Mrs. Agnes Freeborn organizes successful Chapleau Senior Citizens Club with first executive elected at meeting in park in 1973

Chapleau Seniors in the Park 1973

The enthusiastic response to the week long round of activities during Senior Citizens Week in 1973 resulted in the formation of the Chapleau Senior Citizens Club.

Mrs. Agnes Freeborn was the organizing force behind the formation of the club, and acted as president until an executive could be formed. Mrs. Freeborn called a meeting at the senior citizens park on the site of the old Chapleau High School which was attended by about 40 senior citizens. She gave an outline of what she felt the club could accomplish, adding she felt it was time to "get the ball rolling" and not let the opportunity pass as it had on previous occasions.

The group agreed, and by the end of the meeting an executive had been elected with Mrs. Freeborn declining to accept the position of president. 

Mrs. Min Blackburn was elected president while Ernest Gilbert became first vice president and Margaret Costello second vice president. Helen Grout was elected treasurer, Charlie Swanson, assistant treasurer, Einar Pearson, secretary and Mrs. Mary Mizuguchi, assistant treasurer. Within a year Mrs. Freeborn had become one of the vice presidents.

Two meetings a month were planned, one for business and one for social activities.

Writing in the Sault Star about Senior Citizens Week, Maggie Costello noted that senior citizens had held the spotlight with events that included a bowling evening, a talent show, an evening of cards, a dance, the official opening of the park and a bus trip to Dubreuilville for mass.

Maggie wrote that at the tea, the talent show and the dance, the generation gap just about disappeared which was nice to see. She made special note of the work done by Eileen McCrea and Joan Warren, the coordinators of the week's activities, saying they "did an outstanding job of seeing that their guests were comfortable and happy. They were a busy crew".

Maggie concluded that the dance was the "highlight of the week when the young, the over 40s and the 60s and over mingled gaily and happily and shook a mean foot for all the dances.

"The music provided by the Rhythmaires was a most welcome departure from what we are subjected to most of the time. With everyone well dressed, the young hostesses looking like a bunch of bright flowers, and all out for a merry evening, there prevailed an atmosphere ... of 'the good old days' and missing for some time past."

Through the organizational efforts of Mrs. Freeborn, the club was founded and continued where previous efforts had failed.  Active in many aspects of Chapleau life, Mrs. Freeborn was born in Chapleau, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.D. McAdam. Her father, a CPR engineer was the third reeve of Chapleau holding office from 1917 to 1919. Her husband Earle, a CPR freight agent died in office while serving as the 7th reeve in 1938. Her son Elmer served several terms on Chapleau council and another son Earle served as reeve/mayor from 1998 to 2010. On December 1, 1974, the Chapleau Senior Citizens Club played host to the people of Chapleau in their newly renovated Drop In Centre in the basement of Trinity United Church.

Guests were welcomed by Mrs. Freeborn, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Gwen Clegg and Mrs. S. Marcel. The head table was "gaily decorated in a Christmas decor" according to the Chapleau Sentinel. 

Presiding at the head table pouring tea were Miss Helen Grout and Mrs. M. Murray. Waiting on tables were Mrs. M. Rioux, Mrs. Ed Riley, Mrs. J. Brownlee, Mrs. Zita Evans, Mrs. F. Lucas and Mrs. Mary Mizuguchi.

A major highlight of the opening was when the men took over the serving duties. Pouring tea were Willie Fortin and Louis Longchamps while A. Emond, L. Rioux and Peter Blackburn  waited on tables.

The kitchen was managed by Mrs. L. Thibault, Mrs. O. Brunette, Mrs. C. Law, Mrs. Rose Ritchie and Mrs. M. O'Hearn.

Rev. William Ivey brought greetings from St. John's Anglican Church while Rev. D. Maclean of Trinity United Church said he was pleased the Seniors were using the building.

Councillors Dr. G.E. Young, Walter Wilson and Ernie Gilbert were there, and I was too. In 1973 I was a councillor and chairman of the Chapleau Recreation Committee; in 1974, it was my first year as Reeve.

The finishing touch to the occasion was the music by Eunice Michaud and her electric piano which was enjoyed by all.

In 1976, club members participated in groundbreaking ceremony for Cedar Grove Lodge, and in 1978, with its completion, the senior citizens moved to the Mrs. Agnes Freeborn Memorial Elderly Persons Centre, in recognition of her efforts in establishing the club. Mrs. Freeborn died on March 3, 1977. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Beresford Greatheed, aka Greathead, visited 'city' of Chapleau while walking across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax in 1895

Chapleau folk in front of Mechanics Institute (Crichton collection)

William James Percy Beresford Greatheed, aka Greathead, visited Chapleau in 1895 while walking across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax as part of a wager to walk around the world in five years. 

