Alton Morse received Order of Canada for his contribution to mechanization of lumber industry in Chapleau area

Alton Morse, born in Maine in the United States, came to the Chapleau area where he became involved in the lumber business in 1913, and 70 years later he received the Order of Canada for his contribution to the mechanization of the industry.

The citation to his award reads: "His solution to the problem of' hauling logs over the rough country of northern Ontario, the use of gasoline tractors, heralded the mechanization of the lumber industry and made possible its future development. Later, he and partner (Leigh Sheppard) formed new companies in which they set an example to others of the proper care and housing of workers."

As Mr. Morse was unable to travel to Ottawa to accept his Order of Canada, his grandson Eric accepted it on his behalf in June 1983.

The Chapleau Sentinel reported that "the community was very proud to have in our midst a recipient of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest distinction".

Heather Conn, writing in the Human History of Wakami Lake noted that Mr. Morse had a Linn tractor brought to Devon in 1917 which revolutionized logging operations.

The Chapleau Sentinel article explained that before this time logging in the Chapleau area was localized and confined to stands of timber within horse drawing distance to a waterway used for moving the logs to a mill.

Mr. Morse saw what a tractor could do and one was purchased. It proved to be a great success and as a result mechanized logging became a hallmark of every lumber operation with which he was associated, the story said.

It added that Mr. Morse made a "distinguished contribution to the economic growth of the country".

Upon his arrival in Chapleau, his first job was as the secretary to the Canadian Pacific Railway superintendent but soon thereafter in 1913 he became the manager of Devon Lumber Co.

After the United States entered World War I he attempted to join its armed forces but his application was denied on the grounds that lumber business was an "essential service".

His later positions included general manager of Austin and Nicholson Lumber Co, the McNaught Lumber Co., the Wakami Lumber Co., and then Vice President and General Manager of Sheppard and Morse Ltd.

With Mr. Sheppard, he created what was described as "model village" for employees --- both at Sultan and Pineal Lake. The Order of Canada citation recognizes this effort too. 

Dr. G. E. 'Ted' Young, who was a close friend of Mr. and Mrs. Morse noted that compared to other lumber communities Sultan was the most lively. Dr. Young was the company doctor too. In fact Mr. and Mrs. Morse lived in an apartment in his building for years. He had retired in 1969.

I am the first to admit that I don't know much about the lumber industry but now having written about the Martel family, Lucien Lafreniere, Oliver Korpela and now Alton Morse, I am fascinated with it. More to come.

 I did spend time visiting with Bob and Queenie (Matheson) Halliday at both Sultan and Pineal Lake with my mother Muriel (Hunt) Morris as a kid --- and I partied at Racine Lake.   My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Adelard Lafrance born in Chapleau played for Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League

Adelard Lafrance, born in Chapleau in 1912, was given a five game "look" by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League in the 1933-34 season, according to Joe Pelletier writing on his blog 'Greatest Hockey Legends.com, the Hockey History Blog'.

He was the first Chapleau born player to make the NHL. The others are: Ron Schock, Floyd Curry and Jason Ward.

Although it would not appear that the community had an official minor hockey program when he was growing up, hockey was played starting in the winter of 1885-86 on a rink on Lorne Street where the first two arenas were located until 1978 when  the Mrs. A.W. Moore Arena was opened at the Chapleau Recreation Centre.

Adelard, also called 'Adie' must have been playing on local teams to start his career as Mr. Pelletier wrote he was a "key member of the Sudbury Wolves team that won the Memorial Cup as Canada's national junior champions in 1932. He scored the overtime game winning goal against the Winnipeg Monarchs.

In  1933-34 season Adelard was given a try out by the Montreal Canadiens late in the year, according to Mr. Pelletier. He played three games in regular season and two in the Stanley Cup playoffs. No points, one minor penalty.

Interestingly, Mr. Pelletier adds that the Canadiens paid his train fare to Montreal. I recall Garth "Tee" Chambers, who was my hero as a hockey player, telling me that players wanting tryouts with professional teams usually had to pay their own expenses. As a result, many potential players never made the NHL. After the Great Depression and World War II, they simply could not afford to travel.

