The Women's Curling Club wound up their 1959 season with a banquet and award presentation at Renison Hall in St. John's Anglican Church.
President Mrs. D.J. Broomhead reported that it was the best in the club's history. Although there were no outside bonspiels scheduled, there were two senior 'spiels and a colt spiel during the season.
A short note of some historical interest. The first attempt by women to become members was in the mid 1930s but their bid for membership was voted down, and it was not until about 1949 that women were accepted into the club. As in many aspects of Chapleau history, exact dates are hard to confirm, but the women's club had come a long way in its short history.
Readers will also note that in this column married women are referred to as Mrs., with her husband's first name or initials while the first name is used for single women. This practice continued into the 1990s and was in effect when I taught my first university studies courses in Commuications at College of the Rockies --- but the times they were starting to change!
Back to curling.
Mrs. Broomhead also noted in a Sudbury Star story that while the women polished up on their curling technique the social side of club membership also held a high place. After the banquet, the members adjourned to her home for a social evening.
Winner of the Leo Racicot Trophy for the first senior bonspiel was a rink skipped by Mrs. Yvon Morin, with Mrs. Gerald Garmes as vice skip; Carol Travers, second and Mrs. Milton Schroeder, lead.
The runner up rink was a rink skipped by Mrs. Romeo Martin; Mrs. Vince O'Hearn, vice skip; Berryl Rowntree, second, and Prudence Beechey, lead.
Second senior bonspiel winner was rink skipped by Mrs. Alf Gervais with Carol 'Babe' Chambers as vice skip; Mrs. Garmes, second, and Mrs. Henry Pellow, lead
The Korpela Trophy for winning the Colt bonspiel was skipped by Carol 'Babe' Chambers, with Berryl Rowntree, vice skip; Mrs. Norman Glennie, second, and Mrs. J.G.A. Burns, lead.
Runner up was rink skipped by Rita Roussel; Mrs. Leonard Ridstill, vice skip; Prudence Beechey, second, and Mrs. Alf Gervais, lead.
In the election of officers Mrs. Broomhead was returned for another term as president, while Mrs. J.D Macfarlane continued as vice president. Secretary was Mrs. J.G.A. Burns and treasurer Mrs. Leonard Ridstill.
Major renovations were underway at the curling club on Pine Street led by men's club president George Collins. Completed in 1960, artificial ice came in 1962. Curling apparently started in Chapleau during the winter of 1885-86 on a sheet of ice on Lorne Street across from the CPR operations. That later became the site of the "old old arena". The curling rink on Pine Street opened in 1928.
My email is mj.morris@live.ca
