Friday Morning Coffee Club bids fond farewell to 'team members' at Cranbrook Target store as Starbucks closes

FMCC final meeting at Target Starbucks in Cranbrook

The Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, held its last meeting at the Starbucks in the Cranbrook Target store today (January 23/15) bidding a fond farewell to the "team members" for their friendly service and hospitality over the almost two years we have been meeting there.

FMCC is a minor casualty of course,compared to the situation facing the more than 100 "team members" at the Cranbrook store as Target closes its 133 stores in Canada, but we really did not want to  move.

In fact, upon arrival today, we did not know that Starbucks was closing so soon, until executive team members, always professional, came and gave us the news, thanking us for our weekly visits.

Merry Christmas to Target guests

FMCC was founded at Target Starbucks shortly after the store opened. I started having coffee there simply to show support for former students from College of the Rockies, who had become part of the new venture.

Joel Vinge joined me within a week, followed by Jim Roberts: the word spread and we have had up to 15 members show up for coffee, and we are all from different walks of life, and different parts of the country and one from the United States.

As FMCC membership grew, we chatted about the possibility of moving to a larger place, but decided to stay with our friends at Target.

We have celebrated birthdays, Halloween (and my birthday), and during the holiday season delivered a rousing rendition of "We wish you a Merry Christmas' to Target guests -- assisted by store team members.

Our weekly get togethers have led to new friendships and also resulted in Breakfast at the Ranch hosted by Jim Roberts and Mark Spence-Vinge, with Chef Justin Cleland, and a Christmas party at the home of Ron McFarland.

Next week, we will hold another Breakfast at the Ranch for a special meal prepared by Chef Justin, assisted by Jim and Mark.

FMCC plans to continue. A search committee has been formed and is scouting suitable locations for the group.

However, it won't be the same. Without getting into the pros and cons of Target's decision to pack up and leave Canada, they have an excellent team at their Cranbrook store, and on a very personal basis. I will miss them.

Many have become personal friends, and I wish them all the best. You gave FMCC a great home, and quite frankly deserved better. Thank you.

Pellow brothers Chapleau pioneers arrive with CPR leave 'footprint' on community life

Edgar Pellow store on Birch Street

As regular readers know, I am fascinated with the pioneers of Chapleau who carved a community out of the wilderness. The Pellow brothers, including Harry Pellow's grandfather, were among them, arriving as the Canadian Pacific Railway did and started contributing to community life.Thanks "Butch" for sharing part of their story.  MJM

By Harry "Butch" Pellow

As with all stories about lives lived there is a beginning, a reality and an inevitable compass adjustment.   We read and record history to learn about our past and where we have been; and we leave a footprint for others knowing full well there is but a short time from the moment we arrive until we leave this place to others.  We hope they benefit from our experience, research and perseverance.  I am pleased to share this story of the Pellow brothers.


All of this relates to the Pellow’s ‘beginnings’ in Chapleau and with the CPR. Christopher Alexander Pellow and Jane Drake’s three sons were early pioneers arriving with the CPR and successfully establishing themselves in the community. 

They were John Henry (Harry) (1869-1918), Edgar Newton (1872-1952) and Alfred Edwin (1875-1956). Harry arrived in 1888 and was employed by the railway as an engineman. He lived in Chapleau until his death in 1918; Edwin came in 1898 and followed his railway career as a conductor in Chapleau, then Fort William, back to Chapleau, and to North Bay; Edgar arrived in 1900 and created a lasting lifetime legacy of entrepreneurial accomplishments until he died. 

Harry Pellow

Harry Pellow, our grandfather, arrived in Chapleau in 1888 at 19 from Cartier where he had worked with the CPR as a wiper. He realized the potential of employment and opportunities with the railway. 

Harry Married Annie Jane Halliday from Nipissing Junction in May 1891. They had 11 children, many of whom resided there for most of their lives.  The sons were John Osborne (aka Elgin, J.O. or Ellie), Henry, Clifford (aka Bill) and Kenneth Harry and Annie 1891  (aka Pat). The daughters were Stancil (Rose), Kathleen (Stone) (aka Cassie), Eunice (aka Tuni), Fern (Reid) (aka Bubba), Edith and Annie Pearl. An adopted daughter Mary Pellow arrived shortly after they located in Chapleau where she helped Annie raise the 11 children. Mary lived with them until she married Charlie Reid, a railroader. None of Harry’s immediate family is with us today.

