Chapleau High School 90th Anniversary Reunion: 'The binding that holds the town book together'

Members of CHS 60th Committee, Names below

I was telling my good friend Derik Hodgson about the Chapleau High School 90th anniversary reunion festival recently, and, as always, in the 46 years since we first met at the Kingston Whig-Standard as young reporters, he had a great line that summed it all up and caused me to reflect on the "town book" of Chapleau.

Derik, one of Canada's best investigative reporters of my generation, observed that people in cities, don't always understand what reunions at "old-tyme high schools mean to smaller centres....they are often the binding that holds the town book together."

What a great line, among the many that I have seen Derik write, and immediately I started to think about how CHS reunions are the binding that does hold the history of Chapleau together -- at least from 1922 on when the high school doors first opened.

A school reunion gives us something in common, memories of a shared experience before we were all growed up and headed off in different directions to lead our adult lives. The reunion brings us home again as part of the binding that holds the town book together.

Over the years, whenever two or three of us meet who attended CHS, invariably the conversation turns to school days and memories of the students, teachers and activities that made up so much of our high school life. Today we even have virtual meetings by email, or Skype, Twitter and Facebook, but come 2012 it will be the real thing, and once home, stories will be told and while much regret will be expressed over those who are no longer here, the emphasis will be on those things that bring folks together, centred on  life either at the "old" school on Pine Street or the "new" school on the hill.

It just struck me that the new school has now served the community longer than the old school, and many more students have attended it than ever went to the building on the banks of the river.

In my life I have been most fortunate to have attended CHS as a student and to have returned and taught there for almost 20 years. But in fact, like many of Chapleau's old families, my connection goes back almost to the beginning of the high school in Chapleau in 1922. For example my mother, Muriel E. (Hunt) Morris and her sister Elsie (Hunt) Zufelt were students there in the late 1920s while my father Jim Morris and some cousins attended in the 1930s, his sister Marion by 1940, and other cousins in the late 1940s early 1950s, then me,  and then more cousins through the years.  Our family history, perhaps like yours,  is tied in to the school.

When CHS celebrated its 60th anniversary in 1982, I wrote an article about the changes to the physical face of Chapleau that would have occurred since many who came home for the reunion would immediately notice.

It was called 'Yes Virginia, there is a Chapleau', and details Virginia's walk around town after an absence of 30 years. Here are some of the highlights from her walkabout. With apologies to the 'Virginia' in the Christmas classic, 'Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus'.

She noted that here it was the sixtieth anniversary of her school, and they had moved it "into the bush" and it was one of "those modern buildings all on one floor."

Virginia was especially concerned about where students drank their beer, for according to the old song "Give a shout, give a cheer for the boys who drink the beer in the cellars of old Chapleau High" and now there was no cellar.

The Lady Minto Hospital had disappeared and "they put the hospital out behind the high school. Am I ever glad they also built a new road to serve these buildings. When I was a kid there was nothing more than a trail. And sometimes it was impassable in the Spring".

She also noted the "new" Chapleau Civic Centre, Cedar Grove Lodge Chapleau, Recreation Complex, water plant, and of course the replacement of the horsehoe bridge with a new bridge and pedestrian overpass, among other changes. Yes, the physical face of Chapleau changed dramatically in the 1970s -- more than 30 years ago. And, of course there have been more changes since.

However, after her walkabout, 'Virginia' accepted that while the physical face of Chapleau changed, "... the greatest resource of Chapleau has always been its people. I look forward to seeing all my old friends, those who are still here and those who have come for the reunion. I am simply glad to be home where it all began for me", and I added, "Yes Virginia, there is a Chapleau. The physical face has changed, but not the hearts of the people."

I wrote Virginia's story almost 30 years ago now for the souvenir newspaper marking the CHS 60th reunion, and was living in Chapleau at the time and teaching at the high school. I have not changed my view one bit about the community and its people.

Let me go back to Derik Hodgson for a moment and give him the last word. At one time Derik worked for Canadian Press and came to know Lloyd 'Sparrow' McDonald, who was with CP for many years, born in Chapleau, graduated from Chapleau High School, served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Here is Derik's comment on one of Chapleau's greatest resources: "Lloyd McDonald. Legendary. Remember him working the rim at CP Toronto. Gruff. No nonsense and wonderful."

Small world. Thanks Derik for helping me share a bit about the binding that holds the town's book together! My email is mj.morris@live.ca

THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Members of the 60th CHS Reunion Committee in 1982 showing off reunion caps: Front from left Olive Warren, Margaret Rose Fortin, Frances Corston, Elaine Martel, Helen Delaney, Kathleen Broomhead, Marguerite Levesque. Back from left Tim Collins, Erik Collings, Alex Babin, Don McEachren, Terry Bryson

Identify the Chapleau High School students who were playing on The Chiefs Midget hockey team in 1982

Identify these four Chapleau High School students from 1982 who were also playing hockey on 'The Chiefs', a Midget team coached by MJM.

Answer for last week's quiz:

The Innocents were John Murray, Frank Bignucolo, Peter Simpson, John Anderson

Distinguished Flying Crosses awarded to Chapleau RCAF members included one recipient having drink of scotch with King George VI during World War II

There were 4018 members of the Royal Canadian Air Force who received the Distinguished Flying Cross in World War II, and Chapleau is included among those who received the DFC for acts of valour or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy.

