Two rows of boxcars became temporary homes in Chapleau by late 1885

Although Chapleau is located on the Kebsquasheshing and Nebskwashi Rivers, the first site selected for the community was Tawagami, about five miles to the east about where Devon is, according to a long handwritten article in the Richard Brownlee papers.

The Devon site was apparently too swampy for a settlement near the tracks so the Canadian Pacific Railway work camps were moved west to what became Chapleau by 1885. A spur track for a boxcar, which became the first station was set out and Chapleau came into existence.

Before I go any further, and in the interests of full disclosure, I have no idea who wrote this article which summarizes the first 50 years of Chapleau history as there is no byline. It may very well have been Mr. Brownlee. It is excellent.

The author revealed that by late 1885 there were two rows of boxcars which had become temporary homes on "Stovepipe" and "Gosling" Avenues.

I was amazed to learn that by 1888 Chapleau had a public library in a boxcar with over 2000 volumes of "fine literature'  all donated by Sir William Van Horne, the president of the CPR. The library was later located in the Mechanics Institute.

The Chapleau Brass Band was established in 1888 and by 1889 Dominion Day on July 1 was being celebrated.

Efforts were made just before the turn of the century to have Chapleau incorporated as a municipality but failed because an insufficient number of names could be found for a petition calling for a vote.

However, in 1901 Chapleau became a municipality with G.B. Nicholson as the first Reeve. Mr. Nicholson served until 1913 being returned by acclamation each year. Members of the first council were A. Rothwell, D. Royal, P.J. MacFarlane and W. Boswell. To the best of my knowledge only relatives of Mr. Nicholson still live in Chapleau -- members of the Collins family.  Mrs. Eileen Collins, the wife of Charles W. Collins was a member of the Nicholson family.

The first act of the council was to float debentures for the construction of a public school. The first school was in a tent, then the first Roman Catholic Church then back to tent.

The author noted that the second tent was pitched on the spot where the United Church parsonage was located. 

"It was a very pretty spot and the tent was nestled among the big pine trees. Great fun was had when the pine cones dropped on the roof making a drumming noise. There were twelve rough hewn seats in the school. 

"Another feature of this school was the big stove in the middle and those who sat near ir roasted those away froze."

Turning to the CPR, the author wrote that the round house, a necessity in a railroad town, had no doors and when the snow piled up the section men shovelled it out.. The oil was kept outside and had to be heated on stoves. 

"The railroaders had a hard winter in those early days but they were hardy men."

D. O. Payette described Chapleau as he saw it in 1904 when he arrived.

"At least half of Chapleau was bush. There were no electric lights and coal oil was used almost exclusively for lighting purposes. The stores and hotels used acetylene gas. The water supply was had from pitcher pumps which drew the water from well points driven into the ground at varying depths."

Things changed quickly and that is a column for another day as we look at the early days of Chapleau. If you would like to contribute to the story please contact me at mj.morris@live.ca

Once again I extend my sincere thanks to Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin who kindly loaned me the Richard Brownlee Papers!