Chapleau 'boom years' underway as Canadian Pacific Railway shops undergo change to accommodate diesel power in 1950

Reeve B W. Zufelt

Work was being "pushed forward rapidly" on the changeover at the Canadian Pacific Railway shops at Chapleau to accommodate diesel power which would soon be operating out of Chapleau, according to a Chapleau Post article in April 1950.

But what has been referred to as "Chapleau's Boom Years" were well underway as  the community celebrated  its 50th anniversary as a municipality in 1951.

For example, on the municipal scene a sewage plant and system had  been completed and the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena was officially opened in February 1951. Some streets had been paved.

Highway 129 between Chapleau and Thessalon was officially opened in 1949, and following the forest fire of 1948 lumber companies arrived on the scene.

At one point, it was expected that Chapleau would be on the main route of the Trans Canada Highway, and Reeve B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt appeared in The Globe and Mail pointing out the route. It didn't happen.

Arthur Grout of Smith and Chapple Ltd. expanded with a new building on the "other side" of Main Street, while Charles W. Collins built on the corner of Birch and Lorne Streets right across from the "new" post office. Other new businesses were established.

Back to the CPR. In 1949 the first diesel powered passenger train arrived in Chapleau to be greeted with much excitement. Like almost every school kid in town, I was there!

Meanwhile, the changes at the shops at a cost of an expected $250,000 was scheduled for completion by the summer of 1950.

"The shops are a beehive of industry as construction crews tear down walls and build new ones," the Chapleau Post reported in April 1950.

The article added that three power shovels were on the job moving rubble made by the smashing down of walls, unloading gravel for new cement and excavating. 

It also  predicted that upon completion the Chapleau shops would be the diesel base between North Bay and the Lakehead. It was for a time.

Also, it noted that citizens who had complained for years of the smoke nuisance from the shops practically in the middle of town would no longer have anything to complain about once diesel replaced steam power. As an aside, those were the days when most washing was hung outside on a line to dry with the constant threat that soot would arrive dirtying it before it dried.

The CPR provided steam heat for the lobby and dressing rooms for the new Chapleau Memorial Arena which resulted in great savings to the municipality. 

See names below

In the 1950s there was a great deal of optimism in Chapleau about its future on many fronts. Improvements were made in many areas of community life for sure, but in due course, changes came in CPR operations, and  the Trans Canada highway never did go through the community for example.

After living through the Great Depression and World War II, perhaps J.M. 'Jack' Shoup, a veteran of World War I and II, longtime principal of Chapleau Public School, first chair of the Chapleau Recreation Committee summed up the community's attitude. Everyone had a "duty to serve and participate" to make the community a better place to live, work and play. 

And they did. I have just touched the surface of those "boom years" but growing up during them, it was awesome!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Photo 

Sod turning for sewage system:From left to right: Dr. David Lougheed, A.J. Grout, Cecil Smith, Foreman for Construction Company, Walter Steed,.R. Thrush, B. Zufelt (reeve), Ernest Lepine, Max Brunette, J.M. Shoup, Richard Brownlee, Dr. G.E. Young, Geo. Fife, Ovide Payette, Charles Collins. The two girls in the back are Carol Ann (babe) Chambers, Joan Kemp. 

Virus-free. www.avg.com

Parades in Chapleau played major role in success of winter and summer community celebrations

CHS Band in parade circa 1956

The old saying that everyone loves a parade sure applied to Chapleau throughout its history playing a major role in celebrations from its earliest beginnings after the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885.

Browsing through old photographs and "Googling" it seems that the first parades were associated with Dominion Day, now Canada Day  on July 1, but through the years, there would be other ones hosted by organizations such as the Orange Lodge, Knights of Columbus, and after 1926, Branch No. 5 of the Royal Canadian  Legion. The Legion took over the July 1 celebrations.

By 1937, with D.O. Payette, then the president of Smith and Chapple Ltd. as the "catalyst" according to a report at the time, with his business partner Arthur Grout as chairman, the Chapleau Winter Carnival was launched. Carnivals were planned in Mr. Payette's office.

