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

Pat Purich Russell shares photos from Chapleau Remembrance Day service

Pat Purich Russell kindly shared photos from the Remembrance Day Service conducted by Branch No 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion on November 11 in Chapleau.

The wreaths lined up ready to be  placed at the cenotaph beside the Legion Hall

Pat commented ."Unreal how the weather was so perfect for the service,.. huge crowd, beautiful blue skies. the Canadian flag blowing in the breeze up against the gorgeous blue sky."

Lest We Forget over the front door of the Legion Hall

Part of Young Street is now called "Veterans Way" Pat explained that her husband Ken Russell, a veteran and former reeve of Chapleau played a major role in renaming the section of the street to honour all veterans.

Pat also provided this beautiful poppy photo. Thanks for sharing Pat.

"Mustard seeds planted in fertile soil" marked beginning of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Chapleau

Father Romeo Gascon, who was mainly responsible for building the present Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, provided an account  of the project after the  church was destroyed by fire on December 18, 1918.

The first Roman Catholic church in Chapleau was located where Collins furniture store is now. In 1891, a Father Grenier arrived and under his guidance a larger church was started at its present location, 

Father Gascon noted in his article contained in the Richard Brownlee papers. Father Gascon was priest in Chapleau from 1911 to 1958 when he died.

Prior to the building of the first church, Father Gascon wrote that Mass and the administration of the Sacraments were conducted in construction camps and private houses. "Great and numerous were the hardships of those first missionaries who had to minister to the few faithful scattered over a large territory,"

Roman Catholic Separate School

It was under the ministry of a Father Proulx that the priest's house was built around 1906 as well as the separate school. In 1925 the Sisters of St. Mary built the convent.

Priest's house, back of church and steeple at United Church

Disaster struck when the church became "the prey of fire" and the "church, and its contents, rich statuary and costly Mass vestments, tribute to the zealous work of the early missionaries and the generosity of the faithful pioneers" were lost."

"In a few hours nothing was left of the work and generosity of thirty years," Father Gascon wrote. "It cast a gloom over the joyous feast of Christmas.."

However, this was of short duration. "Immediately the Catholic people with their pastor pledged themselves to rebuild on a larger scale, to put up a Church which would be a credit and proof of their unfeigned faith and generosity.

"And this was accomplished. The following Christmas, Midnight Mass was sung for the first time in the new church."

Father Gascon sketched out the design for the new church and supervised the construction.

Alfred Leclerc, who arrived in Chapleau in 1915, in an article prepared for the church's 100th anniversary, said he had helped built it. He also was actively involved in other ways over many years.

Georgina and Alfred Leclerc

Writing his account in December 1932, just before Christmas,  Father  Gascon added that since the new church was opened, almost every year something is done to  "beautify the church so today it  stands as one of the nicest churches in the district."

In his conclusion, which he then signed "Romeo Gascon" he noted that the beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church in Chapleau were modest but were "mustard seed sown in fertile soil.

"Through the zeal, sacrifice and energy of these first missionaries and pioneer settlers this tiny seed has germinated and grown up to be a large tree.  Its branches and leaves now throw a refreshing shade."

He invited the people to the church to rest and regain lost strength. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church will celebrate its 96th anniversary in the "new" church this year at Christmas.

I extend my thanks again to Margaret Rose and Bobby Fortin for loaning me the Richard Brownlee papers.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca