The Chapleau Curling Club was established in the Fall of 1885 and the first sheet of ice made during the winter across from where the liquor store is now located.
Vince Crichton wrote in Pioneering In Northern Ontario that the names of the first members were not recorded but there appears to have been a shack built with a wood stove in it to warm the players in frigid weather. The rink was not enclosed so in order to curl shovelling and sweeping the snow was necessary. By 1904 the ice skating rink had been enclosed and one sheet of curling was made available on the lane side of Lansdowne Street.
In 1928 the curling club was relocated to its own building on Pine Street where it remained until its move to the Chapleau Recreation Centre in 1978. Chapleau never hosted this bonspiel again.
Chapleau actually hosted the Northern Ontario Curling Association bonspiel in 1929and did so again in 1932. In 1932 a rink comprised of Leo Racicot, Harry Morris (my Grandfather), Vince Crichton and A. Kinahan reached the finals in all events with the exception of the Consolation Trophy. Vince noted in his book that this feat was never accomplished before or since.
However, after this success the club went into a period of stagnation during the Great Depression but in 1936 Vince proposed borrowing money to renovate the club room. Then World War II came along and by the end of the war younger members joined.
In 1948 Vince became president and curling enjoyed a long period of prosperity. The Club rooms were expanded, a heating system installed and by 1962 an artificial ice plant was completed. Washroom facilities were also installed and in due course it took on a very inviting and pleasant atmosphere which attracted the public to watch the games.
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| D Matheson, T J Godfrey, T Therriault, G B Nicholson circa 1927 |
By 1954 school boy curling was initiated and a year later Herb Riley donated the Riley Trophy for high school curling. I curled for a couple of years in the 1950s and was able to use my grandfather's rocks.
Later high school girls started curling and became a major part of the success enjoyed.
Vince noted that over the years Chapleau rinks were considered worthy opponents -- the only honour escaping them was the McDonald Brier.
George McCord who had been an ardent curler was once asked to name the best rink that played together from the Chapleau club.. Apparently without hesitation he replied: Leo Racicot, Harry Morris, Vince Crichton and Tommy Therriault. adding that there had never been another rink to compare with them. They curled together 12 years and they won many honours.
It took some years for women to be accepted as members but when they were approved , they had a "vibrant, growing organization and have ever since been a very vital and worthy part of the curling club".
NOTE -- In the interest of full disclosure I must admit that until today when I was thumbing through Vince's book again I was unaware that my grandfather was such an excellent curler. Of course I knew he liked to curl but not as successfully as Vince revealed. My email is mj.morris@live.ca
