Identify cast members from 'The Perfect Idiot' performed at Chapleau High School in 1987

 Identify these cast members from the high school drama production 'The Perfect Idiot' performed at the school in 1987

Identify these cast members from the high school drama production 'The Perfect Idiot' performed at the school in 1987

Big year in hockey planned in 1948 as Rev. Howard Strapp returned as president and Vern Goldstein named chief "whistle tooter" at annual meeting of Chapleau Hockey Club

Names Below Click to Enlarge

When Rev. Howard Strapp tried to step down after serving three terms as president of the Chapleau Hockey Club at its annual meeting in 1948, the members insisted that he accept another term, prompting him to say, perhaps rather appropriately, "I've been railroaded". 

Mr. Strapp, the minister at Trinity United Church at the time, was praised for his hard work and endless efforts that have helped to build the highly efficient Chapleau club, according to a report in the Chapleau Post.

The hockey club had overall responsibility for competitive Junior and Intermediate teams as well as the local hockey league with teams that played weekly in the "old old arena" on Lorne Street, on the site where by 1951, the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena was located. The Trappers, the Junior team, was sponsored for years by Mrs. A.W. 'Hockey' Moore after whom the arena in the Chapleau Recreation Centre is named.

Joining Mr. Strapp on the executive were N.W. 'Newt' Pellow as vice president, Ovide Cote as secretary-treasurer and executive committee members J.E. Edwards, F. Hamlin and A.E. 'Gussie' Evans all of whom would be involved the club's activities. 

The Chapleau Post also reported that Vern Goldstein was reappointed to the position of "whistle tooter" or referee in chief. Mr. Goldstein reported to the meeting that as a result of his attendance at the annual meeting of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association in Kirkland Lake, Chapleau would be entering both the Junior and Intermediate teams in the league playoffs in 1949. At this time in Chapleau's history, teams travelled by train to play in other communities.

As an aside, the first reference I have found to a road trip was in 1893 when a local team travelled to Sudbury. Unfortunately, they lost 2-1 to Sudbury.

Mr. Goldstein also reported that as soon as Highway 129 opened, Chapleau would be placed in the Soo Line League with teams from Little Current, Espanola, Blind River, thessalon and other communities outside of Sault Ste. Marie. 

The same issue of the Chapleau Post reported  there was a "very good possibility" that a car would travel over the road in January 1949. In fact, it happened. On a cold winter day, January 30, 1949, Highway 129, was declared officially completed.

Mr. Goldstein had also been reconized by the NOHA as a First Class Official Referee who may be called upon to travel and referee games in other Northern Ontario centres. He also planned to attend a referee school in Sudbury.

Names below Click to enlarge

After Mr. Cote delivered the club's financial statement which showed a favourable surplus, the Chapleau Post reported editorialized that "It sounded like the Dominion budget, with every detailed item listed on the balance sheet. This serves to illustrate how well the club is being conducted from a business point of view."

Regarding the local league, the report said it was too early to discuss players, coaches and team setups but even at this early date in November (remember they played on natural ice at the time), many street corner conversations were being held and the "boys are beginning to get things lined up. A big year in hockey is approaching."

My sincere thanks to Ken and Beverly (Yanta) LeClaire for sending me the Chapleau Post. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

TRAPPERS
The Chapleau Trappers of 1949. a junior team sponsored by Mrs A.W. 'Hockey' Moore. Back from left H. Fortunato, Rev Howard Strapp, B. Collings, M.McAdam, C. McAdam, R. May, T. Godfrey, J. Dillon, F. Lucky, T. Collinson. Front from left R. Longchamps, Daddle Swanson, Tee Chambers, D. Chambers, R. Morin, Y. Morin, R. Burns.
 HUSKIES
The Chapleau Huskies Intermediate team of 1949. Back row are from left O. Robinson, D. Swanson, L. Riley, G. Lucas, Tee Chambers, F.Goheen, K. Strapp, T. Collinson, 'Sonny' Bignucolo, D.O. Payette (manager), P. Serre, R. Hamlin, G. Payette. Front from left, Yen Hong, B. Evans, R. Sonego, Ross Thornton (coach), T. Jardine, A. Mione, J. Morin, M. Mione, C. Fiaschetti.

