Reeve Ken Russell was on hand to present incoming club president Wilma Schmidt with a plaque from the Township of Chapleau recognizing 100 years of curling in the community.
Although there appears to be very little information available on the beginnings of curling in Chapleau, in 1886, one sheet of ice enclosed by boards was located on Lorne Street where the "old old rink" was eventually built. Sheets of ice were in that rink until about 1928 when the curling rink was built on Pine Street, and there it remained until 1978 when it relocated to the Chapleau Recreation Centre.
The Chapleau Sentinel reported that 52 rinks from Chapleau, other communities in Ontario and Quebec participated in the centennial bonspiel with additional sheets of ice created in the A.W. Moore Arena.
To launch the bonspiel, two of the oldest members of the club were selected for a ceremonial throwing of the first stone. Olive Card threw it while Syd Roffey swept.
At a banquet Master of Ceremonies Albert Tremblay extended thanks to the bonspiel committee on their efforts to make it a success. Members included Margaret Rose Fortin, Monica Tremblay, Joan Longchamps, John Longchamps, Tina Cappellani, Doug Prusky, Rita Mitchell, Twyla Berry, Jim Hong, Paula Hughes and Lorna Martel. Draw master was Trevor Riley while Roy May and Peter Archambault were the ice committee. Prize committee members were Jean and Carmelle Martel.
Albert also extended thanks to the Air Cadets and the Fitness Club for operating the lunch counter, Carl Nyman and Richard Beaudoin for making the scoreboards, Roger Mizuguchi for selling tickets and the United Church Men's Breakfast Club for catering the meal
The rink travelling the farthest to participate was Paul Richardson, Denise Richardson, Diane Richardson and Harry Richardson from Ottawa and Montreal.
And the winners were!
Top honours in the A Event went to a rink skipped by Ed Rioux. Team members were Freda Rioux, John Young and Debbie Young.
In the B Event the rink of Walter Telik, Oriette Telik, Linda Martel and Denis Martel were the winners.
C Event winners were the rink of Jack O'Connor, Doug Prusky, Tina Cappellani and Monique Landry.
Consolation winners were Paul Antoniazzi, Nadine Antoniazzi, Gordon Welch and Jill Welch.
The Chapleau Town Band, which was also first established circa 1886, was present to march the winners around the ice surface before prizes were awarded.
To conclude the bonspiel incoming club president Wilma congratulated the winners and all who were involved in making it a success.
Bishop Tom Corston was in touch responding to my column on the Algoma Dairy and the Broomhead family. Tom wrote in part: "Great story on the Broomheads. Did you know that prior to the Broomhead dairy business my Grandfather, Jack Corston, had a dairy business delivering milk to much of 'lower town'. My father (Henry 'Chicken') often talked about delivering milk with his brothers."
I knew There was a Corston's farm but was not aware Mr. Corston had a dairy business. Thanks Tom.
Also, Ann (Bedford) Midgley reminded me that her grandfather Simon Kruger, after retiring from the CPR worked in the Algoma Dairy convenience story. That I do recall. My email is mj.morris@live.ca