After arriving in Chapleau Harry was elevated to fireman then engineer. In the day, the engineer was assigned the engine, and he was personally responsible for its care and maintenance.

Harry worked out of Chapleau on the Nemegos subdivision as a locomotive passenger engineer from the early 1890’s until his fatal hunting accident back of Ridout in 1918. It was a huge responsibility when you consider the danger, the mechanical aspects of the machine (a large boiler and many moving parts), the hand laid ties and tracks, the topography they travelled in every conceivable weather condition; and the unreliable nature of the communication that was telegraphed along the line.  
 

Bill Pellow, Harry's Dad on delivery

Harry built the family home on Lorne Street near the Catholic Church, later owned by Elgin and then his daughter and son in law Bill Morrison. Harry was a great organizer and when he wanted something done usually took on the big share of the work.

He was Chapleau’s “King Billy” representing the Orange Lodge in Chapleau, created the Orange Picnic grounds on what later was the Downey-Evans camp site on Pellow’s Bay. Anyone who wished was invited to attend each year.

It was the summer place of Bill and Aldythe Pellow, Stancil (Pellow) Rose, Lafalot (Bill and Aldythe’s campsite in the 30’s and later Wilf Simpson’s camp); the Picnic Grounds, Henry Pellow’s camp; and since 1953 and until recently, Pellow’s Cottages. 

 Harry was a hunter, camper, and carpenter; he logged and assisted his brother Edgar with various enterprises; with Bob Broughton prospected in the Ridout area for gold; grew food for his family, provided veterinary services and occasionally assisted with interment.  He was a religious man and  family man.   His achievements were not widely known but he was much respected.

Mr and Mrs Edgar Pellow

Edgar Pellow arrived on September 30 1900 where he became a successful businessman and contributed to the community for over 50 years. He married Maud Turnbull and they had seven children: Christopher James, Ernest Edwin, Gertrude Mary, Newton, Mildred Ethel, Helen Jane, and Elmer Edgar. We are unable to determine if any of Edgar’s children are with us today.

Undaunted by the unpredictability of survival in an undeveloped wilderness and armed with determination Edgar created a merchant supply business in Chapleau.

Without financial backing, or even a horse and means of delivery he built a business taking orders from train crews for groceries and other goods providing delivery with a wheelbarrow. He became a purveyor to the CPR. He opened “Pellow Hardware Company” later “Pellow Supply Company”, selling everything from horse collars to furniture; he amassed quite a portfolio of real estate, supplied and delivered fuel, cut and delivered cord wood, and expanded his warehousing to include coal bins, lumber and other building materials.

Harry and Brigitte Pellow 2014

He was awarded a contract to supply materials and men for the construction of the Canadian Northern Railway (CNR today) a gruelling trek to the north which he did by opening up a route through bog and forest and by water, rapids and portage from the 18 mile dam on the Kebsquasheshing River.

Edgar had a store on Birch street and later another on Lansdowne near  Cedar  where he bought fur; In 1937-38 he opened a store in Lochalsh,  run by son Newt to serve the Cline Lake Gold Mine; he bought the Algoma Hotel on Birch (later the Hublit)  and turned it into apartments.

Edgar served as Chapleau’s Reeve in 1937 and was listed in Who’s Who in Canada. He was in the Blue Book of influential Canadians. He taught Sunday school.
 

Edwin Pellow

Edwin Pellow arrived in Chapleau in 1898 at 23 and began his career with the CPR as a brakeman. He married Anna Sarah Lush in Burks Falls two years later. All six children were born in Chapleau. They were: Alfred Christopher, Florence Levada, Harold Reginald,  Phyllis Mary, Ray Stewart, and Laura Bethe.  In 1909 as a conductor Edwin moved to Fort William, back to Chapleau, then to North Bay where he continued  with the  CPR until retirement in 1940. None of Edwin’s children are with us today. 
 

After “Chapleau Trails” was published in 2008, we discovered a cousin Barbara Jean Pellow who has been carefully documenting facts related to the Pellow family history. Barbara is the grand-daughter of Edwin Pellow and daughter of his son Harold. Barbara has been a great source of enlightenment and we thank her.

