Going backwards to go forward as Chapleau returns to operator-assisted telephone calls in 1951

Some Chapleau citizens felt the community was taking a step backwards in 1951 when the dial telephone system was replaced with a "common battery operation" where calls were placed through an operator.

The Chapleau Post reported that Chapleau was "believed to be the first town in Ontario to boast a dial telephone system' in 1924 but effective on August 21, 1951, the dials were removed and a manual system installed.

The Chapleau Automatic Telephone Company was formed in 1924 and shares were sold to each subscriber with each required to purchase three shares at $50 each

The newspaper explained that it "may appear like a backward step" but the size of the exchange did not warrant  a large enough dial system to handle the volume of traffic.

By 1950 with 300 subscribers no new ones could be added. The system had reached capacity. Charles W. Collins, secretary-treasurer of the Chapleau Board of Trade announced that negotiations were underway for improvements.

As the operator assisted exchange was being launched, E.M. Patton. president of the Chapleau Telephone System announced: "This new step in the improvement of Chapleau's telephone service will provide more people with a better local and long distance service."

Directions were issued for using the new system which  advising customers to "lift the receiver and give operator the number", be aware that certain numbers were changed and to follow instructions in the new directory.

We did not have a telephone at our house before 1951, but did  shortly thereafter, but at first it was a party line, but in due course we got our own number which was 188. Amazes me how I recall that number more than 60 years later.

A rate increase was met with some opposition but again the Chapleau Post supported it pointing out that it was the first in  more than 20 years in Chapleau, bringing their business in line with present costs of doing business.

The monthly rate for an individual home phone rose to $3.35 from $2.58, while the business rate rose to $5.30 from $3.83.

The telephone company defended the rate increase by pointing out that a central office with new equipment had been established on Pine Street. The telephone equipment had previously been located in the old Town Hall basement but was now in the former  Orange Hall on Pine Street. In later years that became the by-law office. It also noted that it had to keep pace with Chapleau's growth in the 1950s.

Township council approved the rate increase as did the Ontario Municipal Board.

And so, in 1951, Chapleau phone users were able to hear the "cheery voice" of the telephone operators, "Number please."  Mrs. Myrtle Delaney was the chief operator.

This is the first of two articles on the telephone history in Chapleau. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Women's Curling Club winds up successful 1959 season with banquet and awards night

The Women's Curling Club wound up their 1959 season with a banquet and award presentation at Renison Hall in St. John's Anglican Church.

President Mrs. D.J. Broomhead reported that it was the best in the club's history. Although there were no outside bonspiels scheduled, there were two senior 'spiels and a colt spiel during the season.

A short note of some historical interest. The first attempt by women to become members was in the mid 1930s but their bid for membership was voted down, and it was not until about 1949 that women were accepted into the club. As in many aspects of Chapleau history, exact dates are hard to confirm, but the women's club had come a long way in its short history.

Readers will also  note that in this column married women are referred to as Mrs., with her husband's first name or initials while the first name is used for single women. This practice continued into the 1990s and was in effect when I taught my first university studies courses in Commuications at College of the Rockies --- but the times they were starting to change!

Back to curling.

Mrs. Broomhead also noted in a Sudbury Star story that while the women polished up on their curling technique the social side of club membership also held a high place.  After the banquet, the members adjourned to her home for a social evening.

Winner of the Leo Racicot Trophy for the first senior bonspiel was a rink skipped by Mrs. Yvon Morin, with Mrs. Gerald Garmes as vice skip; Carol Travers, second and Mrs. Milton Schroeder, lead.

The runner up rink was a rink skipped by Mrs. Romeo Martin; Mrs. Vince O'Hearn, vice skip; Berryl Rowntree, second, and Prudence Beechey, lead.

Second senior bonspiel winner was rink skipped by Mrs. Alf Gervais with Carol 'Babe' Chambers as vice skip; Mrs. Garmes, second, and Mrs. Henry Pellow, lead

The Korpela Trophy for winning the Colt bonspiel was skipped by Carol 'Babe' Chambers, with Berryl Rowntree, vice skip; Mrs. Norman Glennie, second, and Mrs. J.G.A. Burns, lead.

Runner up was rink skipped  by Rita Roussel; Mrs. Leonard Ridstill, vice skip; Prudence Beechey, second, and Mrs. Alf Gervais, lead.

In the election of officers Mrs. Broomhead was returned for another term as president, while Mrs. J.D Macfarlane continued as vice president. Secretary was Mrs. J.G.A. Burns and treasurer Mrs. Leonard Ridstill.

Major renovations were underway at the curling club on Pine Street led by men's club president George Collins. Completed in 1960, artificial ice came in 1962. Curling apparently started in Chapleau during the winter of 1885-86 on a sheet of ice on Lorne Street across from the CPR operations. That later became the site of the "old old arena".  The curling rink on Pine Street opened in 1928.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Ontario Provincial Police open "modern" headquarters at Chapleau in 1957

A "modern" headquarters for the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) headquarters at Chapleau was officially opened on the outskirts of the municipality  in November 1957, Margaret Costello wrote in the Sudbury Star.

The OPP had an officer stationed in Chapleau for many years prior who either used part of his home as an office, or was located in buildings in the downtown area.

 I still recall visiting Harold Kennedy, (my uncle) when he was the OPP officer in Chapleau in the early 1950s at his office in the building where the Northern Credit Union is today -- he lived in a small room behind the office. (Harold met and married my aunt, Marion Morris, while he was stationed in Chapleau.)

Maggie wrote that the new headquarters housed a courtroom, two offices, a cell block, two car garage, and living quarters  for an officer.

The courtroom did not seem to work out too well, and was moved to the Royal Canadian Legion Hall where provincial court was held on a monthly basis for many years.

However, the cell block replaced the "town jail" located for years below the fire hall. Despite the  new headquarters, the OPP did not replace the municipal police force until 1967 when it was disbanded by the council.

Ron Lewis

Ron Lewis was the officer in charge when the new headquarters was opened, being promoted to Corporal, and remaining in Chapleau until 1971. It became a two officer detachment with the arrival of John Craig. Ron finished his OPP as an inspector located in Kenora.

Although the only highway out of Chapleau in the 1950s, opened in 1949, was Highway 129, the OPP had a huge area to cover as they were responsible for the small communities near Chapleau which were becoming very busy with lumber companies establishing operations throughout the area. They would also travel by CPR to communities west of Chapleau to about White River.

At the official opening of the headquarters, Ontario Attorney General Kelso Roberts pointed out that it came at a time of major construction for the OPP in both Southern and Northern Ontario. Mr. Roberts said Chapleau was one of the "strategic locations.

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It also came as Chapleau was experiencing what is often referred to as its "boom years" with expansion by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and lumber companies arriving after the huge forest fire of 1948.

Chapleau Reeve Leo Racicot took the opportunity to push for a highway to Foleyet, and on to Timmins, having a number of provincial dignitaries on hand for the opening.

"It would be a natural tourist route ... around by Timmins, and I am sure it would benefit all concerned," Mr. Racicot said.

Highway 101 to Timmins officially opened in 1962.

Participating in the opening ceremonies from Chapleau were the reeve, Father A. Marchand of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church and Rev. Frank Leigh of St. John's Anglican Church. A dinner was held catered to by the ladies of the Senior WA of St. John's with Arthur Grout as chairman.  Former Chapleau resident E.D. Wilkins, who was now the Crown Attorney was also present.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca