Penhold Memorial Hall celebrates 100 years

  • 2019-11-19
One of the Red Deer area’s most enduring venues is celebrating its centenary this month. The Penhold Memorial Hall marked 100 years in operation at its 2019 Remembrance Day ceremony.

The hall was created by Mrs. H. R. McDougall and the Penhold Women’s Institute in the aftermath of World War I, with an intention of both remembering those fallen in the wat and providing something positive for those who came home. The building was not fully completed and paid for until the mid-1920s, but its opening event was a masquerade ball held in late 1919, attended by 225 people. Over the years, Penhold’s location on the Canadian Pacific Railroad brought many top acts to town, drawing in the local rural population.

Over the years, the hall has hosted numerous events, including the annual Penhold Fair. It was frequently associated with the nearby Royal Air Force Base, and at one point included a shooting range to be used by the #7 Markerville Air Cadets.

Today, Penhold has been outgrown by the city of Red Deer immediately to its north, but it still retains a distinct local community and culture. Today, the Penhold Memorial Hall is still in operation, and is available to rent to local events ranging from concerts to company parties. Events in rural areas like this often use poster printing and flyer printing to get the word out. The venue boasts a practical stage, a hardwood dance floor, a sound system, bar and commercial kitchen.