Dr. G.E. Young, family physician in Chapleau for 50 years, dies at age 95 - Funeral was held Fri. Nov. 19

 UPDATE ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19:   Pastor Anna Chikoski conducted the funeral service at Trinity United Church, Chapleau, for Dr. Young who died on November 14,

Organist was Betty O'Shaughnessy while Kenneth Russell sang 'How Great Thou Art' at the special request of Dr. Young. Mr. Russell,a former reeve of Chapleau was Technical Director of Radiology at the hospital and worked with Dr. Young for many years.

A multi domination choir, representative of all the churches in Chapleau was present. The hymns, 'Precious Lord Take My Hand' and Psalm 23, 'The Lord is My Shepherd' were sung.

The Bible on the pulpit was once owned by one of Dr. Young's brothers.

Earle Freeborn, the mayor of Chapleau delivered the eulogy while Pastor Anna gave the sermon, both reflecting on Dr. Young's life.

With special thanks to Dennis Barbeiro of Chapleau who provided details on Dr. Young's funeral. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.



Dr Young at party for him 1987 by Helen Henderson

STORY POSTED NOVEMBER 14 FOLLOWS:
Dr. G.E. Young, one of Chapleau, Ontario's most beloved and distinguished citizens, who served the community and area as a family physician for 50 years died November 14  at the Bignucolo Residence in Chapleau. Dr. Young was 95.

George Edward Young, the son of the late George and Mabel Young, born on December 2, 1914, graduated from Chapleau Public and Chapleau High Schools, then attended Queen's University to study medicine. Upon graduation in 1942, "Ted" Young interned at the Columbia University School of Medicine in New York City.

In 1944, a Dr. Crozier in Chapleau asked Dr. Young to return home for "six months." In 1994, Dr. Young retired after serving Chapleau and area, sometimes as the only medical doctor, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

From 1944 to 1992, Dr. Young was the CPR doctor in Chapleau, and was Chief of Staff at Lady Minto Hospital for 20 years. He was also the local Medical Officer of Health for 20 years and also served as Medical Director of Cedar Grove Lodge.

From 1944 to 1982 he served as coroner and was recognized for his service by the Government of Ontario.

On several occasions he was recognized by the people of Chapleau who held an appreciation party for him in 1987 and another in 1992 marking his 50th anniversary of graduation from Queen's in medicine. On March 31, 1994 a retirement party was held.

In the early Sixties, Dr. Young established a cable television system for the community, and was always undertaking projects -- most never quite finished,

He also served on the township council for six years and shortly after returning home, at his own expense, transformed a garbage dump into a beautiful beach for the citizens of Chapleau.

However, Dr. Young will be primarily remembered for his unfailing concern for his patients for 50 years. He was also there when needed no matter the time of day or the weather.

Dr. G.E. Young transforms garbage dump into beach for citizens plus memories of growing up in Chapleau from Michael's email bag

Chapleau beach area over 40 years ago. Photo courtesy Bob Lewis

After hearing from Bob Lewis about the Chapleau beach. my thoughts turned to Dr. G.E. "Ted" Young, who returned home to practise medicine (for six months!) after doing his internship at Columbia University in New York City and was instrumental in transforming the town's garbage dump into a beach for the community.. Bob provided the photo of the beach area.

Dr. "Ted" Young

As World War II was drawing to a close, Dr. Young arrived home to replace a doctor for six months -- the rest of course is history as Dr. Young stayed, and within a few years had undertaken the creation of the beach behind Chapleau Public School, completing the project by about 1953.

Oldtimers will recall that the location was the site of the old town dump, and Dr. Young had to have all the garbage hauled away before he could begin the restoration, complete with change rooms, wading pools, grass, benches, picnic tables, diving towers on a dock and fresh sand hauled to the site yearly -- all at his own expense.

Also in the beach area were the bandstand where the Chapleau Town Band would give concerts on special occasions and summer evenings, a canteen and pavilion, a very popular spot for playing games of chance at community celebrations.