In a letter to the Sudbury Journal of July 4, 1895, he signs it simply as Beresford Greatheed, but by 1904 when he appears to be still on a walking tour he has become "Professor" Beresford Greathead.

The story goes that in 1895 two clubs in Vancouver sponsored the around the world walk with the winner receiving $50,000, an incredible amount at the time, if he completed it in five years. Greatheed was selected and off he went with no money, only the clothes on his back, no luggage except for a leather satchel containing his notebook, and a rifle with some ammunition.

His letter to the Sudbury Journal says he arrived in Chapleau and Mr. Mulligan - the very genial CPR agent welcomed me and showed me the various sights of the city."

"This place has a population of 500 souls and is built on a fine river."

To those who may already have doubts that Greatheed ever was in Chapleau, in 1895, the Mr. Mulligan to whom he refers was John George who was the Canadian Pacific Railway Dominion Express Chapleau Agent, later renamed CPR Express. John was one of the four Mulligan brothers in Chapleau at the time -- Patrick ran Murrays and Mulligan general store: Thomas was the store's accountant; Charles was a carpenter, and John the Express agent.

My cousin Michael McMullen discovered the Greatheed story while doing research into our family at the Sudbury Public Library while we were on our way to Chapleau for the Chapleau High School reunion. Our respective grandmothers were members of the Mulligan family.

Although Chapleau had about 500 residents when Greatheed visited, he called it a city, and commented that it had "fine churches, CPR shops, three hotels, three or four good stores and numerous fine dwelling houses."

He paid particular attention to the Mechanics Institute, "a fine building erected in 1890 and has a hall where 300 persons could easily be seated - membership is 250 and each member paying $2 per annum. Upstairs is occupied by various fraternal societies such as the Freemasons, Oddfellows. Knights of Pythians, Forresters, etc.

"A fine library exists here and most of the principal journals, magazines are ready for use of membership up until 10 p.m."

CPR station where her arrived by foot! (Crichton collection)

He gives great credit to president Mr. Kyle and vice president Mr. Mulligan for the "good order of things at the institute." It is quite likely that they had become the hosts for his visit as Greetheed had to rely on the generosity of people he met along the way.

He added: "I must not forget however, the polite caretaker whose name I failed to note."

The Mechanics Institute in Chapleau, and there were many across Canada and elsewhere was established by 1890 in a building across from the present Redwood Restaurant on Birch street. It had started as a Reading Club by 1887 and had evolved into the institute, according to research undertaken by George Evans. It burned down in 1910, and many files about the early years of the community were lost as it had also been used as the Town Hall.

However, in his letter to the Sudbury Journal, Greatheed is not so kind in his comments about the Canadian Pacific Railway.

He gives praise to the sectionmen who keep the track in good condition in this division of a "Mr. Kennedy" but that "taking into consideration the tremendous heat, black flies, mosquitoes, and a hundred other evils, the poor men deserve an increase in wages or at least their old pay restored. "These sectionmen have as much responsibility hanging over them if not more, than any other offered on the line, and I must say that I consider it very poor policy on the part of the CPR to treat them with such little consideration."

He promises to write more on this matter later.

Apparently Greatheed did walk across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax, a distance of about 4,000 miles in 12 months, and later walked in parts of Europe. I could not find evidence though that he won the $50,000 prize. There is a reference to him as "the great walker" in The Amazing Foot Race of 1921: Halifax to Vancouver in 134 Days by Shirley Jean Tucker.

However, he reappears in the December 31, 1904 issue of The Dispatch newspaper of Lexington,North Carolina, as Professor Beresford Greathead, giving a lecture to a small but interested group about his journeys. It appears that he is now on a lecture tour of the United States.

He is now saying that his walk around the world started in 1898, and that he has walked 40,000 miles. The article says he was 39 years old, six feet tall and 260 pounds, and spoke four languages.

Undoubtedly, William James Percy Beresford Greatheed, aka Greathead, was an interesting character, who shared his moments in Chapleau, on his way across Canada. Thanks to Michael McMullen for discovering the story. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Ed Swanson chairs Chapleau's first Summerfest while Lise Lafreniere wins Queen contest and Malaysians entertain with dances and songs in 1973

Chapleau's first Summerfest, a three-day carnival held on the Civic Holiday weekend in August was termed an "outstanding success", with a varied program offering something for everybody, young and old, and in between, according to Margaret Costello in the Sault Star.

Although Chapleau had celebrated Beach Day for many years, in 1973, the program was expanded running from Friday night until the "last dance" at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall on Monday night.

