Letters to Santa Claus from 1940s to recent photos bring back fond memories of growing up in Chapleau

Dr G E Young old house At Christmas

When we were kids growing up in Chapleau in the 1940s, after World War II, Branch Number 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion, sponsored the annual Santa Claus visit and Parade each year.

Ted Soucie, a World War II veteran, and Legion member, was responsible for a column in the Chapleau Post, where we, me included, would send letters to Santa.

In his column, Mr. Soucie would also include updates on Santa, such as this one in November 1949 advising that Santa had written him, advising that his plane was now ski equipped, and the ice was forming "nice and thick" on the river at Chapleau where he would land. His sleigh and the reindeer would be waiting.

Before I go any further with this, I have just seen some photos on Facebook of Santa's 2015 Chapleau visit, and congratulations to all on making it a huge success.

As I was browsing through digital versions of the Chapleau Post kindly provided to me by Doug Greig, I realized that I had recent photos of some of those who had written letters in the late 1940s, and I had visited with them during the past three years --- some at the 90th anniversary reunion  of Chapleau High School in 2012, others at that great party at the home at the home of Butch and Brigitte Pellow in Toronto in 2014. I saw others when I was home in the Summer to launch "The Chapleau Boys Go To War" with my co-author and cousin Michael McMullen.

Such fond memories of growing up Chapleau!

And yes. some were there for all three occasions, again proving the maxim that you can take folks out of Chapleau, but you can't take Chapleau out of us.

Anyway, I decided to do that was then with a few of the Santa Claus letters from our growing up days in Chapleau, to photos of this is now with some of the same people taken in the past three years. So here goes.

"Dear Old Santa: You will soon be here now. So long since I saw you. Wish you would bring me a sewing machine, a sweet grass sewing basket, printing sets, story books and a game. Thanks a lot." -- Doreen Cormier

Ian, Jim, Ann, Doreen (2014 at Harry/Brigitte party

"I would like two Gene Autry guns. I would like 5 and a half foot skis and a Dale Sleigh. I would like a standard size ukulele and a hockey game, pool table, hockey stick and puck and a Pedro Target game."  -- Bill Cachagee

(Bill Cachagee and Doreen Cormier later married and now make their home at Fox Lake First Nations Reserve)

Bill and Butch

"So glad you are visiting again. I am writing a letter for my baby sister, my twin brother and sister and myself. Patsy my baby sister wants a new doll, also Bunny slippers. My brother wants a  model builder and fire truck. My sister wants a doll house and furniture. I would like boots or skates, a sewing kit, also Chinese checkers."  -- Ann Keays

(Ann Keays and Jim Machan married. I could not find letter from Jim to Santa. They attended the CHS reunion in 2012 and the Toronto party.)  

"I would like a two wheeled bicycle but my Mother and Daddy think I am too small yet." -- Ken Schroeder

(Ken and family members spend part of each Summer at Chapleau where they have a cottage)

Ken and Elsie (Collings) Pellow 2012 CHS reunion

"I am glad you are coming to Chapleau again this year. Would you please bring me a Fleetwing sleigh, carpenter set, blackboard, and a Lone Rider cowboy outfit with gun." -- Bruce Poynter

(Bruce spends Summers at Mulligan's Bay)

MJM with Bruce 2015

"Will you please bring me a Barbara Ann Scott doll, and a Bubble set. also some books and crayons.Bring Georgie a horse and Teddy a duck on wheels."  -- Sharon Swanson

(George and Ted are Sharon's brothers. Sharon lives in Chapleau)

Sharon with MJM and Mike McMullen

And finally, my letter, " I am very glad you are coming back to Chapleau. I would like a pair of skates and a pair of binoculars."

I am the guy from Chapleau, who lives in Cranbrook BC but writes weekly about "that place' in Ontario, and loves going back and forth to Orlando, Florida.

 I did not find letters to Santa from Ian Macdonald and Harry Pellow but  left them in the photos because they are still so interested in the community. Michael McMullen is too but moved there in the early 1950s. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Santa Claus Parade was coming to Chapleau in December 1948 sponsored by Branch No. 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion following successful play presentation

Toddy Collinson, George Collinson, John Rose

Ted Soucie was telling his Chapleau Post readers that before reading his column, leave it aside and go to Major's Cleaners and get tickets for the play being sponsored by Harry Searle Branch No. 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
 Ted added: "Now that you're back, I hope that you got good seats. Let me remind you that it is a full program and you had better be there early. We're starting on the button -- but if you happen to get in a little early, you'll be entertained by some good music."
 It was Chapleau, December, 1948. Having returned from World War II, the new Chapleau Legion branch members joined the World War I veterans, in becoming a central focus in Chapleau life.
 For example, the play 'Cousin Jill from Junction Hill' was sponsored by the branch and was being directed by J.M 'Jack' Shoup, a veteran of both World Wars I and II, Legion Branch president at the time, principal of Chapleau Public school and member of Chapleau township council -- in fact Mr. Shoup holds the record for the longest serving council member with 16 one year terms in the community's history.

J.M. Jack Shoup

 Major's Cleaners was operated by D.T. 'Toddy' Collinson, a World War II veteran, who in 1976 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Chapleau Legion participated in honouring George Collinson, on being a member of the branch for 50 years. His father was a World War I veteran, Chapleau's postmaster and fire chief for many years, and always active in community affairs.
 Ted moved on to sharing news about the "new room" in the Legion hall, revealing that Henry Therriault had shown it to him and had "every reason to feel proud." A successful redecoration project had been undertaken. In 1948 the branch was in the same building it is today but it was not until 1955 when B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt was reeve that it took over ownership from the municipality.
 Henry had also dropped in to see him and requested that he "plug" a Stag and Spaghetti feed scheduled for December. "It is going to be one of our old-fashioned stags and guess who is going to make the sauce? None other than George Bucciarelli himself! Nuff said." Mr. Bucciarelli who owned a grocery store on Lorne Street south and after whom Bucciarelli's Beach is named, perhaps needless to say, was famous for his spaghetti sauce.
 In 1948, Henry Therriault, after returning home from active service in World War II, had become First vice president of the branch. Always active in the Legion and other community affairs, he served 12 terms as branch president.
 SANTA CLAUS COMING TO TOWN

 Ted noted that he had received a letter from Santa who advised that Chapleau children were "swamping' him with letters which was just fine and all would receive their card before he arrived for the Santa Claus Parade on December 11. I have some of those letters written way back in 1948 and will share them in a later column.
 The parade, another activity sponsored by the Legion, under the guidance of Wilf Simpson, World War II veteran, , was being planned although some more volunteers were needed for Santa's Military Guard of Honour. The Legion was accepting donations for the Santa Fund to help the less fortunate at Christmas.
 Wilf and his orchestra were also playing for Saturday night dances in the hall. Admission was 50 cents.
 As I wrote in my 1984 book, 'Sons of Thunder ... Apostles of Love' the World War II veterans returned home, resumed their employment, married and started to raise their families.
All of them, from World War I and World War II having experienced the bitterness of war and having lived through the Great Depression were determined to build a better community for their children.
 They became involved in local organizations, sat on the municipal council and school boards, and were active in their church. As Mr. Shoup so often said, "They had a duty to serve." And they did, in time of war and peace. This is just a glimpse of one month in the life of Harry Searle Branch No. 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion. My email is mj.morris@live.ca