In 1948, the council led by Reeve B.W. "Bubs" esablished the first Chapleau Recreation Commission with Councillor J.M. "Jack" Shoup as its first chairperson, but the beach project was Dr. Young's, although in later years the annual "Beach Day" in August raised funds to maintain the area. Dr. Young served on the Beach Committee, as the recreation commission was commonly called, and interestingly his father George Young was a member of Chapleau council in 1951.

Dr. Young, who loved swimming, also became famous for his swim from the town dock area to his family's camp at Mulligan's Bay. When I once asked him about it, he played down his fame on this one: "Well, I started out to swim to the point, and when I got there I just decided to keep going and ended up in Mulligan's Bay."

I often think of Dr. Young's contribution in undertaking this project and providing a beach area for the people of Chapleau - especially the children. And modest person that he is, Dr. Young never took much credit for transforming the town dump into a scenic waterfront for his community. He just did it.

Growing up in Chapleau I sure played and swam at the beach -- so after all these years, thanks "Doc" for your efforts, not only on this project, but for all your contributions to life in Chapleau.

One of the great enjoyments of writing Chapleau Moments is that I hear from so many people who share some of their memories of life in Chapleau, so here are a few from my "email bag."

JODY THERIAULT

We walk back a bit. It is the early 60's. I'm staring at my feet, I'm in a yard full of small black cinders in the south end of town, near the railway yard. Then on my right as I walk north, i see a laundry mat with golden washers circling about in the window. I know that behind that laundry mat is Victor Sonego's house and I am thinking of him. I go into Mione's, a small strange smelling store that sells ice cream. and as I continue my walk down Lorne (?) I go to Desi's on the corner of Birch.

I look for new comic books, Betty and Veronica, Superman and Dennis the Menace. They are all displayed and I check to see if the latest issue is there yet. There are orange popsicles in the freezer but I am looking for a blue one. It will cost 5 cents. Ice cream and chocolate bars are 10 cents. Then I pass Collins and they have camping things and a tent in in the window, a male mannequin who is the father with a chipped chin and a small one who is the boy. They are wearing jackets. Graham's dog Joey sniffs me as I pass the house. I go into my yard through a white picket gate and up the cement steps into the back door. The shoes are piled into a jumble, running shoes and boots with mud.

I am glad to be home.

VIVIAN (EDWARDS) McLEAN

I read your articles in the Chapleau paper and I thought I could share some of my grandfather's life. My grandfather Bill Creighton was born in Chaput, Quebec and married Loretta Giroux in Pembroke. He was the last man to have a team of horses in Chapleau. He picked up people's garbage and was a proud man (he looked tall but it was because he was sitting on his wallet. )Grandpa would let me sit beside him and drive his horses(they knew where they were going )I felt like I was queen of the hill sitting beside him Grandpa took me to the Trainman dances at the old town hall I was about 15 and boy could he dance so many women loved to dance with him as Fred Astaire could of learned some steps from him.

My uncle Sonny and brother Bill worked for him and worked darn hard. Grandpa had worked on the railway at one time but gave it up as he loved horses basically he was a happy man in his own way . My grandmother was a very special lady we stopped at Granny's on the way home from school. She was always baking and we stood there until she said would you like a cookie.W we never refused . My grandmother and Mrs Deluce were best friends and loved blueberry picking. She always had a garden. We loved our little grandma. But Michael my Grandfather was a very intelligent person and I appreciated his stories . Well Michael as I said, love your stories in the paper .

MURIELE FORTIN

Everybody seems to have covered everything I was about to recall about back lanes , except maybe this part about the garbage pick up. We actually would hitch rides on the back of Mr. Chreighton's horse drawn wagon, filled with trash and thought that was great entertainment for the day. He would pretend not to notice us. Many dark evenings when I headed home down that unlit back lane did I imagine some creature jumping out and scaring me but it never stopped me from taking that short cut when I was late for curfew.

