Alexandra Hall
Alexandra Hall
The Union recognized that social reform required that women have the ability to influence government policy. The WCTU became one of the first women’s rights movements in Canada by supporting the enfranchisement of women. The group also endorsed social reforms to address problems such as poverty and child labour. At a time when social programs were absent, the women of the WCTU made it a mission to assist those around them.
Alexandra Hall in St. Catharines
Meeting minutes of WCTU regarding Alexandra Hall, 1926
A brick building at 83 Ontario Street in St. Catharines would soon become one of the significant endeavors of the local union. The building was called Alexandra Hall and opened its doors to single young ladies on June 14, 1911. The intention of the Hall was to give the women a safe and comfortable rooming house for reasonable rent and was able to board up to 32 women at a time. The first to manage the hall was Mrs. Byron Smith who was also a member of the WCTU. The women of the WCTU would often congregate at Alexandra Hall for their meetings and after several decades, the Hall needed to be subsidized by the WCTU. It soon became a financial burden to the Union and their hope was that women were now earning enough to afford their own apartments. The Alexandra Hall remained in use until 1977 when the building was purchased by a new owner and it officially closed its doors.