Ed Swanson was the first chairman of Summerfest which eventually became part of Festival Chapleau, and he was ably assisted by secretary-treasurer Margaret Rose (Payette) Fortin. Chatting with Donald Swanson, Ed's son,  at the Chapleau High School Reunion, he recalled, "There were sure lots of meetings around our kitchen table" as plans were made for the weekend.

The committee included Annie Bowland, Peter Elliott, Earle Freeborn, Manlio Spessot, Greg Lucas, Raoul Lemieux Jr, Jim Mulligan, George Travis, Graham Bertrand, Wally Clarke, Janet Tokarchuk, Ken LeClaire, Bill Ritchie, Mark Mizuguchi, Denis Ladouceur and Richard Ladouceur.

Orville Robinson was the Master of ceremonies for the Talent Show and Crowning of the Summerfest Queen Program held in the Chapleau Public School gymnasium on opening night.

High in interest was the selection of the Summerfest Queen from three contestants for that honour. Lise Lafreniere was crowned with "due ceremony" by chairman Ed Swanson. The other contestants were Catherine Welch and Maureen Lavoie.

Maggie wrote that contributing to the success of the talent show were the Malaysians who were spending the summer in Chapleau as part of a Canada World Youth program. "With their colourful and beautiful costumes, graceful and charming dances and songs" they were an "opening gun" for the weekend.

Also on the talent show program were local favourites Leslie Andrews and Jody Theriault, accomplished young pianists; Heather Scott and Nelson Wright, Mary Whitney and Eleanor Creighton, songs with guitar accompaniment; James Henry, songs and guitar. After the show, the first dance of the weekend was held in the town hall basement. 

An outdoor beer garden was held behind the town hall with dancing in the basement while bingo players had their "innings and winnings" at the Legion hall on Saturday.

The  highly polished and trained Levack-Onaping Pipe Band gave a concert in the public school gymnasium which was a "rare treat" for those who loved the pipes.

Matt's Track was the place to be on Sunday for the motorcycle races with contestants from Chapleau, Timmins, Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury. Back in town there were volleyball and basketball games at the public school gymnasium for the youth.

Monday was the big day, all day, starting with "one of the biggest and best parades seen around here in many a day," according to Maggie Costello. "Bands, boy scouts, bright costumes galore, decorated bikes and baby carriages, floats -- on they came all around the town." Margaret Rose (Payette) Fortin chaired the parade subcommittee. The Chapleau Town Band and the Levack-Onaping Pipe Band were also in the parade

Prize winners in the parade were Sean Sweeney, Andy Mahan, Shelley Joly. Tate and Chad Westerman, Myrna Fortin, Dean Fortin and Tina Tangie. Judges were Colombe Champion, Jim Walsh and Cpl. Jack Hatch.

The Malaysian Wedding and Chapleau Recreation Committee were float winners.

During the parade, when the convertible carrying the Summerfest Queen Lise Lafreniere and runnersup broke down in the middle of the route, they were quickly transferred to the back of a fire truck, and the parade went on with little disruption.

Baby carriages filled the area around Renison Hall at St John's Anglican Church as mothers brought their offspring to enter the Baby Show. The show was run by Eva Lester, director of nursing at Lady Minto Hospital, assisted by Alice Martin of the nursing staff. Winner in the birth to six month old category was Shelley Fortier, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Renald Fortier. In the six month to one year category Angela Bazinet, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bazinet won, while Nancy Tremblay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Girard Tremblay, was the winner in the 12-18 month age group.

In the all day fastball tournament on the field behind the old Chapleau High School, a Chapleau team came off the winner against Wawa. 

There were also other activities at the Beach area including swimming races, water bombing, and the ever popular children's races and games of chance. 

Beginning at nine p.m. to close the three-day weekend was a dance at the Legion featuring the Rhythmaires.

Looking at the program for the weekend, there were 54 businesses and individuals who contributed prizes to Summerfest activities with a sincere vote of appreciation to J..E. Martel and Sons Lumber Ltd., A and L Lafreniere Lumber Company, Chapleau Lumber Company, the Redwood Dining Room and the Bridgeview Motel for their "special contributions" toward the success of Summerfest.

Also assisting the committee were the Opportunities for Youth, "Summer Chapleau' participants Jamie Doyle, Maurice Blais, Richard Desbiens, Catherine Welch, Michael Paquette, Peter Freistatter, and Robert Petrunka as well as the recreation committee summer staff of Eileen McCrea, Joan Warren, Denis Foran, Patricia Fortin, William Brady, Keith McAdam and Mary Lou Futhey.

The Summerfest Committee slogan was "Support us in '73 to bring you more in '74". And they did! My email is mj.morris@live.ca