Chapleau.com awakens sound of story of the people, life and times of Chapleau from earliest days to the 1960s with photo collections

Edith Rose, Ross Pellow, Joy Bell, Bill Pellow at Pig Pen

NOTE:  Chapleau.com no longer exists as it once did with a Chapleau history section. It now just has links to webcams in Chapleau. After many years of effort, Hugh no longer has the time to keep it all going. It will be missed. Thanks Hugh. I will leave the story here though as a tribute to it.. MJM, April 28, 2011

The Chapleau history section of Hugh Kuttner's web site chapleau.com, is a fascinating place to visit for any who are interested in the sound of story of the people, life and times of Chapleau from its earliest beginnings to the end of the 1960s.

I visit chapleau.com several times a week, and always make a new discovery as I browse through the various sections with photos provided by several Chapleau citizens and groups.

The major section consists of photos from the collection of Vince Crichton made available by his son Dr. Vince Crichton, but also included are the Dr. G.E. Young, Arthur J. Grout, John Futhey, George Collins, Bill Pellow collections, all names well associated with the history of Chapleau. There is a section of photos from the 1950s and 60s closer to my growing up years, and Snapshots of Chapleau Past by George Evans, teacher and assistant principal at Chapleau High School for many years.

Recently while researching another story on chapleau.com, it struck me that I should share a glimpse at some of the stories I have found there, and encourage you to visit the site and experience the sound of story it brings. Chapleau.com attracts visitors from everywhere, and Hugh has created a most valuable resource for the community.

THE PIG PEN

Before Dr. G.E. Young built the beach behind Chapleau Public School in the early 1950s, the Pig Pen was the popular swimming place for Chapleau children. Situated between the boathouses of A.E. "Gussie" Evans and D.O. Payette just behind the old Roman Catholic convent, now housing units, it got its name from the pigs that were once fenced behind the convent who rooted out the topsoil and left a sandy beach.

Imagine all the stories that must have centred around the Pig Pen, and yes, the boathouses too, that dominated Chapleau's waterfront.

THE YMCA

I am sure at least one book could be written about the Chapleau Railway YMCA and The Annex. Built in Chapleau's early years, it provided rooms for Canadian Pacific Railway crews, had a dining room and a bowling alley downstairs. At one time it sponsored many recreation activities.

My memories of the YMCA centre around those years that Mamie Watson ran the restaurant and it was the place to go for a late night snack after a Friday night dance. A YMCA memory that many people have shared with me was that Mrs. Mabel Young, the mother of Dr. Young, was still bowling there in her nineties.


THE GOLF CLUB

Although I don't know the exact year that the Kebsquasheshing Golf Club was established, I recall being a caddy for my grandmother Lil (Mulligan) Morris and her friends Mrs. Wilkinson and Mrs. Fife in the late 1940s. I think I may have carried one club. However, while browsing at chapleau.com, I discovered a photo from the 1920s that told me more of the story of some Chapleau people than I knew.

For example, there was John McClellan and his wife. I had only associated Mr. McClellan with his role as teacher and principal at Chapleau High School and with the school's cadet corps.
He also played golf, adding to my knowledge from an earlier vsiit to chapleau.com that he also coached hockey.

Also in the photo were my great aunt Nell, Mrs. Helen Crichton, who I knew so well, but until last week had no idea she played golf, and my great aunt and uncle William and May (Mulligan) McMullen.

Also there were two Chapleau reeves T.J. Godfrey and George Fife, with their wives as well as Father Romeo Gascon, who served as golf club president at one time, and D.O. Payette, who was so active in the life of Chapleau.

One photo of some members of the golf club awakened so many memories and the sound of stories from those days that may never now be told. I hope others can fill in the blanks.

THE GOSSIP

Let me finish my visit to chapleau.com with the cast of the Chapleau Public School play 'The Gossip" in 1953. School and church plays were an integral part of Chapleau life for years, and I was delighted to come across a photo of those who acted in The Gossip. I know all these people and went to school with them. They were Audrey Newman, Jane Watson, Anne Keays, Judy Tees, Patricia Moorey, David McMillan, Charlie White, Ian Macdonald, Larry Wilkinson and Bob Glowacki.

The story that came to mind when I saw the cast was about a rather rough game we played in the basement of the public school at recess and noon hour. I can't recall the name of it but horse and rider will do. Small guys like me would get on the backs of big guys like Larry Wilkinson and attempt to pull other small guys down. Last horse and rider standing won. I was usually Larry's rider and we won a lot of the competitions.

Reynolds Price, the American writer who died in January 2011 told us that a need to tell and hear stories is "essential" in our lives, adding that the "sound of story is the dominant sound of our lives." To me, at least, it is. I have been so blessed to have been able to spend my life, telling and hearing stories, and sharing with others the sound. I hope you will take time to browse the wonderful collection at chapleau.com and experience the sound of story that Hugh Kuttner has made possible. Please feel free to share your stories with me. My email is mj.morris@live.ca