs. Vera Prudy and Hespeler Legion Branch 272 President Gordon Goebel rededicated these plaques in a special ceremony at the park bandshell. The plaques were put on a stone cairn beside the bandshell. The plaques are now attached to the bandshell itself.
To suggest the bandshell has no historical significance in Hespeler shows a clear lack of respect for our fallen soldiers.
The actual vote by MHAC was on the designation of the park as a whole. All seemed in favour of protecting the bridge and bandstand but felt as a city owned asset, the park itself didn't need a heritage designation.
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