Chapleau Senior Citizens Club honours Dr G. E. Young for contribution to Chapleau at ceremony in 2010

The Chapleau Senior Citizens Club honoured Dr. G..E Young for his contribution to Chapleau at a social held in the Bignucolo Residence in February, 2010.

Making the presentation to Dr. Young, who was born and raised in Chapleau, and practised medicine in the community for almost 50 years, were Margaret Fife and Velma Morin, while the Township of Chapleau was represented by Andre Byham.

He was presented with a plaque "acknowledging his tremendous commitment to the health and well being of the citizens of our community during his years of medical practice."

The exact wording on the plaque which Dr. Young hung above the photo of his graduating class in medicine at Queen's University in 1942 read: "In acknowledgment of your tremendous commitment to the health and well being of the citizens of our community during your many years of medical practise in Chapleau. You will always be remembered and loved by all for your dedication. Presented by the Chapleau Senior Citizens Club, February 11, 2010".

In response, Dr. Young said he was "pleasantly surprised" and deeply appreciative of the gesture, according to a story in the Chapleau Express. 

On the same occasion the Senior Citizens Club made a presentation to the Chapleau General Hospital Foundation.

After graduating in medicine from Queen's University in 1942, he interned at Columbia University in New York with no intention of returning home. He did to replace a doctor who wanted a vacation, and the rest is history.

Not only did he practise medicine, but became involved in many aspects of community life which included building the town beach using his own funds, establishing a television system, serving as a township councillor for six years. He was also the second president of the Chapleau Rotary Club. 

He always seemed to have a new project underway.

Related to his medical practise he served as served as coroner, medical officer of health and chief of staff at the hospital. There were occasions when he was the only medical doctor in Chapleau, who also "hopped freights" to look after patients along the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Over the years Dr. Young and I became good friends, and I was delighted to stay at his place when I was home for the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Chapleau in 2001. In 2004, on his cross country trip he visited with me in Cranbrook. Dr. Young and my father Jim Morris were born only weeks apart in the Lady Minto Hospital soon after it opened in 1914.

In 1997, shortly after he retired, Dr. Young was honoured at a reception hosted by the township.

During my 2001 visit home I learned from Jean Hong that when she and other Chapleau girls were in training to be nurses, they would visit with Dr. Young when home and he would provide assistance and support. Over the years they would make it a point to have a visit with him.

Jean died recently and I extend my most sincere sympathy to Yen and all the Hong family.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

'A life living indeed!' Memories of Dr George Edward 'Ted' Young by Dr Roy Marquardt

As I reflected this past week or so on nine years of writing Chapleau Moments, it has taken me into the mothballs of my memory about the people, life and times of the community that I have shared with you as well as articles written by others who have captured some "moments".

On my journey, I discovered a wonderful article by Dr. Roy Marquardt about Dr. G.E. 'Ted' Young but before I share some details,  let me tell you about the birth of Chapleau Moments.

I received an email from Mario Lafreniere, the publisher of the Chapleau Express asking if I would like to write a column. I agreed but in all honesty I thought I may have enough material for about six months. Nine years later, on June 18 when the first column appeared I realize I have still just scratched the surface.

Although many people have provided assistance over the years, which I greatly appreciate, at the risk of forgetting someone, I will mention only three: the late Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick and Doug Greig. Both made a most significant contribution to Chapleau history and were so helpful to me with research assistance. The other is Hugh Kutner, who established the Chapleau web site now looked after by the Chapleau Public Library. I would just add in the interests of full disclosure that Anne is my cousin.

I also extend my most sincere thanks to Mario Lafreniere for whom it has been a weekly pleasure to write  a column for his newspaper. Mario has been most co-operative and supportive. Thank you my friend.

Now back to Dr. Marquardt and Dr. Young who died on November 14, 2010 at age 95.

In an article entitled 'A Life Living' Dr. Marquardt explains that he was a physician at Chapleau General Hospital providing emergency and clinical medical services who kept hearing from patients and staff about a retired doctor who was "much beloved and respected in the community."

This doctor was known for "his kindness and dedication towards his patients" doing whatever it took to look after them regardless of the challenge to provide medical care and comfort."

To be sure it was a different era as doctors during this time had limited personal living. Their work was their life. Dr. Young epitomized that era, Dr. Marquardt wrote. He got to know Dr. Young having chats with him on many occasions.  Dr. Marquardt got to know Dr. Young at the Bignucolo Residence which led to the article.

 Dr. Young was born in Chapleau, attended Chapleau Public and High School, then attended Queen's University in Kingston to study medicine. Upon graduation he interned at Columbia University in New York City with no plans to return home and open a practice. He came home for "six months" to replace a doctor, and retired just over 50 years later.

