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The SUF Hall, also known as Victoria Hall, is a historic lodge building in Twillingate, Newfoundland, with a rich history dating back to around 1873. Originally used as a storeroom by William Waterman and Company, it was later acquired by the North Star Division, Sons of Temperance, in 1869-70 for £45. The Sons of Temperance was an anti-alcohol organization, and the hall became a central meeting place for their activities.

In 1872, both the Sons of Temperance and the LOA (Loyal Orange Association) decided to replace the old Waterman store with a new building. The construction contract was awarded to Samuel Roberts, and the new hall was officially opened on July 10, 1873. Initially named Victoria Hall in honor of the reigning monarch, it was commonly referred to as the Temperance Hall due to the Sons of Temperance’s significant involvement.

In 1917, the Temperance Society sold their share in the hall to the Society of United Fishermen (SUF) after some negotiations, settling on a sale price of $150.00. This marked the end of the Sons of Temperance’s tenure at the hall, and the SUF became the sole tenant, a role they had shared with the Sons of Temperance since 1875.

The Society of United Fishermen (SUF) was originally founded as the Heart’s Content Fisherman’s Society in 1861 by Anglican Minister George Gardiner. In 1873, it was re-organized as the Society of United Fishermen and adopted a symbolic emblem representing the triangular shape of Newfoundland with a central Maltese cross signifying the eight beatitudes. Their motto was “Love, Purity, Fidelity.” The SUF rapidly expanded, with numerous lodges established in Newfoundland, and by 1922, they even had a branch operating in Nova Scotia.

The Twillingate chapter, known as St. Peter’s Lodge, received its charter as the twelfth SUF branch in June 1875. Notably, Brother Philip Freeman joined the lodge shortly after the charter was signed, and his membership certificate is one of the earliest known from Twillingate.

In 1926, Stephen Loveridge documented the SUF’s preparations for their fiftieth anniversary celebrations. The society erected a bough-covered arch near Victoria Hall, organized parades, and held a celebratory dinner. Reverend H. Gilbert delivered a sermon at St. Peter’s Church, emphasizing the connection between fishing and the society’s mission. The SUF had a proud history of charitable contributions, including support for a community hospital, World War I hospital bed maintenance, and contributions to Dr. Wilfred Grenfell’s Deep Sea Mission in St. Anthony.

The SUF also had a connection to the 1914 Newfoundland sealing disaster, as some of their brethren were among the casualties. In response, the lodge promptly sent cash donations to aid the families of the victims.

During the 1940s, the SUF, with support from the Masons and LOA, advocated for the construction of a canal across New World Island to facilitate small boat traffic. Despite collecting thousands of signatures in support of the project, it was shelved when Confederation with Canada redirected priorities toward road construction.

The SUF Hall, originally known as Victoria Hall, has played a pivotal role in Twillingate’s history, serving as a meeting place for various organizations over the years, including the Sons of Temperance and the Society of United Fishermen. These organizations were deeply involved in local community activities, charity work, and the promotion of temperance, leaving a lasting legacy in the town’s history.