My thanks to Harry and Barbara Jean Pellow for sharing this story about the Pellow brothers. I still have backlog of family stories to get done. My email is mj.morris@live.ca


ADDENDUM. Here is early history of the Pellow brothers provided by Harry. Photos are from party at Butch's home in Toronto, October 2014

The Pellow Brothers:  Three Pioneers 

Our great, great grandparents were John Pellow (1811-1889) and Maria (1811-1884); and John Robert Drake (1820-1890) and Mary Beir (1818-1898). According to the 1851 English census John and Maria Pellow lived in Bristowe, England where John’s occupation was listed as “carpenter” and at that time their six children were: William 19 (carpenter), Matilda 13, Caroline 8, Christopher Alexander 7, Harriet 5, and Maria 1.

Another daughter Mary Ann was left off the census or was not yet born. It is not known exactly when John and his family emigrated to Canada but he was in his mid-forties and by the late 1850’s seemed to be very active in a number of business ventures in Staffa, Ontario. There were two male children, William T. (1832-1916) and Christopher Alexander, our great grandfather (1845-1894).

The Hibbert Review (County of Perth) states that in 1859 John built a log hotel that was torn down in the early 1870’s at which time he also had a blacksmith shop with woodwork and wagon shop connected to it. The 1861 census lists John’s occupation as wagon maker; however, in the 1871 census he is also listed as a farmer.

Sometime in the early 1870’s John built the brick Hibbert Hotel but ran it only for a short time before he moved to Stratford Ontario. In 1968 the hotel was still standing and housed the Hibbert Cooperative Dairy Association Creamery. The 1881 census lists John’s occupation as “gentlemen”. Both John and Maria are buried in the cemetery in Staffa. 

 On the maternal side, John Robert Drake was baptised May 06 1821 as recorded in Affpuddle, Dorset England records. His parent’s home is listed as Pallington.

 Family legend states that John and Mary emigrated to Canada around 1840 via Jersey Island but there is no record of when they landed here except that John and Mary obviously spent some time in Quebec City where Jane Parker Drake our great grandmother was born.

On Jane’s baptismal record John was listed as “carpenter” and his religion as “Methodist”. They lived in Staffa for a time and probably in a large stone home built by John. The 1851 census shows John and Mary Drake with two children living in Staffa, a village 28K north-west of Stratford that officially received its name in 1870. In 2011 the population was recorded as “50”.

The Hibbert Review notes that John lived there in 1850 and until his death in 1890. John and Mary Drake are buried in the Staffa cemetery wherein John’s large tombstone reads “John R Drake died February 7 1890 aged 70 years, 2 months, and 18 days. Native of Dorsetshire England”. John Drake had a large apple orchard and grew tobacco which he subsequently dried and smoked.

 John apparently was a heavy smoker and consumer of homemade (alcoholic) apple cider from
his cider mill conveniently located on the corner of his farm next to the village.  Barbara visited the homestead in 1969 and reports that when John died in 1890 he left a sizeable estate in its day and would have been considered well off. 

All said, it appears that those of us who bear the surname Pellow and resided in Chapleau have a history in Canada and Chapleau that dates back to sometime before 1851 at which time John and Maria Pellow had established their presence in 1850 in Staffa.

Although there are records and a chronology identifying our forefathers’ strong commitment to family, labour, and community, it was not an easy life for them; and whether our great, great grandparents were blacksmiths, woodworkers, farmers, wagon makers, lumbermen, entrepreneurs, hoteliers, or just gentlemen as the censuses would show they were of English provenance, unlike some who were French, and maybe an earlier generation were; but these were English descendants who saw an opportunity in the new world and made their way as pioneers to make a mark. 

Martin Luther King, the Lincoln Memorial and Me

BY Michael J Morris
I first visited the Lincoln Memorial in 1961, after taking off from university with some of my buddies to enjoy the Florida sun. I wish I could tell you that we left university to join the civil rights movement, but our reason for leaving was that it was a rainy miserable fall day in Waterloo. Somebody said, as we sat drinking beer in the local pub, `Let`s go to Florida,`and without much more thought we piled into my mother`s car (a Corvair), and off we went. At the time I was attending Waterloo Lutheran University, now Wilfrid Laurier University.