Jimmy Purich leads parade

Jimmy Purich became parade marshal and would lead the parade on a white horse from the CPR station from where it formed up over the old overhead bridge to an ice palace on Main Street or across from the old old arena on Lorne Street.

B.W. Zufelt with Bev Machan 1956

After B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt became reeve in 1948, the Chapleau Recreation Commission was formed and a Beach Day celebration on the first Monday in August was added, including a parade. The carnival queen was also a feature attraction in parades.

Jack Shoup far right

My generation will well remember J. M. 'Jack' Shoup, the principal of Chapleau Pubic School and longest serving township councillor organizing us for the parade, and later the children's races. He ran the skating races at the winter carnival too.

The Chapleau Band, first called Chapleau Brass Band, would appear to have been part of parades from about 1887 on and it even travelled to other communities to participate in their celebrations.  

Parade circa 1957

A bugle band was formed at Chapleau High School after the cadet corps was founded about 1926, and was directed by principal and teacher John 'Mac' McClellan. A parade around town was always part of the annual inspection.

Allan Ritchie

Allan Ritchie, who had moved to Chapleau from Moose Factory with his parents by canoe, proudly displayed his native heritage in Chapleau parades. His grandson Lark Ritchie, writing about him in Chapleau Trails said that he was "noted for his proud and consistent display of his native heritage at many Chapleau community events participating in parades."

Re-enactment of Cartier arrival

But parades were not limited to the streets of Chapleau, as there were at least two on the Chapleau River. In May 1934, John Burns, Edward Levesque, Hill Gagnon, Gerard Tremblay and Joe Fortier marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of French explorer Jacques Cartier at Newfoundland by sailing on the river in a replica of Cartier's ship. 

Ernie Gilbert, MJ, Marcel Bourgeault 1976

Winter Carnival 1938

In 1976, as part of the celebration of Chapleau's 75th anniversary of incorporation as a municipality, a canoe flotilla travelled from the Ministry of Natural Resources "Point" to the beach area.

Parades started from CPR station

There may also have been sailboat parades at one time as races were held on the river in the community's early years.

I am sure everyone has their favourite parade stories, and please feel free to send them along. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Enjoy the ice fishing derby and Chapleau Winter Carnival.

Edythe Mary Hunt described as gallant Red Cross nurse attending wounded from Dunkirk expedition in World War II

Edythe Mary Hunt planned to return to her home in Chapleau from England on September 1, 1939 on the SS Athenia  just as World War II broke out.

On September 3, the Athenia was torpedoed by a German submarine and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean, but she was not on board. At the last minute, she had cancelled her passage, deciding to stay in England for what  was expected to be a short war.

She joined the 130th Durham Nursing Unit of the British Red Cross, and finally returned to Canada in 1944 aboard the Queen Elizabeth  arriving back in Chapleau on October 19, four and one half years after she went to England. 

To honour all women who served in time of war, as we mark Remembrance Day, I decided to share the story of Edythe Mary Hunt, during World War II, as compiled by my cousins Betty (Zufelt) Gartner, Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick, Joan (Zufelt) Cotter and Leslie (Zufelt) Morin. To us, she was "Nanny", our grandmother.

My sincere thanks to them for writing Nanny's story -- and a special thanks to Betty and Anne for answering my questions and sending me information. Except where noted, all information comes from my cousins.

Nanny with daughters Elsie left and Muriel right on 80th birthday

Our grandparents, Edythe and George Hunt, arrived in Chapleau in 1913 with their two daughters, Elsie, my cousins' mother, and Muriel, my mother. Elsie married B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt and my mother married J.E. 'Jim' Morris.

Nanny went to England in the Spring of 1939 upon learning of her mother's failing health but her mother died before she arrived. Her sister Sal  lived in England.

After she joined the nursing unit, for a time she was on a night shift "walking through the rubble from the bombings with air raid sirens wailing." 

She went to work at The Infirmary "using a flashlight or 'torch' as it was called, with thin black paper over the light, carried light down on the ground. She was on call to various Red Cross hospitals in Britain over the next few years, nursing the lads returned from the infamous Dunkirk expedition. As well as many wounded British, she also attended to German prisoners."

