Highlights from history of St. John's Anglican Church following announcement of its sale to Jason Rioux

Plaque dedication names below

In 1882, three years before Chapleau was formally established with the official arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Rev. John Sanders,  conducted a church service on the banks of the river, which was re-enacted 100 years later.

Rev. Sanders was one of a family of 20 born to Ojibway parents at Flying Post, on Groundhog Lake, 60 miles north of Biscotasing. He became one of the first aboriginal priests of the Church of England in Canada (later Anglican), and as a missionary conducted services not only on river bank, but at St. John's Church after it was established in 1885. 

Some of his descendants still live in the Chapleau area and other parts of Northern Ontario. Sanders is also spelled Saunders.

But, it was Rev. Gowan Gillmor, who delighted in his nickname "The Tramp" who was instrumental in establishing St. John's Church in Chapleau. He conducted the first service  in a boxcar in October 1884, and in  1885 was present to conduct services and hold meetings with the first settlers about building a church. He was called The Tramp because he actually walked the CPR line between Sudbury and Fort William (now Thunder Bay), and elsewhere as a "railway missionary".

By this time land had already been purchased and a deed granted by the CPR for the purpose of building the church. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts in England would provide a grant of four hundred dollars towards its construction, but Chapleau people would have to raise five hundred dollars, a tremendous sum in those days.

The sum was raised primarily through the efforts of two teenagers, Miss Annie Nicholson and Miss Minnie Richardson. Within two weeks Miss Nicholson advised the committee that a "really strong box" would be needed as they had raised over one thousand dollars.

The first St. John's, on the site of the old tennis court, was opened and consecrated on July 1, 1886 by Bishop Edward Sullivan, assisted by Rev Gillmor. 

In 1982, when Rev. William Ivey was rector he organized a re-enactment of the service on the river bank conducted by Rev. Sanders. Rev. Canon Redfern Louttit, who had attended the St. John's Indian Residential School, and later became an Anglican priest played the role of Rev. Sanders. The service was conducted in Cree, Ojibway and English.

Rev. E. Roy Haddon, a former rector returned to play Rev. Gillmor in another historical re-enactment. 

With the arrival of Rev. Jerry Smith as rector, and as the 100th anniversary approached, Linda Tebbutt and Sharon Henderson played Annie Nicholson and Minnie Richardson, the young ladies who fund raised for the first St. John's.

By 1905, plans were underway to build the new church as St John's had become the Pro-Cathedral of Moosonee when Bishop George Holmes moved to Chapleau. With the completion of the new church, which was dedicated on March 29, 1908, it remained the pro-cathedral until 1913. Final cost of the church was $18,000.

Fast forward to 1985 and the 100th anniversary of St. John's. Rev. Smith was the rector and 100 years of faith was being celebrated, according to The Chapleau Sentinel headline.

An old fashioned hymn sing launched the activities held in June 1985 with John Way-White and Chris Ivey rendering a trumpet duet. Rev. Smith introduced the special guests Archbishop Edward Scott, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada;  Bishop Les Peterson, of Algoma, and Bishop Caleb Lawrence of Moosonee.

MJM at 100th anniversary

Then Bishop Peterson dedicated a plaque in front of the church, followed by Bishop Lawrence who dedicated one on the banks of the river. Former rector Rev. William Ivey led the procession with his bagpipes.

A public reception was held in the Legion Hall, most appropriately, as it was originally St John's Parish House built by Mrs. and Mrs. G.B. Nicholson in memory of their son Lorne and his friends, who died on active service in World War I.

St. John's Peoples Warden Tom O'Shaughnessy was master of ceremonies introducing the guests and reading letters from those who were unable to attend.

Special tribute was paid to Mrs Amy Green on her many years of faithful service as church organist.

Father Jerry with Mrs. Green

The Sentinel reported that the Thanksgiving Eucharist "from the Processional to the Recessional, an hour and a half later, it was a service to remember,"

Bishop Peterson with Velma Morin, treasurer

Some of the participants included Archbishop Scott as guest preacher, with Bishops Lawrence and Peterson celebrating the Eucharist assisted by Rev Smith and Rev Tom Corston, a Chapleau boy, later a bishop of Moosonee.. The junior and senior choirs under the direction of Mary Winter were excellent.