I was so impressed with the Lincoln Memorial and all the sites of Washington, and as I reflect on it today, we wandered about freely everywhere we went in the United States capital city. My trip took place of course before the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy and Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr,  and 9/11.

As we travelled into the deep south of the United States, for the first time I saw the reality of the segregated society of the times. I vividly recall the signs on everything from restaurant doors, to water fountains, to restrooms clearly stating No Coloureds Allowed or For Whites Only and words to that effect. And `coloureds`of course were to sit at the back of the bus.

Along one highway we stopped and picked up a hitchhiker who was African American and made room for him in the front seat. I was so shocked when he told us he could not sit there, only in the back. We insisted he sit in the front and we transported this very, very nervous young man to his destination. It never really struck me the danger we placed this person and ourselves in by this seemingly simple act until I saw that great movie 'Mississippi Burning' starring Gene Hackman, and to this day I say, `But for the grace of God...`

Coming from Chapleau, a small village in northern Ontario, even though I had spent many summers in the United States visiting family friends with my Mom, I was shocked that all people could not drink from the same water fountain, use the same washrooms and eat in the same restaurants.

What started out as simply a booze trip with my buddies has had the most profound effect on me ever since, and on January 18, 2009, I had a rush of memories as I watched Barack Obama, the president-elect of the United States, the first African American to be elected to that office, some 47 years plus after I first visited the Lincoln Memorial, speak to the American people. For such a time as this, in my lifetime, I never expected.

When John F Kennedy was assassinated I was editor of the university newspaper (having returned home safely to Canada), and in 1968 I was a newspaper reporter and editor when Dr King and Senator Kennedy were murdered. I was in Detroit and saw the effect of the race riots there, and the protests that were on the rampage in American society. It was a great time to be in the news business as we were almost assured a 120 point type front page headline daily, but by the end of that year I left the daily newspaper business that I loved, and never returned to it on a full time basis.

However, on January 18, the United States celebrates Dr Martin Luther King Jr Day.

At the end of his famous 'I Have A Dream' speech delivered from the Lincoln Memorial in August, 1963, Dr King said in part, `And when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and hamlet, from every state and city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God`s children --- will be able to join hands and to sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual. ``Free at last, free at last; thank God Almighty, we are free at last.``

Yes, freedom has rung among all Americans of good will to bring their nation perhaps closer to that perfect union to which they aspire. To have been a minor witness has been a great privilege. I fully realize that American society, like Canadian, has a long road yet to travel.

Please feel free to comment or send email to me at mj.morris@live.ca
me. Let me know if I may post your thoughts.

Tobogganning even on piece of cardboard or plastic garbage bag if necessary part of Chapleau Winter life

Slides are now being banned in some places. You know, even though there were some injuries on the toboggan slide and the hills, sliding was part of life in Winter when I was a kid in Chapleau,Ontario.

Sometimes I wonder about where our society is heading, but for now, let's stick to sliding.

I decided to ask my friends on Facebook for their thoughts and memories. I was totally amazed with the response. There were 21 "likes" and 141 comments, although a few of us contributed to the post more than once. Although it was not possible to include all of them, I have tried to capture a look at tobogganing and sliding in Chapleau through the words of those who participated.

You brought back so many fond memories from my growing up years in Chapleau, and I think I went sliding at every location mentioned. Thank you all so much for your participation.

Now, with only minor editing here is a glimpse at sledding and tobogganing and maybe a bit more in Chapleau.

KIM HONG: At times some of us "braved" the rock hill of the water tower across from Bujold's (and next to the horseshoe bridge). The rock jutting out along the path made it a challenge. On occasion standing up with cardboard or plastic bags on the under side of our boots - doing "moguls" ahead of our, and their time! Great feat if you made it to the other side of Elgin Street (in front of Walter and Kay Broomhead's house). Always safety factor and timing our sled and ski runs when "the coast was clear".   Kim added that "Dad-Yen recalls sliding under the bridge and ending at Zenon and Maude Rioux's door. Also down the road of the bridge." Yen also remembers the ski jump (all wood except for the nails) being constructed for the winter carnival in the 1930s.  (Walter Paradis was the carpenter)

TINA CAPPELLANI: My Cousins (Allen & Brian Ritchie) and I used to go sliding on a huge hill on the other side of the Indian Bridge behind the old sewage plant. One day I decided to take my friend Arlene Morita and her brothers and sister to this awesome hill. After trying to convince Arlene to get on the front of the toboggan, as there was a dangerous corner and if you were on the back you would fly off while going around this corner...I ended up riding the front and of course she flew off when we hit the corner! But that wasn't the worst...I flew face first into a tree! Knocked the wind out of myself and ended up with a broken nose and two black eyes! No Grade 5 school picture for me that year! Never, ever returned to that hill again!