Back in Chapleau, the family collected and wrapped food parcels to send to her and her sister Sally as well as other relatives since food in England was becoming scarce.

"The blackest day of the war came when the news arrived on July 16, 1943, that Muriel's husband, Flying Officer Jim Morris  and all his crew had been killed when the Wellington which they were testing exploded in mid air. The funeral a few days later in Ripon was heartbreaking as Jim was their dear boy".

When my father went overseas in 1942, my mother and I had returned to Chapleau, and were living with the Zufelt family and spending time with his parents, Harry and Lil (Mulligan) Morris.

After Nanny returned home, she told me that my father often rode on his bicycle to visit with her and our Aunt Sal, and had been there the weekend before he was killed.

By 1944 when the Atlantic was becoming clear of German submarines, she applied for passage back to Canada. She travelled on the Queen Elizabeth and sailed totally in the dark at nights on the Atlantic arriving in New York on September 17 and Chapleau on September 19.

I still recall her arrival. She got out of Uncle Bubs' truck in her uniform, and her arm was in a sling. I was so impressed, but really I couldn't wait to go and tell my friends, Mr. Hopper and Mr. Brownlee that my grandmother was home, and that Hitler had wounded her. She had actually sprained her wrist.

The Chapleau Post of November 3, 1944, described her as "one of the gallant Red Cross nurses who received and attended the wounded who returned from Dunkirk."

She told the newspaper that the "thrifty British manage very well and one never hears any grumbling or complaints from them." She was amazed at the amount of food and goods on the stores in Chapleau and so much of it unrationed.

My cousins noted that it "took several weeks for this unshakable lady to learn to cook and bake again as she was not used to such an abundant supply of food. She picked up the pieces of her life and carried on with her family, church, lodge and Legion until her death on October 19, 1966."

Their history of our grandmother's role in World War II concludes with a reference to the meaning of the word indomitable -- invincible, unyielding, resolute, firm, persistent, courageous. 

"Every one of them describes Nanny Hunt and that is how we remember her." Well said! Thanks Betty, Anne, Joan and Leslie. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

In Nanny's prayer book is the following from the King's Speech, at Christmas 1939

"I said to a man who stood at the gate of the year,

Give me a light that I may tread safely into the darkness,

and he replied:
Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God,

that shall be to you better than light

and safer than the known way."

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose, Northern Ontario continues to take the hits

Reeve B.W. Zufelt

When Reeve B.W. "Bubs" Zufelt was interviewed by The Globe and Mail in June 1950 about Chapleau having the Trans Canada Highway, it was an occasion for great celebration in the community. 

Reeve Zufelt, who in the interests of full disclosure was my "Uncle Bubs", told Don Delaplante, a Globe and Mail reporter that it looked like "half the world is going to come driving down our Main Street." 

The Chapleau Post ran a banner headline "WE GOT IT" and schools were closed for the day to mark the occasion. The reeve had his picture taken pointing towards Schreiber in the general direction of where the highway would go from Chapleau.

Well, some 62 years later, we are all aware that the Trans Canada Highway never came through Chapleau, even though in 1951, Welland S. Gemmell, an Ontario cabinet minister, assured 2200 citizens at the official opening of the Chapleau Memorial Arena that it would.

Imagine the disappointment when the Trans Canada  took another route despite promise after promise by senior levels of government.

Such is the nature of politics, and for Chapleau and other communities in Northern Ontario, it seems plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

Never mind losing the Trans Canada Highway, successive Chapleau councils have tried to get the Sultan/Ramsey Road completed to no avail.

However, let me get to the point of this column. I have very seldom written about current issues affecting Chapleau simply because I am writing from afar and am not  aware of what's really happening on the local scene.

But, this past week, after receiving emails and Facebook messages, about a  government decision to close provincial parks, the end of the Ontario Northland train between Toronto and Cochrane, a Grey Cup train that is bypassing Chapleau and Northern Ontario, enough is enough folks.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources announced that overnight camping  at 10 Northern Ontario parks, including Shoals and Ivanhoe near Chapleau will no longer be permitted as part of its budget slashing process. Michael Gravelle, the Natural Resources minister said, “The decisions we’re making are necessary to modernize our business, make the ministry sustainable, and help the government balance the budget,” 

Gravelle added: “I’m confident that we will be more efficient and better organized to focus on what matters most to the people who rely on the ministry’s programs and services.”

