Education considered important to early Chapleau citizens with beginnings in tents after 1885

first school

Schooling for the children of Chapleau was considered so important to its early citizens after 1885 that the first classes were held in a tent, then moved to the vestry of the first Roman Catholic Church, and then back into a tent beside the present Trinity United Church.

The Roman Catholic Church was located where Collins store is today at Birch and Lorne streets. The second Roman Catholic church was built where it is today -- but the present church replaced one destroyed by fire in 1918.

A writer in the Richard Brownlee Papers noted about schooling in the second tent "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."

Nonetheless, by May 1891, the first public school with 19 pupils opened in a building on Pine Street beside the St. John's Church rectory. Apparently the lumber to build the one room school was provided by Austin's store.

By 1893 enrolment had increased to 100 pupils (Wow!) and another room had to be added, Double seats were installed. In those days one teacher would teach every level.  

An article about this school noted that "On the teacher's desk, the old handbell rested, and last but by no means least, the water pail and a little tin cup stood on chair in the corner."

By the time I attended Chapleau Public School starting in the 1940s, in a different building of course, the water pail and tin cup were long gone but not the handbell. To tthis day I remember J.M. Shoup, the long time principal and Grade Eight teacher walking around the playground at  recess with the handbell. When he rang it we scurried into line to return to class.

In that first school the girls took turns sweeping and dusting while the boys kept the fire going. Often ink bottles froze and were placed on the stove to thaw out, but on occasion they would blow out and spatter the ceing with ink.

By 1901 when Chapleau was incorporated as a municipality with G. B. Nicholson as its first reeve, the first act of the new council was to pass a motion to float debentures for the construction of a public school.

It was built on Pine Street across the street from the existing school, and by 1922 became Chapleau High School. As an aside, only four years now until the 100th anniversary of CHS.

However, "continuation" classes which were after Grade 8, were held in the new Town Hall when it opened in 1914.

By 1922 a new public school was under construction just down the street beside the Town Hall. CHS took over its site. By 1925 that building had been rebuilt including four new rooms.

Summing up the importance of education, an unidentified writer in the 1920s proclaimed: "Any pupil can obtain the highest standard of education up to first year of university right in Chapleau and let me tell you that this is an advantage not accorded to pupils in many towns the size of Chapleau".

It just struck me that my parents Jim and Muriel (Hunt) Morris, were pupils at the public school  and Chapleau High School as well as the parents of many of my best friends, in these early years. They all did real well! My parents  may have attended the public schools on both sides of Pine Street

My email is mj.morris@live.ca