For Willard Bolduc, the son of Joseph Telesfore, who died while on active service with Canadian Forces in World War I, and Barbara (McWatch) Bolduc, it meant receiving his DFC from King George VI at a field investiture In England, and even enjoying a drink of Scotch with His Majesty.

In a letter to his mother, Willard Bolduc, wrote that the King and Queen Elizabeth came for his investiture, which "should make folks sit up and take notice". On the same day he was promoted from pilot officer to flying officer.

He told his mother, according to a newspaper report at the time, that now she may now address "my mail to F.O. Bolduc, D.F.C" adding "I never knew I would ever have any letters after my name - it makes you feel sort of important."

Flying Officer Bolduc explained that he did not go to Buckingham Palace because they had a field investiture where the King and Queen came to their station.

"We had a full parade and I had to march out by myself in front of everyone and the King shook hands with me and pinned on the medal."

Aftrewards, their Majesties joined them for a chicken dinner.

"Before dinner we all had a drink of Scotch in the anteroom with (the King), so now I can say I had a drink of Scotch with the King of England!"

At the end of his letter, Willard admitted to his mother, "But believe me, I was really scared stiff. I could hardly talk and my knees were knocking and everything else. I guess you can say your crazy son is really getting around, eh Mom?"

The department of veterans affairs web site says: Flying Officer Willard John Bolduc. an Ojibwa from Chapleau, Ontario earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his performance as an air gunner during a series of bombing attacks in 1943."

Baisel Benjamin Collings, the son of Clarence and Olive (Shillington) Collings, enlisted in the RCAF in August 1941, rose to rank of Warrant Officer One, and his citation for the DFC noted that he had completed numerous operations against the enemy in the course of which he invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty."

It says that he completed two tours of operations, adding that "Warrant Officer Collings has at all times displayed outstanding ability and a strong sense of duty, and he holds a fine record of achievement on the squadron.

"His untiring devotion to duty in moments of danger has been largely responsible for the successful completion of his crew's many sorties, and by his example of cheerful courage, has maintained a very high standard of morale among, not only his crew members, but the squadron in general."

Donald Boyd Freeborn. the son of Earle and Agnes (McAdam) Freeborn first enlisted as a boy apprentice in the Royal Air Force, was accepted but stayed home as the eldest of eight children when his father died in 1937 one month before Donald was to set sail for England.

He enlisted in the RCAF in October 1941 rising to the rank of Flying Officer.

On one occasion his Lancaster bomber was shot down behind enemy lines in Holland. Writing in Chapleau Trails, edited and published by Dr. Bill Pellow, his sister Beth noted that "Don and his navigator survived the crash and were hidden in the basement of a Dutch family until they could be spirited back to allied territory." Although reported "missing in action", he was returned to flying Lancaster bombers.

Another incident recorded about his service overseas was that "One night in October 1944 this officer captained an aircraft detailed to attack Stuttgart. On the bombing run the aircraft was subjected to anti-aircraft fire. Flying Officer Freeborn was struck by a piece of shrapnel in the thigh. The wound was serious. Nevertheless this pilot withheld the fact from his crew and pressed home his attack. Not until the bombs had been released did he call for assistance. It became necessary to apply a tourniquet to his leg, an operation which Flying Officer Freeborn himself superintended. In spite of much physical suffering this resolute pilot flew the aircraft to this country. He displayed courage, fortitude and devotion to duty of a high order."

Donald Freeborn was awarded the DFC with Bar.

He is a member of a Chapleau family long dedicated to community service with his grandfather J.D. McAdam and father Earle both serving as reeve, while his brother Earle served as reeve/mayor and brother Elmer as a councillor.

Lloyd George McDonald. commonly called by his nickname 'Sparrow" was born in Chapleau in 1918, graduated from Chapleau High School in 1937, then attended the University of Toronto, and enlisted in the RCAF in 1941.

He was posted to Number 426 Squadron and the information on the DFC award reads: "This officer has completed a large number of sorties against enemy targets, including Berlin and Brunswick. At all times he has displayed the highest degree of navigational skill and has been in no small way responsible for the successful completion of many operations. On one occasion his aircraft was severely damaged by an enemy fighter but, working under extreme difficulties, Flying Officer McDonald successfully navigated his aircraft back to an emergency base in this country where a safe landing was made. His navigational skill, coolness and determination have been of the highest order."

After the war Sparrow McDonald returned to work for the Canadian Press where he had started while attending university and worked in Washington and New York for years. He also covered the United Nations and the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. Later he headed to Winnipeg Bureau then was chief of Ontario service, then features and night editor.

Willard Bolduc, Baisel Collings, Donald Freeborn, and Lloyd McDonald were among the estimated 350 Chapleau men and women who served in Canada's armed forces in World War II, an incredible number, given the size of the community, all of whom are now referred to as the Greatest Generation. And indeed they are as I reflect on them and the lives they all lived, ordinary men and women from a small community in Northern Ontario who left their homes and families to do the exceptional. Some returned, others did not. Thank you to all of them. Lest we forget!

My sincere thanks to Doug Greig, Dr. Bill Pellow and the Bolduc, Collings and Freeborn families who contributed to Chapleau Trails, and to "Sparrow McDonald, gone now, but a journalist who I was so privileged to interview at the Chapleau High School 60th anniversary reunion in 1982. My email is mj.morris@live.ca