According to a ministry news release, the changes will result in the elimination of 28 full-time and 102 seasonal positions, saving the Ontario government $6.1 million a year and future capital costs of $4.4 million.

Referring specifically to Shoals, the ministry news release said, "The Shoals Provincial Park near Chapleau had fewer than 5,000 visits last year, and Ontario Parks recovered only 30 cents on each dollar it invested in the park." 

With the closure of the parks, as part of its "streamlining and automating processes", whatever that means in terms people can understand, the government plans to focus on 104 parks primarily located in Southern Ontario.

Gravelle says he believes the ministry will be able to focus on "what matters most"  to people. Well, Minister, may I suggest you begin by making decisions that include consultation with the citizens directly affected in the communities who rely on the parks in many ways, instead of a mathematical model of usage and cost recovery created by bureaucrats at Queens Park.

There is no mention in the news release that other options were considered.

On September 28, Jennifer Wells a feature writer with the Toronto Star, was aboard the Northlander, the Ontario Northland Transportation Commisssion historic train -- operating for more than 100 years -- on its last run from Cochrane to Toronto. Although not directly connected to Chapleau, the Northlander has been used by its citizens over the years. It has been cancelled by the Ontario government.

One passenger on the Northlander told Wells, "The fight isn't over.... The divide between the north and south is now greater than it's ever been".

I imagine the passenger spoke for the majority of Northern Ontario citizens.

Meanwhile, an email arrived from Ian Macdonald, telling me about the train marking the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup. I was unaware of the train's existence but after reading his email I, like him, was angered.

Here is part of Ian's email:

"Please note that Northern Ontario has been totally ignored!!!! If I still lived there I would be raising proper Hell. (Ian now lives in Winnipeg, but attended Chapleau Public and Chapleau High schools)

"Those of us of our generation can recall the trains stopping in Chapleau and other CPR divisional points en route to the Grey Cup in Toronto. The rail trip across Northern Ontario was an important aspect of the Grey Cup festival as we know it today. Ask any Calgary fan from that era. The schedule is: http://www.greycuptour.ca/

"This is truly an insult to Northern Ontario and displays a total lack of  understanding on the part of the CFL of how the Grey Cup Festival was launched and the communities and people who played an important role."P*****  off....... I remain, Ian"

Here is link to earlier feature on Calgary Stampeders and train stopping in Chapleau http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.ca/2012/01/calgary-stampeders-bring-touch-of-old.html

Maybe it's time for every mayor in Northern Ontario from the Manitoba border to Thunder Bay, to Hearst, Cochrane, Timmins and on to North Bay, and along Highway 17 to Marathon, Terrace Bay, Wawa  to Sault Ste Marie,and to Sudbury, and of course Chapleau, to hop on buses and head to Toronto united in a common cause to get a better deal for Northern Ontario. Maybe let the CFL know Northern Ontario exists. 

Like my friend Ian, who says he is ever the radical, even though we are now 70ish, my email is mj.morris@ live.ca, Please feel free to be in touch.

Thanks to Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick, Ian Macdonald and Mario Lafreniere for research assistance.

Popular Chapleau High School social event was annual wiener roast at Bucciarelli Beach as part of initiation

See names below. CLICK TO ENLARGE

With the 90th anniversary reunion festival  now less than a month away, if you attended and/or taught at Chapleau High School, I am sure you are starting to dig into the mothballs of memory recalling those days  when you were part of "Chapleau's high school" as George Evans put it so well in his article for the 75th anniversary.

George added: " "When Chapleau's high school celebrates, the whole community celebrates. The high school is the place where the community comes together." 

The school, for 90 years has been an integral part of Chapleau life, and I have discovered that writing about CHS usually means writing about the community too.

I decided to share some Chapleau High School Moments with you spanning the history of CHS from 1922 on in no particular chronological order in the next four columns. Hopefully, some will provide you with talking points at the reunion from June 29 to July 1. Thanks to Ken Schroeder, my friend and classmate at both Chapleau Public and Chapleau High schools for giving me the idea from an article he sent about growing up in the 1950s and 60s. 

