Building that means something to everyone in Mayo, Yukon, gets re-fit

An old, unassuming log building in thesmall village of Mayo, Yukon, is a structure of many faces.

"Doesn't really look like too much, and I think for most people, we just drive by without even thinking about it," said Joella Hogan, Na-Cho Nyak Dun First Nation's heritage and culture manager.

But the Mayo Legion Hall, now owned by the First Nation, has been everything from a liquor warehouse to a ladiesdress shop to an arcade for the town's teens.

The decades of constant transformation seems to have brought some wearand tear it's breaking down.

As people's memories fade, some of those details may get lost.- Joella Hogan

As plans for restoring the heritage building begins, the First Nation decided to team up with a historian to collect and record its storieswith the help of locals.

"I know it has unique features for us to conserve," said Hogan, who kickstarted the project this month. "People always remember it changing throughout history."

"It's a little building, but it's got big, big stories behind it," said historian Linda Johnson.

Liquorwarehouse to public library

The log structure was built in 1936 by Alex Nicol said to be oneof the founding fathers of Mayo and is the oldest standing building in town facing the Stewart River.

In the 1940s and 50s, the log building was next to the community's liquor store so it was used as a liquor warehouse.

Thenit was transformed into a ladies dress store in the 60s, named "15-2" after the old card game of Cribbage.

"The people that owned it must have been great crib players," said Johnson, after chatting with a community member who recalled the memory.

The Legion purchased it afterwards and it became the Mayo Legion Hall acting as a gathering place for the community. It also served as a community library duringthose years, said Johnson.

"Very importantly toNa-ChoNyakDun, that's where the first land claim planning meetings were held," in the '70s, said Johnson.

"Seems like everybody has had some kind of association with this old building," said Johnson. "Ittruly is an outstanding piece of architecture in Mayo."

In the 80s, it was turned into a teen centre with videos and arcade games.

"I was talking to some young people [of the day] who remember it very fondly," said Johnson.

• Boom and bust: Abandoned Yukon mining town to become historic sit

The building then became vacant for a while, until theNa-ChoNyakDun First Nation bought it in the early2000s.

Restoration

The First Nation is beginning the restoration and reconstruction of the building this summer, so Hogan says she wanted to document people's memories before it's too late.

"I just love hearing those stories and recording them before we don't have that opportunity," said Hogan. "As people's memories fade, some of those details may get lost."

It's also to educate the younger generation who may not be familiar with its history and significance in the community, says Hogan.

The heritage department isasking anyone with memories tocontact heritagemgr@nndfn.com or 867-996-2265 ext.116.

• In Mayo, Yukon, rebuilding a ship with time and love
• Nacho Nyk Dun aims to preserve historic Yukon trading post