LAURIE FORTIN: I would always love going to Dr. Young's hill with my siblings as a really young girl. We had a steel toboggan that held all four of us and it flew like a bullet! Often came home bleeding and I would get stuck under cars on the way home when whoever was pulling the toboggan would get distracted and forget that I was on it! There was also a spot behind the MNR houses and Mrs Costello's.. The other side and road by Lady Fatima was okay after Dr Young's was replaced with townhouses but not the same. I also used the sidewalk on Grey St. that turns and crosses by the Riverside motel, except I would keep going straight, off the sidewalk which ended abruptly at my uncle Octave's driveway! Usually I ended up in the Robitaille yard or in the Rioux fence but if I got it just right and had enough momentum, I would make it all the way! Good times that's for sure!

DARLENE RANGER: (commenting from Florida) I have Maurice Blais here and I as well as he remembers slaughter house hill and you had to walk through a trail. GISELE HARVEY: (Maurice's sister)  commented: Up on the hill we call Dr.Young's hill and we had a great time

BILL CARD: Slaughterhouse hill. My dad (F.A. 'Nick' Card) used to make jumps for the kids. Also Dr Young's hill that ran down towards Minto and the Dunn house and the lands and forest hill that ran down toward Maggie Costello's house.

DAN MURPHY: We used to slide at the old CPR fuel tank, sometimes grabbing onto the back of the chip truck and getting pulled up town. 

GWEN MACGILLIVRAY: We used to slide down the side of the new bridge (after they took down the old horseshoe bridge), but if they had the box cars side-lined there, we'd head over to the highschool hill or Lady Fatima. And no matter how cold it was, we stayed out there until we got called in or the street lights came on! I recall one Christmas when we all got Crazy Carpets and those things were dangerously fast. If you hit the tracks on one of those you'd carry bruises for days.

JENNIFER SWANSON DAVID: We went sliding down the hill behind Fatima. Start way up on the rocks and end up at the school...hopefully jumping off before hitting the wall (but not always!) And,  loved that road right beside Fatima, long and straight.

EARLENE CHAMBERS: We tried to slide down the slope of the car bridge onto the water plant road a few times....not good.. Blueberry hill @ Mrs. . Whitney's. Down onto dead end Queen st. And then down the other side right onto Ash st. (Onto the road). What were we thinking?????soooo much fun!  (This may also have been called Cochrane's Hill)

MELBA BOYD: Hospital Hill, Cochrane's Rock and Dr. Young 's Hill.....it depended on who you were playing with that day......yes, this talk of banning tobogganing is just another way we have lost touch with reality!!!

TOM CORSTON: What great memories...For us most of the time it was Dr. Young's hill onto Minto street before the houses were built. But, there were a few times when our parents and some of their friends (Mansel Robinson, Don Card & families) loaded up a couple of cars and we would slide at the Emerald Lake hill...from the highway right down onto the lake. Hit a few trees...flew over a few stumps...but never hurt. Loads of fun and the parents all joined in the fun as well.

MARY-ANN MERRICK: I remember sliding down Dr Young's hill just behind our house and down the street. There were always big bumps that made you fly off the toboggan. If you made it to the bottom, you hoped no cars were coming as you crossed the road and went into the swamp. It was AWESOME! It was also really COLD! All were dressed in skidoo suits and skidoo boots. What a time.

BRUCE MCCARTHY: Down the sidewalk on the horseshoe bridge (when we thought we could get away with it)

CHANTAL SINOTTE: We used to to toboggan on Dr. Young's hill ...  And we used to cross the river and ski at the golf course on flying saucers... I also remember tobogganing by the old hospital .. near Marie Tremblay's home... .