Interestingly, in the subdivision where I now reside in Kingston, a development behind me is being built using the lane way design. Folks will have access to their garages via this private lane way. I like that it will give more distance between their house and mine, for privacy. Thanks for the memories. Muriele

JACK POYNTER

Sadly I cannot remember anything extra exciting , or illegal , going on in our back lanes although they certainly did join the Community together. I do remember they were a great shortcut to UPTOWN as well as for CPR employees going to work. When we were facing Pine St. as you noted our directly opposite lane neighbours were the Kemps where there was always some activity going on , at least until they arrived home one noon hour and the house was sadly engulfed in flames.

On one side of us was the Anglican Rectory and of course the Tennis courts where a lot of us got daily exercise ( in the summer ) with a different type of exercise going on across the lane at the Legion..Down the lane in the opposite direction were the CPR houses of the Burrows and Dessons then Austin , Goheen and Chrusoskie. Remember when Howard G. was buried in the ground and left there when everyone had to go to supper ?

When we moved and faced Beech St. the same lane continued and we then had Dick Hoath , the oil man directly opposite us. We used to play baseball in the backyards before church Sunday... It is interesting to note that from our area the quickest way to get to all three Churches was by the back lanes albeit you may get a little dusty.

Clothes could always be seen drying from the lanes and Dr. Young's French poodle put on a show over the fence. There were also a lot of great vegetable and flower gardens evident from the lanes.

Yes , there are a lot of lanes in Chapleau and I am certain some have great stories but in the area I lived they were just fun ways to get home , meet kids and socialize.They were too narrow to play serious baseball plus the windows on the front of most houses were closer on the main drags and hence could be broken easier by a wayward ball. Neither were they wide enough for a rink .

ART MADORE JR.

I was recently on holidays at my camp in Dalton visiting my dad. Roger Mizuguchi has been collecting the Chapleau Express and giving them to my dad. There were two years worth of papers that I managed to read during my stay.I found your articles very interesting, and I was anxious to read the next as I went throught them chronologically.

You did an article this spring on the "CPR ice gangs", which was my favorite because "Dalmas Paquette" is my grandfather. I always knew he was a foreman for the CPR but never knew he was in charge of the ice for the trains. I was part of an ice gang one winter when Tommy (Sawyer) and I helped my uncle Ross gather ice for the bait shop. Thanks for the great writing.

Thanks to all the contributors. My email is michaeljmorris@ymail.com

Chapleau memorable Christmas moments fondly recalled

Dr Young's original Christmas display

Among the many wonderful memories that folks have been sharing with me about Christmas celebrations in Chapleau, two were recalled by almost everyone who contacted me for this article. However, others shared their stories about family tradition and community celebrations.


Alison (McMillan) McMullen captured the two that were most widely recalled: "The memories I have of Christmas were Dr. (G.E. "Ted") Young's fabulous displays (complete with music over loudspeakers) and also the draws at Smith & Chapples leading up to a big Christmas Eve draw. I see the marketing advantages now, but at the time I thought this was a great thing that the store was doing."

During a conversation on Facebook one afternoon, Raoul Lemieux shared his memories about Dr. Young's displays: "Dr.Young had to have the tallest tree put up at the office and decorated the whole building from top to bottom. It had all the characters from Disney. He had thousands of lights up it would light up the whole street." Mario Lafreniere, publisher of the Chapleau Express joined the conversation and recalled that Dr. Young also put Stars on his T.V. tower. He also had lights on his boathouse.

Erik Collings summed it all up during our Facebook chat: "The Post Office used to put a big tree in front of the building too...before they removed the grass and built the ramp...the town used to hang Holly and lights, not just at the intersection...but the whole downtown was lighted up...there used to be Skating parties on the river, when the town used to build a rink on the ice...i can vaguely remember when there was the town band playing Christmas music ."

Turning to the draws at Smith and Chapple Ltd. Vince Crichton wrote in an email: "Re Christmas in the old home town here is one that I fondly recall. A.J. Grout (the president of Smith and Chapple) used to have draws ... in the store and he had a podium set up in the front of the hardware section. There were numbers placed throughout the store and you had to pick your number and stand by it until he had the draws – lots of folks went to these and I recall going with my Grandmothers Crichton and Morris and your grandmother Hunt and of course my mum. Draws usually took place at about 8pm and we were out and on way home at 9. And, if it was blustery and cold it was a long walk home over the bridge. I recall all 3 grandmothers and my mum wearing fox or mink stoles around their necks – my mum had a silver fox and the others had mink."