Here are more details on his hockey career taken from Wikipedia: He joined "Sudbury St. Louis of the Nickel Belt Hockey League in 1929-30. The following season he moved to the Sudbury Wolves in time for the playoffs and Memorial Cup play. The following season he split between the St. Louis and the Wolves and played in the Memorial Cup and Allan Cup playoffs.".. In 1933-34 he joined the professional Falconbridge team

After his tryout with the Canadiens late in that 1933-34 season, Adelard played one year with the Quebec Astors of the Can-Am league before joining the Springfield Indians for four seasons.

He retired from professional hockey after the 1938-39 season returning to Sudbury where he worked for the family company A. Lafrance and Sons. The company established in Chapleau in 1908 by his father also named Adelard, was in the fur trade business. It is still operating today in Sudbury.

bales of fur in front of Lafrance store (just behind Bridgeview Motel)

His father was playing hockey in Chapleau in its early years and was a member of the  team that won the McEwen Cup emblematic of local hockey supremacy circa 1911-12. Some other players from pioneer families at the time included Richard Brownlee, George Collinson, Tom Godfrey, Ovide Payette, and my grandfather Harry Morris.

The Lafrance family was among the earliest settlers in Chapleau. In 1885, Lambert Lafrance arrived to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway. His wife Adele Roy joined him shortly thereafter. Apparently the train stopped seven miles east of Chapleau, and they brought all their worldly belongings into the community on a push cart. Other family members arrived later.

Adelard Lafrance died in 1995 in Sudbury. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

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MM

Labour Day in 1959 became Hospital Day sponsored by Lady Minto Hospital with 'fun for all ages from oldest to youngest'

Designating it as 'Hospital Day', the Lady Minto Hospital sponsored a day full of activities on Labour Day in 1959.

The program was designed for "fun for all ages from oldest to youngest", according to a report in the Sudbury Star.

The day's activities also provided the opportunity for citizens to meet the staff of the local hospital.

A parade started from the hospital at Elm and Queen streets, in "old Chapleau", led by the hospital float with its "bedside motif" with Beryl Rowntree, Christina Freeborn, Gladys Ryan, Ann Maureen Bedford, and Claire Fortin caring for the patient -- "a huge toy panda".

There were other floats including one from the Senior Citizens, as well as the Town Band and the Branch Number 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion Pipe Band. The parade ended at the Beach area.

The nurses on the hospital float took up station in the Lodge Room (upstairs) in the Town Hall for a polio shot clinic supervised by Dr. G. E. 'Ted' Young. It was a busy place with 276 people getting a shot. Mrs. Audrey Bertrand arrived to assist at the clinic.

Registrars were Mrs. D.O. Payette, Mrs. Rita Bedford and Mrs. Mansel Robinson.

Down at the beach races got underway for the youngsters organized by J.M. Shoup, who had been doing this job for as long as I can remember. Mr. Shoup had just retired as long time principal of Chapleau Public School in 1958.

A very popular event sponsored by the Catholic Women's League of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church was a pigtail contest. Winners in the various age categories were from youngest -- Lynn Hazen, Helene Tremblay, Joan Martin and Linda Marchioni. Mrs. Ed McCarthy was in charge.

Over at the ball field behind Chapleau High School a championship minor league baseball game between the Cubs and Bruins got underway for the Broomhead Trophy. The Bruins emerged victorious and team captain Neil Midkiff accepted the trophy from D.J. 'Jim' Broomhead.

There was also another ball game with teams coached by Keith 'Buddy' Swanson and Tommy Godfrey which was apparently very popular, but results not revealed.

Meanwhile, another popular event was underway at the Beach area where Walter Broomhead and daughter Karen were providing pony rides for the youngsters.

There was a dance in the Town Hall basement in the evening, highlighted a draw for a car -- winner was George Brady.

Chair for the day was C.B Greenlaw, and committee members included George Riesz, Mr. Shoup. Jim Purich, Vince Crichton, Sylvia Crozier, Mary Chrusoskie, Mrs. W.W. Lawrence, Mrs. George McCallum, Mrs. A. Boulard, and "many others"

In May a successful Tag Day had been held. My email is mj.morris@live.ca