He obviously was very impressed with Dr. Young.  He concludes his article by saying that "I must busy myself with addressing patient care issues brought to my attention by the nursing staff. I immerse myself in my work, inspired by this alert, sharp faced, bespactacled man deep into an intrigue novel."

" A life living indeed!"

I was able to spend about a month visiting with Dr. Young when I returned home for the 100th anniversary of Chapleau's incorporation as a municipality in 2001. I stayed at his apartment. In 2004, Dr. Young came to visit me in Cranbrook as he made one last trip across Canada in his motor home. While here we travelled to Creston to visit the cemetery where members of his family are buried. His mother was from Creston.

photo by Gordon Woods

In selecting Dr. Marquardt's article as I mark nine years of Chapleau Moments, it also let me mention that Dr. Young and my father James E. Morris were both born in Lady Minto Hospital shortly after it opened in 1914. My father was killed on active service in the RCAF on July 16, 1943. We go back a long way.

My most sincere thanks to all who have supported Chapleau Moments since 2009. Most appreciated. I leave you this week with a thought from Tom Brokaw, "It's all storytelling you know. That's what journalism is all about."  A life living for sure!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Santa Claus given 'rousing welcome' at Oddfellows and Rebekahs Christmas party plus Dr. Young's 'magical land' in heart of Chapleau in 1960

About 100 delighted Chapleau children, twelve and under, gave Santa Claus a "rousing welcome" at the Oddfellows and Rebekahs annual Christmas party in the Town Hall basement in 1960, according to the Chapleau Sentinel.

Each child was presented with a gift by Santa as he spent time having a "chummy chat" with all of them.

But before Santa arrived, there was a program of songs, recitations and solo to entertain the guests including lodge members and parents.

Mrs. Richard Hoath vice grand of the Rebekahs welcomed all, while Norm Veit of the Oddfellows was chair for the evening.

Janice Corston opened the entertainment program with the recitation of a Christmas poem followed by Kelly Romain singing 'Mothers of Salem'.

Norm Veit and unknown

Allen Coulter and Robbie Pellow also sang  solos. Gail May and Derek Edwards sang a duet.

Judy Godemair gave a piano solo.

Jo Anne Dunne sang 'Away on a Housetop' while Don St. Germaine gave his rendition of 'Away in a Manger.'

The entertainment ended with 'Silent Night' sung by Joyce and Janet Cluett and Beverly Hamilton.

And then, according to the Chapleau Sentinel, "with jingling bells and  a jolly 'Ho Ho' Santa arrived amid cheers and applause."

Soon, after Santa gave each child a gift a great variety of toys covered the floor in the Town Hall basement.

A special occasion was marked with a rousing Happy Birthday to past grand of the Oddfellows Roy Desson who was celebrating his birthday.

Mr. Veit was assisted by Walter Midkiff, Hiram McEachren and others while assisting Santa were Mrs. Hoath and Mrs. Isabel Robinson.

 Whenever the subject of favourite memories of Christmas arises among those of us who go back to at least the 1950s, someone, or most likely everyone, unanimously will declare, "Dr. Young's Christmas display".

It was a highlight of the season for all ages to visit a magical land right in the heart of Chapleau.

I am including a couple of photos from the early days of his display before he converted the G.B. Nicholson home, which he had purchased after returning home to practise medicine in 1944-45.  I thank Harriet (Newcombe) Bouillon for providing me with the photos.

As I reflected on my own years growing up in Chapleau, I think the display and the lights and the music were most meaningful as we walked from our home on Grey Street South on a usually bitterly cold Christmas Eve's to the midnight service at St. John's Anglican Church.

Along the way, and on the way home we would meet and greet folks from Trinity United Church and Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and when I was a teenager, I would run between St. John's and Sacred Heart to attend the service there with some of my friends.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Tobogganning even on piece of cardboard or plastic garbage bag if necessary part of Chapleau Winter life

Slides are now being banned in some places. You know, even though there were some injuries on the toboggan slide and the hills, sliding was part of life in Winter when I was a kid in Chapleau,Ontario.

Sometimes I wonder about where our society is heading, but for now, let's stick to sliding.

I decided to ask my friends on Facebook for their thoughts and memories. I was totally amazed with the response. There were 21 "likes" and 141 comments, although a few of us contributed to the post more than once. Although it was not possible to include all of them, I have tried to capture a look at tobogganing and sliding in Chapleau through the words of those who participated.

You brought back so many fond memories from my growing up years in Chapleau, and I think I went sliding at every location mentioned. Thank you all so much for your participation.

Now, with only minor editing here is a glimpse at sledding and tobogganing and maybe a bit more in Chapleau.

