It’s seen soldiers trained within its walls go off to war twice in the century it’s been in Merritt.

Now, three area organizations are coming together to recognize the historic significance of the Merritt drill hall to public life.

The Merritt Elks, Merritt legion and Nicola Valley Museum and Archives Association are co-presenting a concert by the Nicola Valley Community Band on Saturday.

It will be something of a blast from the past as the band plays marches and songs from the First World War years.

Lieutenant-Governor Judith Guichon — the long-time Nicola Valley rancher and former flutist for the band — will also attend.

The drill hall was originally built as an armoury in 1914 after much persistence on the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Flick.

In a newspaper report from Aug. 16, 1912, Flick brought the news Ottawa had committed to building the armoury back from a meeting with the day’s minister of militia in Calgary.

“Colonel Flick reports that he was satisfied with the result of his trip,” the news story states.

The armoury was built from local brickwork and remained under construction when the First World War was officially declared in 1914.

A Merritt Herald representative was given a sneak-peek at the nearly completed armoury and wrote about it for the Nov. 6, 1914 edition.

“The new drill hall has a striking appearance and reflects credit upon the ability and painstaking care of the contractor,” the story goes. “The up-to-date finishings of the many rooms in this new building have been carried out magnificently, and it is plain to see that nothing but the best material has gone into the construction of the building.”

Come February of 1915, the armoury was officially designated as a military centre.

In March of that year, the completed drill hall held its grand opening with a community ball.

“With the hall decorated with all kinds of British flags, pictures of Their Majesties along the wall, the red tunics of the militiamen blending nicely with the dainty dresses of the many ladies present, the Grand Military Ball and the formal opening of the new armoury was a brilliant success from every viewpoint.”

According to the story, crowds filed in steadily beginning at 9:30 p.m. and danced until 3 a.m.

A three-piece orchestra entertained the crowds, beginning with the grand march and ending with singing of God Save the King.

Proceeds from the evening were donated to Patriotic Guilds of Merritt and Nicola, the auxiliary that disbursed the money to soldiers’ families during and after the First World War. Those proceeds were expected to enter the triple-digits.

All told, the drill hall’s opening ball was “one of the merriest nights that have been spent in Merritt for many days.”

However, the Nicola Valley News reported in November of 1915 that save patriotic events and concerts, the armoury was largely unused for military purposes.

“The war is now fifteen months old and still the substantial and new brick Armoury here is looking for a job,” the paper reads.

Eventually the hall was used for military purposes, including the shooting range in its basement.

During the First World War, there wasn’t a great need for mounted troops, so the 31st B.C. Horse cavalry was largely absorbed into the 5th Western for infantry.

When soldiers were practising their drills, members of the public could watch from the building’s mezzanine level.

The drill hall would go on to be used during the Second World War, and later as a reserve unit for the Rocky Mountain Rangers and cadet corps.

In 1968, the drill hall was declared military surplus by Ottawa and moved into the Crown Asset Disposal Corporation.

The next year, the Merritt Elks Lodge Club purchased the building, and still uses the former drill hall for its Elks Lodge today.

Located at 1702 Coldwater Ave., the building is designated a City of Merritt heritage site, and what went on inside its walls — as well as who came out of them — contributed to life as we know it in the Nicola Valley, event co-organizer and museum director Mike Sasges said.

“It’s a lovely monument to a time,” he said.

Saturday’s event begins at 7 p.m.