1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps performance described as "excellent" at annual inspection in 1946

Art Broomhead, Mike Mione, Arnold Moore, Bill Ritchie

On a beautiful sunny day in May 1946, Captain R.Q. Sims, described the performance of 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps as "excellent" during its first inspection following the end of World War II.

The inspecting officer delivered his remarks to the corps which the Chapleau Post described as "well earned praise following weeks of training" to company commander Foster Collings, platoon commanders John Thomson, Barbara Muske, Frances Hamlin, bugle band leader Janet Thomson, chief instructor and school principal John McClellan and corps members on the field behind the old high school on Pine Street.

The CHS cadet corps was established on November 14, 1924, just two years after a high school was established in Chapleau and was disbanded on January 1, 1963, and for 39 years was an integral and important part of school life.

Alton Henderson, Jack Rose, Lorne Wilkinson, Elbert Collinson, Wesley Morse

One year after World War II had ended, thoughts would surely have turned to the more than 300 Chapleau citizens who had served in Canada's armed forces, including 17 CHS students who were killed on active service, and had been members of the cadet corps just a few years earlier. Two who were killed on active service were Alton Henderson and Jack Rose, pictured above.

As well as the actual inspection,  demonstrations  in signals, first aid, knots and lashes, girls PT, pyramids, rifle and precision drills were included in the day's activities. 

Following the inspection, led by the Girls Bugle Band, the corps would march around the community, before members would head home to prepare for the annual Cadet  Dance, always part of the day's activities. 

For some reason, I had  assumed that the cadet corps always had a girls band, but once again I got a lesson in "never assume" as I have been researching the history of 1181 Cadet Corps. For example, I have discovered that in the 1934-35 school year it was called the Boys Bugle Band, and this may have continued until at least 1943 when student Milton O'Brien was the band leader. However, by 1946 it was a Girls Bugle Band led by Janet Thomson.  It is also quite likely that it was a boys band prior to 1934, and as my pieces, as I have written before are really a very rough draft of history, I hope more information will be forthcoming so the complete story of the corps can be told.

Also, girls were not officially permitted to be cadets but at CHS they were involved and were part of the inspection. They were later approved.

After World War II, King George VI, granted the title "Royal" and they became the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. One of the more famous highlights in the history of the CHS cadet corps was the Royal Visit to Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939. The story goes that while the Royals were not scheduled to make an appearance in Chapleau as the Royal Train was passing through the community at two a.m.

However, Chapleau reeve George Fife, the grandfather of CTV News Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife, sent a message that he wanted to meet the King. So, the King was roused in the middle of the night to meet Mr. Fife, and according to Jim Austin, who was then a member of the CHS cadet corps, got off the train and conducted an inspection. 

Many CHS cadets over the years attended Cadet camps, and 1946 was no exception. Thirteen members of the corps attended camp at Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, which considering that CHS had about 100 students struck me as amazing. The Chapleau Post reported that those attending were Arthur Broomhead, Desmond Collins, Ross Hamlin, Coulton Henderon, Mike Mione, Arnold Moore, William Pellow, Lorne Riley, Douglas Swanson, Lawrence Tremblay, Bill Ritchie, Pat Serre and Reggie Sonego.

John McClellan, wife in background

No cadet inspection day was complete without the  dance held in 1946 in the Legion Hall which was decorated with white apple blossoms, the red, white and green school colours and crossed rifles on the wall panels, all "well deserving of praise" according to the Chapleau Post reporter. Lunch was served by a committee of staff members and parents headed by Mrs. McClellan, the wife of the principal.

Music was provided by 'The Modernes' in its first and only appearance even though  the Chapleau Post reporter was gushing in praise of the orchestra, writing that it was "music played the way you love to hear it played" and predicting a great future for it. It folded as some members left Chapleau. Members were Marion Wedge, piano; George Payette and Jim Hands, trumpet; Greg Lucas, clarinet; Norman Cohrs, trombone; Bill Austin, saxophone; Jack Welch, electric guitar and Yen Hong, drums.

For almost 40 years of its history, 1181 Chapleau high School Cadet Corps played its important role. For some reason, I still recall the command "General Salute. Present Arms", the inspection by the army officer in attendance and the march past in review order as the Bugle Band played when I was a student at CHS in the 1950s. As the 90th anniversary reunion of CHS draws closer, I am sure there will be many revisions to the rough drafts of the school's history. 

Thanks to Doug Greig and Louise Cooper. My email is mj.morris@live.ca