"It was a truly memorable occasion," the Sentinel reported. It was!!

And now, Tom Corston,  the retired bishop of Moosonee, advised in a Chapleau Express article on May 5, 2016. that St. John's has been sold, effective June 1 to Jason Rioux. 

In the article it is noted that with the sale, it does not mean that the Anglican congregation is to vacate.  It quotes Mr. Rioux as saying that "We are most excited to be accommodating the current congregation to use the church as its place of worship and continue with their long standing pride of ownership for years to come."  A lease agreement has been reached with the Diocese of Moosonee, the report notes.

Obviously a new era is beginning for St. John's after about 131 years of serving the Anglican community of Chapleau. It will be most interesting to watch the progress, and I wish all parties well in their endeavours. I am most delighted that the decision was not made to demolish St. John's.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Plaque unveiling  Unveiling of plaque at waterfront marking spot where early services were held. From left are Bishop Peterson, Primate Ted Scott, former rector Rev William Ivey (with pipes, layreader William Walker, Bishop Caleb Lawrence, Rector Rev Jerry Smith

NOTE: I wrote history of St John's, 'Sons of Thunder... Apostles of Love' at the time of the 100th anniversary 

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau received 'feed of eggs' during 1982 train stop in Chapleau presented by Ernest Lepine

Although Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau did not receive the friendliest of receptions in many communities across Canada as he travelled by Via Rail on vacation with his three sons in August 1982, such was not the case when his train arrived in Chapleau. 

Upon learning that the prime minister's train had been pelted with eggs in western Canada, Ernest Lepine visited the Valentine Poultry Farm, and arranged to get eggs to present to him. The farm was, and is still owned by Ross Broomhead.

Mr. Lepine told Jennifer Swanson in a 'Pioneer Days' article that he got four dozen eggs.

In making the presentation to Mr. Trudeau on the CPR station platform, he said: "Here are some Chapleau eggs for you. We're not throwing them at you. We're giving you  a feed of eggs."

 I was covering the event for CBC TV News and there was a huge crowd at the station to meet the prime minister and his three children Michel, Alexandre and Justin, who is now the prime minister of Canada. It was a very friendly occasion.

Ernest Lepine was born in Chapleau in 1920, and was involved in many community activities, although he lived at Devon for five years, and Sultan from 1930 to 1940.

He told Jennifer in an interview that it was tough living in Sultan during the Great Depression with not much time for play. 

For example: "We had to go out after school on Saturday to cut wood until we had ten four foot cords, haul it, cut it with a crosscut saw, split and pile it."

But he was able to build a pair of stilts with which he walked to school. "I began making them higher and higher until at last I had to get on the roof of my verandah to get on them".

His first job was at Wakami Lumber Co. but in 1941 he got a job on the CPR first as fireman, and later as engineer. He married his childhood friend Lorette in 1942, and they bought their house on Lorne Street next door to the arena.

An active member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Mr. Lepine held most offices in the Knights of Columbus. He was also legislative representative for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

He was elected to the municipal council in 1949 just as Chapleau's "boom years" were getting underway and served several terms. The first major project was the sewage system and plant completed in late 1950.

When the Chapleau Memorial Arena was opened on Lorne Street in 1951. he became a member of the arena board.

By 1961 he was a director of the credit union.

Mr. Lepine was honoured in 1972 when he received an award from the Queen and the Government of Canada for outstanding community service.

In his interview with Jennifer Mr. Lepine noted how good Chapleau had been to him and his family, but he was certainly very good for Chapleau too, one of its highly respected citizens who served in many aspects of community life...