Vince lived on Queen Street so it was a long walk home on a cold December night in Chapleau. As an aside my grandmother Edith Hunt and Vince's grandmother Helen "Nell" Crichton were sisters. My Aunt Nell lived in the big red house at Aberdeen and Birch Streets while my grandmother lived on Grey Street south.

Raoul Lemieux commented on the Smith and Chapple draws on Facebook when none of us were talking about them: " Arthur Grout. Nobody is talking about Arthur. All the Christmas decorations and the big give aways to attract customers in his store. It worked very well . Started his tv channel so the people could watch the draws on tv. Hundreds of people exmas week were on the streets.All the stores downtown were busy."

During my high school and university years I worked at Smith and Chapple Ltd. during the Christmas holidays and in the Fifties and early Sixties it was a bustling place on draw days. I recall Dr. Young's wonderful displays from childhood on. Amazing.

Barbara (Bowland) Groves joined the facebook conversation and recalled the old Santa Claus parades. "I remember Santa parades also. I remember then going to the town hall to get something from Santa and Santa knew all the kids' name. Did not know for a long time he was the milk man and delivered door to door so did indeed know lots of us." (Santa at that time was Jim Broomhead who also served as reeve of Chapleau.) Erik Collings had commented: "I have a few Christmas memories of Chapleau. I vaguely remember the old Christmas Parade that used to happen, i was just a young child... and Christmas carolers going door-to-door."

The parade would start at the CPR station and come over the old Horsehoe Bridge into the downtown area. Eugene Bouillon observed about the bridge: "I do remember the Horseshoe Bridge, what a bridge when you think back, today, most of the lumber trucks and delivery trucks would never make it. I remember many stuck at the top trying to make the corner. Memories..." Yes Eugene but the parade always made it.


In an email James Thibault recalled that a Christmas ritual on his mother's (Monique) side "was the family get-togethers at my aunt Yvette and uncle Raoul 'Cack' Fortin's place where the Fortins' and Burns' would all celebrate Xmas with the traditional French Canadian meal of "tourtiere, tarte au sucre (sugar pie) and p'tit Pate (Wild meat stew and dumplings) would be prepared by the women while the children danced and sang to the music played by the men on the fiddle and piano. Shortly before midnight everybody except a couple of the women, who would stay behind to take care of the food for the 'Reveillon' (yes more food and drink!!), would trek off to Midnight mass at the Catholic Church. We would then return and open our gifts and be home in bed by about 2 or 3 in the morning. Those times are behind us, but not forgotten."

Helen Henderson in an email recalled: "About Christmas in Chapleau.... I remember snow!!!!! and lots of it. Do you recall the really great Christmas Parties put on by the Rotary club? They were focused around the country represented by the current student exchange of the time. Dorleen Collings and her " crew" did a smashing job of researching the menus and cuisine of that country and presenting it to eager participants.

"Another thing I remember and you may not have heard about , was the MNR Christmas Parties Everyone present was anxious to see what" Santa "( Gary Thomson) brought to all the good little boys and girls from" the Point" and beyond.

"From then on, into the New Year just about everyone was involved in preparing for the Winter Carnival."

Erik Collings also recalled a family tradition: "Our tradition was a big dinner, that would rotate between family every year... between Francis and Chicken (Corston) , Doug and Cecile (Jardine), Olive and Bert (McAdam), Elsie and Pat (Pellow), Monique and Andre (Thibault)The best memory was one year when my mother did the party, naturally the best feast...she would cook three types of meat, goose, beef and veal, with all the fixings...the best part was called Dupe Gruta...she would mix all the roasted juices together add a bit of flavouring, reduce the stock, then we would all gather around the tureen and dip homemade rye bread and eat...it a traditions Swedish holiday appetizer...

"Besides that tradition, I remember countless holiday dinners, sitting in the Legion Kitchen, peeling potatoes...while my mother and the Legion ladies cooked."

