The History of The Salvation Army in Royal Oak

Originally designated as the Detroit #6 Corps, the work of the Salvation Army in Royal Oak began in October 1923 under the leadership of Ensign Evangeline (Eva) Eliza Symmonds.  Daughter of Eliza Shirley, an early leader of the Salvation Army in the United States, Ensign Symmonds opened the first Corps building in the old Masonic Temple located at 300 W. Fourth Street at Williams. 

By 1929 the Salvation Army relocated to 702 S. Center on the southwest corner of Seventh and Center Streets. The building at this location had been the Royal Oak Township Hall and Community Center, a one room white frame building that later became St. John’s Episcopal Church until purchased by the Salvation Army.   

On May 19, 1934, Royal Oak’s first Girl Guard Troop was enrolled as a registered troop. Sunbeams for the younger girls were started in 1949. Boys became involved in Boy Scouts until many years later when Rangers and Explorers became the primary character building programs for boys in the Salvation Army.

On October 24, 1937, a dedication was held for an expanded and remodeled corps building.  Sometime during the late 1930s, then corps officer Adjt. Thos. Staples started the first Royal Oak Band and a small songster brigade was started, but it wasn’t until the mid-1950s that the extensive music programs that exist at the Royal Oak Corps today began to develop. 

By 1951, more room was again needed to accommodate Corps growth, and property across the street at 703 S. Center on the southeast corner was purchased and the property on the southwest corner was sold.  A Corner Stone Laying Ceremony was held October 28, 1951, and the Opening Ceremony and Dedication of the new Royal Oak Citadel Corps building was on June 22, 1952.

On November 2-3, 1963, the Royal Oak Corps held a 40th Anniversary Celebration.  By this time the music programs were well established with a 25 member Senior Band, 25 Member Youth Band, and 35 Member Songster Brigade.  By March 1965, Sunday School attendance was averaging over 300. 

On November 2, 1968, The Royal Oak Corps presented the U.S. premier of a musical drama, TAKE OVER BID, at the Territorial Youth Congress in Chicago.  Written by then Captains John Larsson and John Gowans (both later to become Generals in the

Salvation Army), this all-corps undertaking took many hours of work, dedication and prayer and made a strong impact on Corps life.  The musical was again presented in Detroit, Flint and Indianapolis in 1969.

Continued growth led to the need for yet more room, so our present building at 3015 N. Main Street was purchased with almost immediate possession in 1969.  The first meeting was held in this building on Sunday, October 26, 1969, and a formal dedication ceremony was held on November 23, 1969.

A second Gowans and Larsson musical, Hosea, based on the book in the Bible, was another all-corps endeavor presented in 1971. 

In 1971 the sanctuary underwent a remodeling of the platform.  Wood paneling added to cover the windows on the back wall was accented by stonework.

The First Annual Civic Dinner was held in conjunction with the 50th ANNIVERSARY Celebration of the Royal Oak Corps over the weekend of November 16-18, 1973. 

In order to better serve the community, a gymnasium, industrial-size kitchen and lounge was added to the corps building.   On May 18, 1975 a ground-breaking ceremony was held and a Dedication Service for the Community Service Building was held Sunday, March 28, 1976. 

In 1979, the Royal Oak Corps joined ranks with the Dearborn Heights Corps to present a third Gowans & Larsson musical called GLORY!  in 4 performances during May and June.  The stories of this musical were based on the early days of the Salvation Army. 

In November, 1983, a 60th Anniversary celebration was held in conjunction with the annual Thanksgiving Concert. 

In about 1996, the sanctuary was again remodeled.  The theatre-style seating was replaced by pews, the back wall of the platform was remodeled again, new flooring and carpeting were laid, and the chapel and fellowship hall were painted.  Additionally, new offices and classrooms were added on the south side of the community center and the garage was expanded to give the building most of its current look.

Today, the Salvation Army in Royal Oak is an active, growing corps filled with many daily activities.  Opportunities abound for Bible study, youth character building, adult and youth music programs, and volunteering to benefit both the corps and the community.  The Community Service Center provides many additional recreation programs as a form of outreach to the public.