Here is the Martin Martin hall as is today, a sad sight from its hay day. The hall was used for functions and showing movies when I first arrived back in 1978. It was since left empty for a time, then used as a youth centre for a period, and then left empty again. It’s used as storage shed now.

Best use IMO was as a youth centre, for various reasons it did not work out.

The hall was named after Martin Martin, who was a chief elder for years, and one of the initiators in forming the Labrador Inuit Association back in the early 1970’s.

Update:

I'm posting this from 'oldbrooktrout' comment below. It's an important question, what is going to happen to the OK building, and the Martin Martin building and several others of historic value. Now if this was St.John's I would have a better clue as to the answerer, but in Labrador??????????

Nain.

January 7

1952

Dear Mr. Smallwood,

Just a few lines to let you know what we think. We would like very much if you would kindly answer our questions. First we’ll let you know that up till now we have collected money for the fisherman union. It’s not very much we collected one dollar from each man here in Nain and we will now send the money to you.We would like to build a house for moving pictures and playing games in. We men of Nain will cut and saw lumber for the frame of the house. The house will be forty feet long and thirty feet wide and the wall will be eight feet wide. Meaning from bottom to top of house will be fourteen feet high. We haven’t got enough money to buy everything for the house and we would like for the government to help us in buying lumber and other things we need for the house. Please let us know if you will help us in buying the thing for the house.We the Elders and people of Nain would thank you very much if you will help us.

Martin Martin

Gustav Sillit

Noah Ikkiatsiak

Lurie Kujiak

Paulus Maggo