KIM HONG: At times some of us "braved" the rock hill of the water tower across from Bujold's (and next to the horseshoe bridge). The rock jutting out along the path made it a challenge. On occasion standing up with cardboard or plastic bags on the under side of our boots - doing "moguls" ahead of our, and their time! Great feat if you made it to the other side of Elgin Street (in front of Walter and Kay Broomhead's house). Always safety factor and timing our sled and ski runs when "the coast was clear".   Kim added that "Dad-Yen recalls sliding under the bridge and ending at Zenon and Maude Rioux's door. Also down the road of the bridge." Yen also remembers the ski jump (all wood except for the nails) being constructed for the winter carnival in the 1930s.  (Walter Paradis was the carpenter)

TINA CAPPELLANI: My Cousins (Allen & Brian Ritchie) and I used to go sliding on a huge hill on the other side of the Indian Bridge behind the old sewage plant. One day I decided to take my friend Arlene Morita and her brothers and sister to this awesome hill. After trying to convince Arlene to get on the front of the toboggan, as there was a dangerous corner and if you were on the back you would fly off while going around this corner...I ended up riding the front and of course she flew off when we hit the corner! But that wasn't the worst...I flew face first into a tree! Knocked the wind out of myself and ended up with a broken nose and two black eyes! No Grade 5 school picture for me that year! Never, ever returned to that hill again!

LAURIE FORTIN: I would always love going to Dr. Young's hill with my siblings as a really young girl. We had a steel toboggan that held all four of us and it flew like a bullet! Often came home bleeding and I would get stuck under cars on the way home when whoever was pulling the toboggan would get distracted and forget that I was on it! There was also a spot behind the MNR houses and Mrs Costello's.. The other side and road by Lady Fatima was okay after Dr Young's was replaced with townhouses but not the same. I also used the sidewalk on Grey St. that turns and crosses by the Riverside motel, except I would keep going straight, off the sidewalk which ended abruptly at my uncle Octave's driveway! Usually I ended up in the Robitaille yard or in the Rioux fence but if I got it just right and had enough momentum, I would make it all the way! Good times that's for sure!

DARLENE RANGER: (commenting from Florida) I have Maurice Blais here and I as well as he remembers slaughter house hill and you had to walk through a trail. GISELE HARVEY: (Maurice's sister)  commented: Up on the hill we call Dr.Young's hill and we had a great time

BILL CARD: Slaughterhouse hill. My dad (F.A. 'Nick' Card) used to make jumps for the kids. Also Dr Young's hill that ran down towards Minto and the Dunn house and the lands and forest hill that ran down toward Maggie Costello's house.

DAN MURPHY: We used to slide at the old CPR fuel tank, sometimes grabbing onto the back of the chip truck and getting pulled up town. 

GWEN MACGILLIVRAY: We used to slide down the side of the new bridge (after they took down the old horseshoe bridge), but if they had the box cars side-lined there, we'd head over to the highschool hill or Lady Fatima. And no matter how cold it was, we stayed out there until we got called in or the street lights came on! I recall one Christmas when we all got Crazy Carpets and those things were dangerously fast. If you hit the tracks on one of those you'd carry bruises for days.

JENNIFER SWANSON DAVID: We went sliding down the hill behind Fatima. Start way up on the rocks and end up at the school...hopefully jumping off before hitting the wall (but not always!) And,  loved that road right beside Fatima, long and straight.

EARLENE CHAMBERS: We tried to slide down the slope of the car bridge onto the water plant road a few times....not good.. Blueberry hill @ Mrs. . Whitney's. Down onto dead end Queen st. And then down the other side right onto Ash st. (Onto the road). What were we thinking?????soooo much fun!  (This may also have been called Cochrane's Hill)

MELBA BOYD: Hospital Hill, Cochrane's Rock and Dr. Young 's Hill.....it depended on who you were playing with that day......yes, this talk of banning tobogganing is just another way we have lost touch with reality!!!

TOM CORSTON: What great memories...For us most of the time it was Dr. Young's hill onto Minto street before the houses were built. But, there were a few times when our parents and some of their friends (Mansel Robinson, Don Card & families) loaded up a couple of cars and we would slide at the Emerald Lake hill...from the highway right down onto the lake. Hit a few trees...flew over a few stumps...but never hurt. Loads of fun and the parents all joined in the fun as well.

MARY-ANN MERRICK: I remember sliding down Dr Young's hill just behind our house and down the street. There were always big bumps that made you fly off the toboggan. If you made it to the bottom, you hoped no cars were coming as you crossed the road and went into the swamp. It was AWESOME! It was also really COLD! All were dressed in skidoo suits and skidoo boots. What a time.

