Chapleau Brass Band greets Governor General of Canada with 'Yankee Doodle' in 1889

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Shortly after a Mr. Garneau arrived in Chapleau and had  been appointed bandmaster for the Chapleau Brass Band in 1889, the Governor General of Canada's train was to pass through the community on its way to western Canada. 

"The band was requested to play at the station was the train was being serviced Mr. Garneau who was not well posted on patriotic music on this side of the Atlantic had the band play, 'Yankee Doodle" as this was one of the pieces they played best," according to Vince Crichton in his book 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario'.

Mr Garneau came from France.  Vince noted that this anecdote was later told by J.B. Dexter one of the community's earliest citizens to D.O. Payette, who arrived in 1904.

The Governor General, the Earl of Minto, appointed by Queen Victoria, was familiar with Canada though having served in the military here during the Northwest Rebellion. There is no mention of his reaction, if any to the playing of 'Yankee Doodle'. 

Minto Street in Chapleau was named after him.

The first meeting of the Chapleau Brass Band was held on December 6, 1888.

J.B. West was the first bandmaster at a salary of $2.00 per band member.

J. Gill was operating a skating rink on Lorne Street and the band would play for $15 a night. I can recall the band playing at the "old old" rink and later the memorial arena in the late 1940s and 1950s when I was growing up in Chapleau.

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In 1889 it was decided to build a band house which at first was moved from location to location until it was established between the old Fire Hall and curling rink on Pine Street. The municipality gave the band a 99-year lease on the proprty about 1904. It rented the house.

By about this time Lombard Lafrance had built an arena on Lorne Street (which I call the 'old old' rink) and the band practised there.

When Mr. Payette arrived it was rumoured that he was a bandsman. He advised that the only instrument he could play was the violin but in due course he learned other instruments and eventually became the bandmaster -- and members of his family also became band members.

Although the band was not too active in the 1930s during the Great Depression, it did make trips to other communities such as Cartier, Schreiber and White River to participate in special occasions. 

On May 23, 1939, the Royal Train carrying King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was scheduled to stop at White River for an official reception. The Chapleau band was invited to take part in the proceedings. The band went to White River the night before, and attached to this train was the RCMP and CPR Police security detail that always preceded the King and Queen at official stops. The band apparently entertained the police officers. (My father Jim Morris who was a CPR Police officer at the time was a member of the security detail.)

Although Chapleau  had not been included as an official stop, it became one after Reeve George Fife contacted officials and they agreed. So at about two a.m. their majesties got up and met the Chapleau reeve and others at the station. Mr. Fife was the grandfather of Robert Fife now the Ottawa Bureau Chief for The Globe and Mail.

Over the years there was never a parade or special occasion in Chapleau without the participation of the Town Band. In the summer months, the band would also hold concerts at the beach area in the bandstand especially on Dominion (Canada) Day and Beach Day.

This is just a glimpse of the Chapleau Brass Band but starting from when I was a kid the local band instilled in me a lifelong fascination and enjoyment of marching bands wherever I may be. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

1905. The Chapleau Brass Band taken at south-east corner of Birch and Lansdowne Streets, July 3, 1905. They are as follows: 1 Mickey Lanigan, 2 Max Brunette, 3 Joe Windburn, 4 Dr. Jim Gillie, 5 Harry West, 6 Stanley Dexter, 7 J.B. Dexter, 8 unknown, 9 Tom Lonergan, 10 unknown, 11 unknown, 12 Fred Burrows, 13 D.O. Payette, 14 Alec Sweezy.

Chapleau Brass Band taken on the steps of the Town Hall in Chapleau in 1927. The members of the band are as follows: 1 Tom J. Godfrey, 2 Adam McKee, 3 D.O. Payette, 4 Tom Glaister, 5David Lucas, 6 Ken Godfrey, 7 Bob Perpete, 8 Octave Fortin, 9 Ida Stevens, 10 J.B. Dexter, 11 Tommy Jordan (Band Master), 12 Mabel Swain, 13 Walter Midkiff, 14 John Futhey, 15 Joe Petrosky, 16 Walter Paradis, 17 Edward (Pet) Lemieux, 18 Bob McKee, 19 Raoul Lemieux, 20 Fred Leclair, 21 Captain Allen (Salvation Army), 22 Stuart Chapple, 23 Pascal Cuffreda, 24 Harold White, 25 V.J. Perpet\te, 26 Wilbur Mascoe, 27 Joe Perpette, 28 Elois Lemieux, 29 Wilf Fawcett.

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