Note. Someone kindly sent me the photos in which I am included some years ago now, but I do not recall  who it was. Thanks though,Aging memory!!! My email is mj.morris@live.ca

From left to right: Dr. Lougheed, A.J. Grout, Cecil Smith, Foreman for Construction Company, Walter Steed, Reg Trush, B.WZufelt (Reeve), Ernest Lepine, Max Brunette, J.M. Shoup, Richard Brownlee, Dr. G.E. Young, George. Fife, Ovide Payette, Charles Collins. The two girls in the back are Carol Ann (Babe) Chambers, Joan Kemp Photo taken at sod turning for Chapleau Sewage System

"If we haven't got what you want, we''ll get it," Arthur Grout tells mining industry in 1930s

names below

As D.O. Payette was retiring as president of Smith and Chapple Ltd. in 1949, he wrote an article sharing insights into the store's history during the years since 1930 when he and Arthur Grout were partners.

It covers a lot of subjects but given recent news about the potential mining development by Goldcorp which will have an immense  effect on Chapleau, I decided to share Mr. Payette's story on how gold mining and prospecting affected Smith and Chapple in the 1930s.. 

Just as Mr. Payette and Mr. Grout took over the business from V.T. Chapple, the Great Depression hit, and they were looking for business.

It so happened that the Swazey Gold Claims had just been opened not too far from Chapleau. In the 1920s there was considerable prospecting in the area.

"We had to do our best to get business," Mr. Payette wrote.

He pointed out that there were some airplanes flying to and from the claims and many landed on the front river at Chapleau.

"One morning Art Grout saw one of these planes overhead. He quickly got rope, stakes, and an axe and beat it down to the lakeshore to assist in the plane's landing. Passengers were escorted to the store, a tour and sales pitch rendered, and my partner said: 'If we haven't got what you want, we'll get it"'.

Result: The store managed to get a fair amount of business from this source.

As an aside before going any further, my father, Jim Morris, learned to fly planes from these early bush pilots. My grandfather Harry Morris told me my Dad would tell his parents he was going down to assist in unloading and loading planes. Partly true, but he was also going on flights with these early pilots, and learning to fly the planes.

He thought my grandmother, Lil (Mulligan) Morris didn't know, but she did -- Mothers always know!

Back to Mr. Payette. As time passed, Chapleau became a busy place for several flight services, "outstanding among them was Eclipse Airways."

my Dad 1930s

Smith and Chapple also had workers travelling by canoe. taking orders from prospectors with delivery on mahy occasions by plane.

Canoe travel was actually quite common, and other Chapleau merchants , including Edgar Pellow, used it in their business --- a story for another day!

The Kinty Gold Mine opened near Bret Lake about 30 air miles from Chapleau. Mr. Payette and Mr. Grout believed it would be a "prosperous town"  and built a few log cabins on the shore of Bret Lake -- one a store with living quarters for the shopkeeper, one for cooking and dining, and one as sleeping quarters for travellers and prospectors.

Then bad breaks --- the mine decided to establish a townsite some distance from their location. By 1933 the mine closed.

Mr. Payette wrote they were stuck with stock but managed to survive, although for the rest of the depression there were few prospectors still in the area.

He wrote: "We struggled on, cutting expenses, sweating blood, laughing at our own mistakes, hiding our tears until the advent of 1937, and a ray of light appeared."

As World War II began in 1939, the railway and ,lumber industries picked up again, and business was good through the war years.

1949

In 1949 though Mr. Payette decided to retire and Mr. Grout took over as president. The staff photo above was taken at a party near Mr Payette's retirement.

I was delighted to read the article in the Chapleau Express about the meeting that Goldcorp held recently with the municipality, and the planning that is underway for Chapleau to become at least in part a "mining town." My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Names of staff 1) Ad Andrews, 2) Grenville "Bob" Murray  3) Bob Warren, 4) Earle Sootheran, 5) unknown, 6) D.O. Payette, 7) Norm Veit, 8) Joe Shannon, 9) Tom Godfrey Jr., 10) Blanche Payette, 11) Dorothy Bain, 12) Zetta Murray, 13) Viola Nolan, 14) Helen Lapp, 15) Dick Lapp, 16) Gene Bernier, 17) Ted Soucie, 18) Keith (Mac) Macdonald, 19) Fred Matters.