If any of you have memorable CHS moments or about life in Chapleau generally that you would like to share, please feel free to email them to me at mj.morris@live.ca.

Let's start with the annual wiener roast which was held at Bucciarelli's Beach in my time as student from 1955 to 1959, but according to a talk given by Jack Whitney, it was a highlight of the school year when he was a student in the late 1920s. The "outstanding event" of the evening according to one writer, was the initiation of Grade Nine students in the 1940s, but by the 1950s initiation lasted the better part of a week with the wiener roast as the social event bringing it to a close.

See names below. CLICK TO ENLARGE

See if you remember some of the following from a "Do You Remember? column  in the souvenir newspaper marking the school's 60th anniversary in 1982. 

Here we go with Do you remember when ...

... we played basketball in the Memorial Hall gym ... now the Legion Bisco Room?

...  the town curfew rang at nine p.m. and all young people headed home unless accompanied by an adult?

... parents knew their children were in class from nine to four and spares were for studying and no one left the school without permission?

... Elmore Leigh was leading the cadets and "Mr. Mac" (John McClellan) was called away so when Elmore came to the gym wall he was reprimanded because no command had been given. The following day the performance was repeated, only this time outside so when Mr. Mac was again called away even when it involved going right into the river?  (There are other versions of this one)

... cracks between the boards of the wooden sidewalks claimed dimes, rings and other small things?

...  hitching rides on horse sleds hauling ice for the CPR and sliding on barrel staves on the water tank hill was standard practice?

...  the annual Cadet banquet was planned and executed by the Students Council and mothers were called in to cook and clean up. Students set up the tables, decorated the hall (either Legion or Town Hall) planned the menu. No liguor, beer or wine even considered?  For years the turkeys were cooked by B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt in the big oven at Chapleau Bakery.

... the old swimming hole -- the 'Pig Pen' -- located on the river behind the convent was popular?

... the dances with the printed programs that had all the dances listed, waltz, fox trot, etc. When a young lady was asked for a dance she wrote her partner's name opposite the dance he wanted to have with her? The writer of the column noted that Jim Broomhead and Wilf Simpson were among those who provided the "good music" for dances.

Hope to hear from you with your memorable moments! My email is mj.morris@live.ca


PHOTOS

The 1959 CHS Girls Precision Marching Squad. From left Alison McMillan, Linda Bolduc, Barbara Gervais, Harriet Chambers, Joan Simard, Dorothy Honda, Betty Anne O'Brien, Ann Butler, Shelby Corston, Phyllis Chrusoskie, Gemma Ouellete, Dawn Goldstein

The 1942 CHS Bugle Band and Drum Corps. From left Tammy Bernier, Sandy McDonald, unknown, Grant Campbell, Charlotte Collinson,  Tommy Godfrey

Six Chapleauites including reporter Maggie Costello ride Highway 101 to Timmins for first time in 1961

Shortly after Margaret 'Maggie' Costello arrived in Chapleau in 1949, she started reporting on the life, times and people of the community, and as part of her experience became the first woman to travel over Highway 101 to Timmins in 1961.

For more than 25 years, Maggie as she was fondly called, became a fixture at all things Chapleau, arriving in her Volkswagen Beetle with her camera, and reporting on them first for the Sudbury Star in her Chapleau Scene column and in news stories, then with the Sault Star where she wrote Chapleau Hi-Lites and reported the news from her adopted community. 

Maggie was born in Pennsylvania, and after settling in Chapleau with her husband Bill, first worked at the Chapleau Clinic and for the Township of Chapleau, but she was a newspaper reporter, first and foremost.

She had been a reporter in the United States, and was also a professional actress, something Chapleau  learned when she played a leading role in the Chapleau Little Theatre's 1969 production of Kay Hill's comedy 'Three to Get Married'.

Maggie was also active as a member of the board of the Chapleau Community Credit Union, the Chapleau Chamber of Commerce and Lady Minto Hospital Auxiliary.

Doug Greig recently sent me some of Maggie's columns including the one 'Six Chapleauites ride Highway 101 to Timmins -- for first time' from December 1961.