LINDA TEBBUTT KUTCHAW: Dr. Young's hill that ended up on Cherry st and into Susanne Crawford Kerr's yard, and the other side of Dr.Young's hill that ended up into the wall of Sacre Coeur, and dead man's run ( Minto street) that was "ruined" with the placement of the town houses. Oh! And the hill between Mrs. Costello's house and Crawfords. There were also many snow piles at the point that we would slide down.  Linda added for Kevin Walker: I am so Chapleau, I didn't need a toboggan. I would use a piece of cardboard or a plastic garbage bag if that was the only thing available.

JIM LAPP: Same as Linda Tebbutt; both sides of Dr Young's hill. One came down where the catholic school is now and the west side before Gerry Garms and Manlio Spessot  put houses. Potts house was at the top.  ROBERT LAPP also commented.

LEAH CYR: Sometime even with a little flask! Imagine....we are still here to take about it. I think the recent events in the news about cities/communities banning tobogganing is absolutely ridiculous. Our children don't spend enough time outside and this move takes away an activity that everyone loves. Ban or no ban, the kids will find somewhere to to sliding!

CINDY MAHON: The hill across from the (Nemeg osenda)trailer park that led to the river. Not a really safe place considering if you didn't stop on tine you either ended up in the river or in the brick building that used to house the generating station for the dam!

LUDIE O'HEARN: The 1st. Time I tobogganed was at the big rock on the side of the old Lady Minto Hospital, I got so excited and let go and flew across the lane way, resulting in multiple soreness and bruising! Ah--- the memories!

PAULETTE MACLEOD: That place on King st S not sure of it's name but my children called it suicide hill and they as well went down the hill on a toboggan that sat four, I did go to the high school hill and Dr Young's hill on a six seater where there were five of us/

and KELLY HAZEN added: Paulette it was suicide on one side an dead man's on the other. (We) were there all the time.

DIRINDA DINDY HAMMERSGTEDT: on the small hill across from the old laundrymat on Lorne street, across the lake on the hill closest to the road by Dr.  Young's boat house, on the side of the bridge by Shirley Goheen's house

 HUGH McGOLDRICK:  I recall my folks taking us down the Wawa highway. There was a sand pit on the west side about half-way between the Hwy 129 turn-off and the Golden Route. I think other people may have gone there.

EVELYN LEMIEUX: I used to go to Dr Young's hill before the houses. I also went to one across the river.

JAMIE THIBAULT: On the other side of the tracks we had '1st Rock' and '2nd Rock' which were behind the old Little League Baseball Field at the end of Elgin (now the Chapleau Recreation Centre) Though the neighborhood favourite without a doubt was 'Hospital Hill' so aptly called because it was beside the Old Lady Minto Hospital. But as we no doubt can all recall we would toboggan practically on any type of snow pile we could find. Yup! Did my "Crash Test Dummy" routine at Blueberry Hill quite often as well! Cuts, scrapes, bruises and the odd bitten bleeding tongue were part of the price to pay to be a kid with un-tethered freedom

BOB LEWIS: We went to First Rock (just behind the arena) then we slid at Second Rock back behind First and there wasn't much more than a trail to slide down on that hill, plus we skied back there, trees everywhere and no one got hurt. We also used the old hospital hill where we would tobaggan over a wall along a laneway crossing the road into another yard and still here to write this for you. We had fun as kids then.

My Mom and Dad circa 1936 at the hill

EUGENE BOUILLON: OMG... so many good stories and locations, nothing for me to bring, Jamie Thibault covered most of it... 1st rock, small hill, 2nd Rock, and trail, like BOB LEWIS  mentioned (my mother told me never to go there, too dangerous), and if I remember well... some of us kids, may have hit tree or 2. Someone did bang his head pretty bad, can't remember who it was, might have even been Jamie trying to hang with older kids...lol.... and who can forget the Hospital Hill.... was the best... you could even hear Mrs. Bouillon calling.... "Eugene... Eugene..."... was time to go home... for either dinner or it was getting dark.... lol

And, the last word goes to MARIO LAFRENIERE. publisher of the Chapleau Express: "Can't toboggan, can't have a hockey rink in the front yard, can't maintain our identity!" Many readers will recall that Mario and family at one time lived on Cherry Street and just had to go out the back door and up the hill.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

There were 31 more commentors that I was unable to include, but thanks to all of you for your participation.

Photos from the toboggan slide built in the 1930s are from the John Futhey Collection at the Chapleau Public Library and the one from CHS slide from Ian Macdonald Collection