BRUCE MCCARTHY: Down the sidewalk on the horseshoe bridge (when we thought we could get away with it)

CHANTAL SINOTTE: We used to to toboggan on Dr. Young's hill ...  And we used to cross the river and ski at the golf course on flying saucers... I also remember tobogganing by the old hospital .. near Marie Tremblay's home... .

LINDA TEBBUTT KUTCHAW: Dr. Young's hill that ended up on Cherry st and into Susanne Crawford Kerr's yard, and the other side of Dr.Young's hill that ended up into the wall of Sacre Coeur, and dead man's run ( Minto street) that was "ruined" with the placement of the town houses. Oh! And the hill between Mrs. Costello's house and Crawfords. There were also many snow piles at the point that we would slide down.  Linda added for Kevin Walker: I am so Chapleau, I didn't need a toboggan. I would use a piece of cardboard or a plastic garbage bag if that was the only thing available.

JIM LAPP: Same as Linda Tebbutt; both sides of Dr Young's hill. One came down where the catholic school is now and the west side before Gerry Garms and Manlio Spessot  put houses. Potts house was at the top.  ROBERT LAPP also commented.

LEAH CYR: Sometime even with a little flask! Imagine....we are still here to take about it. I think the recent events in the news about cities/communities banning tobogganing is absolutely ridiculous. Our children don't spend enough time outside and this move takes away an activity that everyone loves. Ban or no ban, the kids will find somewhere to to sliding!

CINDY MAHON: The hill across from the (Nemeg osenda)trailer park that led to the river. Not a really safe place considering if you didn't stop on tine you either ended up in the river or in the brick building that used to house the generating station for the dam!

LUDIE O'HEARN: The 1st. Time I tobogganed was at the big rock on the side of the old Lady Minto Hospital, I got so excited and let go and flew across the lane way, resulting in multiple soreness and bruising! Ah--- the memories!

PAULETTE MACLEOD: That place on King st S not sure of it's name but my children called it suicide hill and they as well went down the hill on a toboggan that sat four, I did go to the high school hill and Dr Young's hill on a six seater where there were five of us/

and KELLY HAZEN added: Paulette it was suicide on one side an dead man's on the other. (We) were there all the time.

DIRINDA DINDY HAMMERSGTEDT: on the small hill across from the old laundrymat on Lorne street, across the lake on the hill closest to the road by Dr.  Young's boat house, on the side of the bridge by Shirley Goheen's house

 HUGH McGOLDRICK:  I recall my folks taking us down the Wawa highway. There was a sand pit on the west side about half-way between the Hwy 129 turn-off and the Golden Route. I think other people may have gone there.

EVELYN LEMIEUX: I used to go to Dr Young's hill before the houses. I also went to one across the river.

JAMIE THIBAULT: On the other side of the tracks we had '1st Rock' and '2nd Rock' which were behind the old Little League Baseball Field at the end of Elgin (now the Chapleau Recreation Centre) Though the neighborhood favourite without a doubt was 'Hospital Hill' so aptly called because it was beside the Old Lady Minto Hospital. But as we no doubt can all recall we would toboggan practically on any type of snow pile we could find. Yup! Did my "Crash Test Dummy" routine at Blueberry Hill quite often as well! Cuts, scrapes, bruises and the odd bitten bleeding tongue were part of the price to pay to be a kid with un-tethered freedom

BOB LEWIS: We went to First Rock (just behind the arena) then we slid at Second Rock back behind First and there wasn't much more than a trail to slide down on that hill, plus we skied back there, trees everywhere and no one got hurt. We also used the old hospital hill where we would tobaggan over a wall along a laneway crossing the road into another yard and still here to write this for you. We had fun as kids then.

My Mom and Dad circa 1936 at the hill

EUGENE BOUILLON: OMG... so many good stories and locations, nothing for me to bring, Jamie Thibault covered most of it... 1st rock, small hill, 2nd Rock, and trail, like BOB LEWIS  mentioned (my mother told me never to go there, too dangerous), and if I remember well... some of us kids, may have hit tree or 2. Someone did bang his head pretty bad, can't remember who it was, might have even been Jamie trying to hang with older kids...lol.... and who can forget the Hospital Hill.... was the best... you could even hear Mrs. Bouillon calling.... "Eugene... Eugene..."... was time to go home... for either dinner or it was getting dark.... lol

And, the last word goes to MARIO LAFRENIERE. publisher of the Chapleau Express: "Can't toboggan, can't have a hockey rink in the front yard, can't maintain our identity!" Many readers will recall that Mario and family at one time lived on Cherry Street and just had to go out the back door and up the hill.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

There were 31 more commentors that I was unable to include, but thanks to all of you for your participation.

Photos from the toboggan slide built in the 1930s are from the John Futhey Collection at the Chapleau Public Library and the one from CHS slide from Ian Macdonald Collection