She wrote they were looking at a map spread out before them and "can hardly believe it happened -- but it did. Six went all the way to Timmins."

On the expedition over the new highway with Maggie were Reeve D.J. 'Jim' Broomhead, Marcel Bourgeault, Roy May, Gilles Boisvert and F.B. 'Casey' Nowakowski, and she was most gracious in extending thanks to them for having asked her to accompany the delegation determined to see Highway 101 opened and available to all in 1961.

Commenting on being the first woman to travel over the new highway from Chapleau to Timmins, Maggie wrote, "We've never been one to shout from the housetops that we were first in anything - but we are, we are - and being the first woman that's something no one can take away from us -- we were the first woman to drive over Highway 101.

Just a note on Maggie's use of "we" when referring to herself.  "We" can also refer to the group so it can be a bit confusing. Maggie came from the school of newspaper reporting and column writing where the use of "I" was not permitted. Even though I am (we are) a product of the same school of journalism, after all these years of more personal journalism, it took me a few moments to adapt to Maggie's style, although the use of "I" should still be avoided. The third person should be used, and enough already of a lesson from Journalism 101.

Stuck in mud on Highway 101

Although Maggie was proud of the group's accomplishment, she wrote that "further keeping the ego in check the successful trip owed its success to the assistance of the department of highways equipment over the one and only bad part of about 50 feet some 30 miles between Chapleau and Foleyet. 

She added that about noon they reached the stretch of swamp and muskeg that had not been completely filled in and the ground was soft and mushy and the "wheels of the vehicle sunk in but good."

It was lunch time, she noted, but as soon as the highway crew returned, the two car caravan received all kinds of co-operation, and "after being set on more solid ground by bulldozer operator Lloyd Eaton of Foleyet, we rolled merrily the rest of the way."

A short news story about the historic trip noted that "residents of Chapleau and Timmins joined hands over a new stretch of road in jubilation. Highway 101 was finally a reality."

The official opening ceremonies of the highway took place with a huge celebration in June 1962.

About 10 years earlier, a Chapleau delegation chartered a plane and flew to Timmins for highway discussions with the Porcupine Chamber of Commerce. The flight took 52 minutes compared to  a return trip of about 19 hours by train at that time. Accompanying Reeve B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt were Arthur Grout, Albert Evans, Charles W. Collins, Gordon Bailey and Wilf Simpson.

Margaret 'Maggie' Costello, who was predeceased by her husband Bill, died in 1983. She had retired in 1977. A memorial service was held at St. John's Anglican Church. 

Thanks to Doug Greig and Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Cecil Smith described as 'Master Showman' by George Tremblay takes over the Regent Theatre in Chapleau in 1940

Reeve B.W. Zufelt, C.W. Collins, C.A.. Smith, pres Board of Trade

When Cecil Smith, and his wife Ruth, first arrived in Chapleau on CPR passenger train Number 3, the Dominion,  "Len the taxi man" picked them up at the station, loaded their luggage, then the taxi "dashed up and around the steep horseshoe bridge that spanned the railway yards" then through the downtown to the YMCA, their first home in the community.

The taxi man was Len Perfetto and Mr. and Mrs. Smith had come to Chapleau on a cold  day in November 1940, to negotiate the purchase of the Regent Theatre. Len's Taxi stand was located in a small building right beside the theatre.

In his wonderful book about the early days of the movies 'Break at Nine' George Tremblay tells the story of Mr. Smith and the theatre, referring to him as 'Master Showman'. Mr. Tremblay worked as the projectionist at the Chapleau theatre.

Mr. Tremblay describes the train ride from Sudbury, where Mr. Smith had been working as a projectionist. "Hour after hour the train weaved its way through the granite rock cuts, countless freezing lakes and the unbounded forests of the Canadian shield. Finally, just after noon it steamed into Chapleau and lurched to a stop in front of the station complex where a team of railway service people rushed forward to carry out their servicing work."

Rotarians F. Leigh, A. Bucciarelli, J. McClellan,  D.O. Payette, C. Smith

Mr. Tremblay also provides an interesting insight into Chapleau as it was in 1940.

