Patriotic energy and enthusiasm needed to keep community potential constantly before public, Chapleau Headlight writer says in 1915

Some things  have surely changed in the past 100 years but challenges and opportunities face Chapleau much as they did in 1915 when a writer with the Chapleau Headlight commented on the state of the community.

Browsing through the Richard Brownlee papers, kindly loaned to me by Margaret Rose and Bobby Fortin, I discovered a brief history of Chapleau, which appeared in the first edition of the Headlight on December 3, 1915. It covers the years from 1885 when the community was established  after the arrival of the CPR to 1915.

By 1915, a waterworks system had been installed, a fire department and electric light system established as well as the Lady Minto Hospital and Town Hall both opened in 1914. There were two schools and three churches -- Roman Catholic, Methodist (United) and Anglican (Church of England.

The population was apparently well over 2,000 and there was a bustling business community with five general stores operating by 1887.

World War I had started in 1914, and as Michael McMullen and I note in our book 'The Chapleau Boys Go To War', Chapleau produced 283 volunteers, a very significant number, given the size of the community.

But, the Headlight writer, who is not identified, posed the question, "What about the future?'

It would seem that the question would seem as important today as it was in 1915 -- in fact, not only for Chapleau, but for all communities, especially in rural Canada.

First Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church

What are the possibilities as well as what is the attitude of local citizens? 

In 1915, the writer commented that "There are a large number who look upon Chapleau as just about having reached the zenith of its development , it being contended that as a railway terminal it has practically nothing else to look forward to. That, however, seems to the writer to be the view of the man who looks at the surface and does not try to find out what lies underneath."

The writer continued: " How is Chapleau located for further possible development? The town is situated on the headwater sof one of the chief streams flowing into James Bay and stands about on the southern boundary of the great clay belt.

"North and east of the town is an unlimited acreage of of agricultural land equal to the best in New Ontario.

"It is surrounded in every direction by immense forest.

CPR Yards and Monk Street circa 1915

"Its location marks it out, if its position is taken advantage of, as being the centre through which a large volume of the business that will necessarily develop in the north will find its way to the markets of the south and west"

(As an aside, Chapleau vigorously pursued being located on the Trans Canada Highway, and a bit later community minded citizens like Gene Bernier and Yvon Martel led the campaign for an airport.)

In conclusion, the Headlight writer issued a challenge.

"What Chapleau requires is a little patriotic energy and enthusiasm on the part of its citizens to keep the natural advantage of its situation and the resources of the country surrounding it constantly before the public. 

"With this done, what is now one of the best towns in New Ontario can be made the centre of a very large and prosperous country.

Main Street circa 1915

"Are we willing to do the hustling necessary to bring this about or are we going to pass it off to another generation? That is the question for present day citizens of Chapleau."

One hundred years later, "plus ca change; plus c'est la meme chose" for Chapleau. 

Here are the names of some of the "Citizens League" members who founded the Chapleau Headlight, all famous citizens: T.J. Godfrey, G.B. Nicholson, J.D. McAdam, all reeves); Rev. Father Romeo Gascon, Dr. J.J. Sheahan, V.T. Chapple, Edgar Pellow, J.O. Stanley, W.R. McAdam, Rev. P.R. Soanes and Rev G.W. Lynd.

I have used some photos from the Chapleau Public Library collection, compiled in large measure by Doug Greig to provide a glimpse of Chapleau, circa 1915. I highly recommend a visit to the library site. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau General Hospital efficient, amenable and embraces full potential of beautiful site, according to professor of architecture

At the annual meeting of the Lady Minto Hospital in 1974, the major point of interest was the progress being made on the provision of a new hospital for Chapleau.

Harry Pellow, who was the lead architect on the project, and a Chapleau native, was at the meeting with Peter Manson-Smith of Searle Wilbee Rowlands, architects, to go over the plans in detail, and answer questions.

Although final approval had not been given by the Ministry of Health for the new hospital, Harry reported that plans had been submitted to the ministry for approval. 

Harry Pellow at CHS Reunion 2012

Maggie Costello reported that the new hospital project had been "an uphill fight since the beginning" but progress was being made.  Construction costs had been rising because of inflation and while the building fund had shown growth, it had not kept pace with the escalating cost of construction.

Back in 1968, hospital administrator Leo Walzak had told the board that a new hospital was needed to replace the Lady Minto Hospital which was opened on April 18, 1914, and was described as "a splendid institution" in a Chapleau Headlight editorial. At that time it was the only hospital between Sudbury and Fort William, now Thunder Bay.

As the hospital board moved forward with its plans for a new hospital, Ian Macdonald, now professor emeritus and former head of the department of architecture at the University of Manitoba, wrote in a monograph, Mile 615.1: Building a Northern Community that the location of the new hospital would be on former farmland donated by the Broomhead family.

Ian, who attended Chapleau Public and Chapleau High schools,  noted that the well drained gently sloping site provided excellent soil conditions for construction and generous space to accommodate an accessible single storey health care facility.

At the 1975 Lady Minto Hospital annual meeting there was an atmosphere of "mission accomplished" as board chair J.B. Walsh reported that Gennan Construction had  done initial site preparation before snow came and had been stockpiling materials there ever since.

It was hoped that the new hospital would be completed by 1976, and it was as the Chapleau General Hospital replaced the venerable Lady Minto Hospital which had served the community so well.

At the 1975 annual meeting, Alcide Small, superintendent of the CPR Schreiber division, and a Chapleau native attended to present quit claim deed on four remaining lots at the site of the Lady Minto Hospital.

Alcide explained that two of the lots were deeded by the CPR to the Lady Minto Hospital on November 24, 1913 for the sum of $1.00 and on January 6, 1926 two further lots were deeded to the hospital with the proviso that they would revert to the CPR if they ceased to be used for hospital purposes.

Also, CPR had included a covenant that the land owners could not sell liquor. This was common in those days.

Con Schmidt had initiated negotiations with the CPR to get clear title to all the property on which the old hospital stood. This was important as the lots could be sold and revenue derived added to the building fund.

Commenting on the Chapleau General Hospital more than 30 years after it was opened, Ian Macdonald said that it was "... both efficient and amenable and embraces the full potential of a beautiful site. ... the building remains an exemplary example of quality health care facility."

Harry was also the architect for the Chapleau Civic Centre, Cedar Grove Lodge, Chapleau Recreation Centre and the golf clubhouse as well as Trinity United Church renewal.

In March 1998 the Bignucolo Residence, a 25-bed long term care facility was opened, and the Chapleau Medical Centre is also on the hospital site.

It seemed somehow appropriate to do a column on the Chapleau General Hospital with the arrival of Dr. Doris Mitchell, Dr. Kendra Saari and Dr. Stephen Saari in the community, although they are really coming home.

I was so delighted to chat with "Dr. Doris' at the Chapleau High School Reunion, and thanks Doris for your kind words. I have also heard from Kendra with news about the move she and Stephen have made to Chapleau. Thanks to you too Kendra. I appreciate the commitment you have made to complete your studies in medicine, and Chapleau will be so well served by each of you. Congratulations Dr. Doris, Dr. Kendra and Dr. Stephen, and all the best! 

Thanks to Harry Pellow and Ian Macdonald for research assistance. Ian's monograph is in Chapleau retrospective on Life in an Isolated Northern Community by Bill McLeod. My email is mj.morris@live.ca