Many of us will recall the fantastic meals that Erik's mother Dorleen Collings cooked for us at banquets and community festivals That is a story in itself.

Let's give the last word on great Chapleau Christmas moments for this week to Linda (Tebbutt) Kutchaw, Helen's daughter who joined the Facebook conversation: "Wow! I love hearing all these stories. Although I am younger than all of you that have posted so far, but not by much I must add, I do vaguely remember the decorations at Dr. Young's and the post office. As for Christmas memories: getting a Christmas turkey from the Martel family every year, our family would go to the Encil's or the Plouffe's and or the Martel's for Christmas night or Boxing day. Mrs Encil and Mrs. Plouffe sure did serve some yummy treats! I think the visiting between houses went on all Christmas holiday actually. After the kids showed each other what gifts we received, our parents would be visiting for what seemed like forever.. and I would be desparately trying to stay awake in the corner. As for Santa Claus, Mr O'Shaughnessy would be the one I remember at the kids MNR parties and the Anglican church. Graham Bertrand was also Santa CLaus, for the MNR if I remember correctly.

"I was just talking to my brother (Dan) about this recently. I remember the two of us going out to the airport to pick out and chop down a tree. Oh ya.. the size of the Encil's and the Plouffe's trees were huge!! I have many fond memories."


My sincere thanks to all who contributed to great moments at Christmas in Chapleau. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

This article appears in the December 12, 2009 edition of the Chapleau Express.











Michael J Morris

http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.com

Michael touring Chapleau on his tricycle bridges the great divide

My home town of Chapleau, Ontario has an incredibly rich history starting from around 1885 when the first settlers arrived with the Canadian Pacific Railway, and members of my family, the Mulligan side, were there in the beginning of the community. Of course my First Nations friends were in the area earlier and have played a most significant role in the life of the community.

Before the Chapleau High School 90th anniversary reunion festival in 2012 I was last home in 2001 for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Chapleau, invited by the council of the day as a former reeve (mayor) and the guest of my dear friend Dr. G.E. Young. While home then and in 2012,  I was most appreciative of all those who spoke so kindly of my mother, Muriel E. Morris, who taught them at Chapleau Public School over the 32 years she was on the staff there. In 2012 I was invited by the committee to be part of the program.

I was born in Hamilton but raised in Chapleau attending Chapleau Public School and Chapleau High School.

And now let me share some personal moments from my life as little boy on his tricycle, growing up in Chapleau in the 1940s as I bridged the great divide created by the CPR tracks going through the centre of town as I travelled from our house on Grey Street, "uptown", and over the old overhead bridge to my grandparents' house on Elgin Street on "the other side of town." When my grandmother Morris went over the bridge, she was going "overtown."  (Photo of me taken in 1948 with my Mom in front of Boston Cafe as we head for the overhead bridge,)

My grandparents Harry and Lil (Muliigan) Morris

I had family on both sides of the tracks. Mom's parents, George and Edith Hunt, who had come to Chapleau from the United Kingdom prior to World War I lived with us on Grey Street and my Dad's parents Harry and Lil Morris on Elgin Street.

My grandmother Morris was a Mulligan and a member of one of Chapleau's founding families, while Grandpa Morris came to work on the CPR from Ottawa early in the 20th century. My father James E. Morris was killed on active service in the RCAF during World War II in 1943.

Anyway off I would go on a summer morning to Maw and Grandpa's house on my tricycle, and every time I made the journey it was like saying 'Good Morning Chapleau' as I would meet so many people along the way. I would head up Birch Street and usually run into Jim Broomhead making his daily milk deliveries who would tell me to be sure to say hello to my grandparents.

At the time Mr. and Mrs. C.A. "Bill" Pellow lived at Birch and Aberdeen and Mr. Pellow would always have a funny story for me. Sometimes Mr. Earle Sootheran would be leaving for work at Smith and Chapple Ltd. and would invite me into his house to see the angels in the stones.