After disembarking from the train and making their way through a crowd of people boarding the train, the Smith's spotted the taxi cab and upon spotting them, Len "dashed over to help them carry the heavy luggage."

It may come as a surprise to some, but in 1940 Chapleau had "limited amenities to offer casual travellers" and they had been advised to book a room at 'the Y'. 

Regent Theatre. Photo by Gamma Centre

"The YMCA was a large and well maintained wooden building located in the heart of the community (on Lorne Street near where the LCBO is now). It had a good restaurant, clean comfortable rooms and even had reading room for its guests. It even had a bowling alley in the basement..."

At this point, Mr. Tremblay writes, their plans were flexible. If they could negotiate  successfully with the theatre owner, they would stay in Chapleau: if not they would return to Sudbury where Mr. Smith had  been working as a projectionist. Originally from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Mr. Smith had come east to work for his uncle Charles Mavety, a pioneer in the Canadian movie industry, in 1929.

That night, Mr. Smith worked as projectionist at the theatre, and after the show he and his wife compared notes, agreeing that business would keep on improving, and in the next few days "the finer points of the deal" had been worked out and the theatre license was transferred to Cecil Smith on November 13, 1940.

Having now taken over the theatre, the next challenge facing the Smith's was finding a place to live as apartments were in short supply. 

Cecil Smith, A.J. Grout, Reeve Bubs Zufelt at sewage plant start

Mr. Tremblay explains: "That was not an easy matter as apartments were in short supply because of the growing number of new railroaders in the town. Being war time (World War II had started in September 1939) the railroad was becoming busier by the day and the railroad company had to bring in more men to fill the need and many of them had families thus creating a housing shortage."

Arthur Simpson, the owner of the Chapleau Post came to the rescue. He had space above his shop on Young Street but there was only one problem: it was only semi-furnished. "It had a complete bathroom and something resembling a kitchen but nothing else. There were no other partitions and the resulting space looked like a giant meeting hall."

Nonetheless, the Smith's took it and over time built partitions and lived there until they built their own home on Cherry Street some years later.

Turning his attention to the theatre, Mr. Smith knew that a big benefit movie for the hospital would be an effective way to introduce himself to the community. A movie was selected and Mr. Tremblay noted that that the promotion was effective and the theatre filled to capacity with the entire effort creating a great deal of goodwill. It was a fitting start for the venture.

Over the years Mr. Smith made improvements at the theatre but his efforts to convert the Regent to show Cinemascope movies was made almost impossible because of structural limitations. Also the theatre did not meet new standards so Mr. Smith decided to build a new modern theatre, purchased property adjacent to the Regent at Birch and Lorne Streets and built the "Fox' Theatre in 1955. He also expanded by purchasing the theatres in Thessalon and Espanola.

The old Regent is where the Royal Bank of Canada branch is located. 

On the corner Mr. Smith was responsible for the construction of the building that houses the Chapleau News Depot to this day, and behind it was the first Simpsons order office in Chapleau. 

After getting his theatre business operating successfully, Mr. Smith became active in Chapleau affairs, serving as president of the Chapleau Board of Trade when the sewage system was installed about 1950 when B.W. Zufelt was reeve. He also was a member of the Chapleau Rotary Club and the Masonic Lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were active in St. John's Anglican Church and also played golf.

In the mid 1970s they decided to retire and sold their business interests. Mrs. Smith died in 1980, and her husband in 1987.

Mr. Tremblay summed up the 'Master Showman': "Not only was he a superb showman, he was also a kind and generous man and he has been missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him."

Let me share a personal anecdote about Mr. Smith. After my grandfather Harry Morris died in 1957, Mr. Smith greatly assisted my grandmother Lil (Mulligan) Morris with business affairs that had always been my grandfather's responsibility. Often, when I visited her, she would say that Mr. Smith had been over, or was coming the next day. Indeed, Cecil Smith was a "kind and generous man" and one of Chapleau's most successful entrepreneurs.

I have just shared a glimpse of the Cecil and Ruth story and their theatre in Chapleau as told by George Tremblay in 'Break at Nine', and have not even touched Mr. Tremblay's story of the movie industry. A great read!!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca