Born in Sheenboro, Quebec, Mr. Downey started working for the Canadian Pacific Railway in its early years returning home from Chapleau in 1897 to marry Annie Catherine Mears. For the first few months in Chapleau, they lived with Tom and Catherine Downey, a cousin.
They first lived in a house near Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church where five of their eight children were born, but then bought large house on Lorne located across from the YMCA, where the liquor store is today.
In an article about the Downey family written for the centennial of Sacred Heart Church, the writer who is one of the family but not identified noted that "Both Annie and Paddy were hard working energetic people who were happy to be living in a country where freedom and opportunity were available to all."
To supplement Mr. Downey's income from the CPR and to pay for their new house, they rented four bedrooms, usually to teachers. Apparently teachere were "sent" to Mrs. Downey. Renting rooms with board was a pretty common practice even the 1940s-50s when I was growing up in Chapleau.
The artice writer noted, "Imagine the washing that entailed with no electricity and water heated by a tank near the cook stove adding that it was a "horrendous" job with family and boarders ---"scrubbing, cooking, sewing, patching..."
Much of the work fell to many wives of many railroaders who would be out on the road for long periods of time in those days.
However, the boys would go with their father to get the wood supply sometimes putting it in a boom to float down river, haul it home, saw it, pile it outside to dry, throw it in the basement, pile again...
No gym was needed, the article notes.
Despite challenges they were always secure and well cared for.
"Both parents had the pioneer spirit and became very involved with church and comunity,"
At first all children attended the public school but in due course there was a need for a separate school and Mrs. Downey and other women met with Bishop Scollard to pursue it. By 1910 it had been provided.
Mrs. Downey was also active in the Catholic Women's League and was very involved in the selection of plays and casts for the very popular St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Mr, Downey was also active in the church.
After Chapleau High School opened in 1922, Mr. Downey served several terms as a board member, and was very active in its early years.
During the Great Depression, Mr. Downey served on the municipal council which was a great challenge with many out of work.
Another great Chapleau pioneer family. My email is mj.morris@live.ca
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