As I travelled by Charles W. Collins Stores perhaps J.G. "Jiggs" Goldstein or Frank Coulter would be in the window getting the store ready for the day and I would wave and say hello. I might run into Ed Downey, the local pharmacist and of course A.J. Grout, the president of Smith and Chapple Ltd., always in a hurry but he took time to say hello. As I headed on to the bridge Mrs. Hong might be in front of the Boston Cafe, and maybe if I was real lucky, on my way home I would stop to play with her son Harry ("Boo") and have some of her famous Boston cream pie.

Quite honestly arriving at Maw and Grandpa's house opened up a whole new world for me. The CPR station was on their side of town -- the departure point when we left town. There was no highway until about 1948, and until the 1950s, the built up area of Chapleau pretty well ended at Queen Street. I could head off to play in a `different`bush than the one across from home on Grey Street. And yes, trust me, it was different. Imagine years later when I returned home and taught at Chapleau High School (the new school) I was spending my days in the bush where I had played as a child.

To a little boy my travels around Chapleau on my tricycle so many years ago now were truly great moments because of the people I met along the way. These were people who had carved Chapleau out of the wilderness, survived diseases and the Great Depression, served in World War I, World War II and were building a better place for their families.

The greatest resource any community has is its people, and let me give you one example that exemplifies the kind of people who have lived in Chapleau. One day I was chatting with Frank Coulter, who has just completed serving 18 years on the public school board. I asked Frank why he had chosen to serve so many years. Frank replied simply: ``Because Mr. Shoup told us we had a duty to serve, and this was one way I could.``

(Mr. J. M. Shoup served in World War I and World War II and was the longtime principal of Chapleau Public School.)

A duty to serve! Enough said.

Please feel free to email me at mj.morris@live.ca

Dr G.E. Young a pioneer in cable television in Canada

If someone asked you who the pioneers of cable television were in Canada, immediately you may be inclined to say Rogers or Shaw, the giants of the industry in English Canada today. And to a great extent, you are right.

But although most Canadians have likely never heard of him, Dr G.E, Young who practised medicine in the small isolated northern Ontario community of Chapleau for more than 50 years, deserves a place right up there among the giants of the cable industry. In the 1960s Dr Young placed microwave towers on the top of a hill, originally called "Slaughterhouse Hill" and later "Dr Young's Hill" and started his "clothesline" cable system with poles and wire in all the back lanes of the town, with dishes atop his medical and apartment complex in downtown Chapleau.

In the early years reception was limited and snowy, and the stations few, but Dr Young's efforts brought cable television to a community that would otherwise have likely been limited to the CBC affiliate station in Timmins for many years.

Dr Young also waged many battles with the CRTC, the regulatory agency, as he had little patience for the bureaucracy. However, in 1982, when his licence was up for renewal, once again Dr Young made history. He comvinced the CRTC that the people of Chapleau had a right to be heard live at the hearing, but as the hearing was in Toronto, very few would be able to attend.

So, an audio link was established over phone lines from Dr Young's office in Chapleau to the CRTC hearing in Toronto, and Chapleau citizens were able to make their case live. And I was so privileged to host the Chapleau end of the hearing and broadcast it live with video over the system's community channel. It was the first time in Canadian history that the CRTC had permitted a hearing of this kind where everyone was not physically present in the room

Graham Bertrand assumed responsibility for all the technical aspects of the production. Dr Young and Tony Byvank were in Toronto.

When I visited Dr Young in 2001 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Chapleau, he had recently sold the cable system, bringing to an end about 40 years of his involvement in providing television to the community.

Dr G.E "Ted" Young, born and raised in Chapleau, graduated from Queen's University in medicine and never planned to return home. He interned at Columbia University in New York and went home to replace a doctor for six months and he stayed making Chapleau a better place for being a true visionary who despite many challenges worked for his people.

At 94 years of age, Dr Young lives in retirement in Chapleau.




NOTE: I am aware that A.J, Grout the president of Smith and Chapple Ltd, also started a cable system in Chapleau in the 1950s. In fact, I had a weekly program on CHAP TV in 1958, but the system was closed down in the early 1960s and it was Dr Young who carried on to bring us television.