Cones dropping on roof of tent nestled among pine trees 'great fun' for pupils at early Chapleau school

The first schools established in Chapleau shortly after the community were  established in 1885 was in a tent, according to a handwritten history of life in the fledging community included in the Richard Brownlee papers.

The handwriting is excellent but I can't say for sure if Mr. Brownlee, who arrived in Chapleau in February 1886,  wrote it some years later but it is a great read. Mr. Brownlee's first barbershop was in a tent in "old" Chapleau where the Lady Minto Hospital was built at Elm and Queen streets in 1914. He later in 1886 moved to a leanto attached to the T.A. Austin store in the present downtown area,

As an aside, I wonder if today anyone is keeping "handwritten" notes on Chapleau as it is today. If so I would love to hear from you.

The first school was  in a tent, then in the first Roman Catholic Church at Birch and Lorne where Collins Home Hardware is now for short time, then back to a tent located on Beech Street where the Trinity United Church Manse is located beside the church.

The writer noted that "It was a very pretty spot and the tent nestled among the big pine trees. Great fun was had when the pine cones dropped on the roof making a drumming noise. There were twelve rough hewn seats in the school.

"Another feature of this school was the big stove in the middle, and those who sat near it roasted, while those away froze."

However, by about 1891, a school was located in a small building on Pine beside the Rectory of St. John's Anglican Church.

This was schooling in the community as the 20th century arrived, and Chapleau was incorporated as a municipaility in 1901.

Education of the children however was on the minds of the first council as the writer says that "the first act of the new council was to float debentures for the erection of a public school."

It was built beside St. John's Anglican Church, and later became Chapleau High School

G.B. Nicholson was the first reeve and he was returned by acclamation in the election held each year until he retired from the office in 1913. Members of the first council were A. Rathwell, D. Royal, P.J. MacFarlane and W. Boswell.

Once again my sincere thanks to Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin who kindly loaned me the Richard Brownlee papers. I am writing this column as a state of emergency was declared for Cranbrook and area because of wildfires. Our heat wave continues too.

ADDENDUM  In my column on Charles W. Collins, in providing the names of family members who have managed the business I failed to include Susan Collins, granddaughter of Mr. Collins and daughter of George Collins. My apologies! Thanks Jordan for the email.

Also, the gremlins were really at work as I wrote in my lead of all places that in 1918, the business would mark 90 years with the Collins name. It should have been 2018, next year.

I started my newspaper career at the Timmins Daily Press 53 years ago on September 1, 1964, and there are still occasions when I don't manage to get the words right!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca