Dr G. E. 'Ted' Young strode like a colossus through Chapleau life for almost a century

Whenever it gets close to Christmas, no matter where I am, my thoughts turn to growing up in Chapleau, and the Dr. G. E. 'Ted' Young display that was referred to as "our Disneyland" Indeed it was!

This year has been no different with a boost from Leo Vezina and Harriet Bouillon. Leo posted a photo from one of the displays on Louise Tremblay's Chapleau History and Genealogy page on  Facebook and Harriet suggested he contact me re photos she had sent me some years ago. I saw their posts and here I am even though I may repeat myself a bit from earlier columns.

To get started, when I was growing up in Chapleau and had come down with one of the common childhood diseases, after my mother left for school, I would suggest to my grandmother that we call Dr. Young who for sure would come and make me better.

Almost momentarily, or so it seemed, Dr. Young would appear with his black bag, and sit beside my bed. take my pulse and temperature, and my favorite, take out his stethoscope and and have me take deep breaths to make sure I was still alive. Then he would talk with Nanny, my grandmother, Edith Hunt, who assured me she would follow his instructions and in due course, I would be "all better" and head back to school.

When my dog Rex was hit by a car while I was still in public school, I carried him into the house, in tears, shouting at my mother, Muriel E. Morris, "Call Dr. Young." She did and once again, it seemed within moments, he arrived. After examining Rex, he told me to put a blanket near the wood stove as well as food and water, and let him be. Amazingly, Rex recovered and lived another 10 years. Dr. Young had done it again.

 George Edward "Ted" Young, who served Chapleau and area for 50 years as a medical doctor, was born on November 2, 1914, died at age 95 on November 14, 2010.


For almost a century, born in Chapleau  to George and Mabel Young, he strode like a colossus through every aspect of community life -- as a young athlete who became famous for swimming to Mulligan's Bay, as an officer in Number 1181 Chapleau High School Cadet Corps, as a medical student at Queen's University who came home to practise for six months in 1942 and remained 50 years before he retired in 1994, as the builder of the Chapleau beach, as a member of township council, as a cable television pioneer, and as one who was constantly undertaking new projects, many of which were never quite completed. He was also a founding member of the Chapleau Rotary Club and served as its second president.
He started his famous Christmas displays shortly after he launched his practise in the home originally built and owned by G.B. Nicholson, the community's first reeve, and lumber baron.

After I posted some photos on Louise Tremblay's popular page, the comments about Dr. Young started and had reached close to 500 when I began work on this column.

Here is a random selection without names as I did not ask permission to quote.

"A Chapleau icon. Fondly remembered as a great man" -- "Fantastic doctor and we always looked forward to what new thing he was adding each year," --  Great old Dr. Young. I had many great conversations with him and will always remember him."  --" Dr. Young was from the old school. He had no problem making home visits."

There were many similar comments.

On a personal basis, Dr. Young and I were good personal friends, and after I moved from Chapleau to teach at College of the Rockies in Cranbrook BC, I spent a month visiting with him when I returned home for the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Chapleau in 2001. Much storytelling which continued when he travelled west and visited me here. Until that visit I was not aware that his mother was from Creston so we went there and visited the church the family attended and the family plot in the local cemetery. He told me he was not sure he could find the grave but he walked right to it!!!

I extend my most sincere thanks to Leo Vezina and Harriet Bouillon  for prompting me to reflect on a few memories of Dr. Young, and congrats to Louise Tremblay for her Facebook page..My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Legion Hall opened as St John's Parish House marks its 100th anniversary in April 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Here we are at a new year and a new decade. My very best wishes to all of you!! MJM

As 2020 gets underway, a highlight of this year in Chapleau will be the marking of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion Hall -- officially opened in April, 1920 as the parish house of St. John's Anglican Church.

It was built during 1919 by Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Nicholson in memory of their only son Lorne and his friends. Lorne was killed in action just before the end of World War I. Mr. Nicholson was the first reeve of Chapleau, serving from 1901 when the municipality was established until 1913. Mr. Nicholson also served as Member of Parliament and president of the Austin Nicholson Lumber Company. He died in 1935.

Writing about the hall, the late George L. Evans long-time assistant principal and teacher at Chapleau High School made reference to the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson did not include their names in dedication of the hall. (See plaque)

At the memorial service some of those participating  at St. John's Anglican Church and official opening at the hall included  Rev. John Nelson Blodgett, Rector of St. John's Anglican Church; Rev. Dr. Robert John Renison, later Bishop of the Anglican Church diocese of Moosonee; Rt. Rev. John George Anderson, Bishop of Moosonee; Reeve Max Brunette, Township of Chapleau; Rev. George Prewer and Rev. White of Trinity United Church..

Lt. -Col. C. H. LeP. Jones , the commanding officer of 227th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and Major D.M. Brodie also participated.

When I wrote about the hall some years ago Ian Macdonald, retired head of the department of architecture and professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba, who has researched and written extensively on Chapleau buildings kindly agreed to let me share some of his thoughts about the building, now commonly referred to simply as "The Legion".

"A building as distinctive and prominent as the Nicholson Hall accurately reflected the public honour for war sacrifice, military service, veterans and the Union Jack that the World War I vets fought under. The Victorian gothic revival style of the building, which is closely associated with monarchism, reminds us of the significant cultural role of architecture and the British Dominion that we were at the time," Ian wrote.

"The Canadian Parliament buildings were also built in the same style to echo the architecture of Westminster and provide a permanent reminder of our British heritage."

"The Legion Hall is formally organized around a central axis, and the gothic revival windows, doors and details are what most individuals would associate with a religious building," Ian noted.

Ian also speculated on what the Legion in Chapleau might have built, had it not been for the philanthropic act of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson, albeit that it was first given to St. John's Anglican Church as a parish house.

"There are plenty of examples of other Legion facilities in small Canadian communities to provide an idea of what might have been", Ian wrote, adding that the Nicholson generosity "has left Chapleau with what is probably the most elegant and distinctive of all Royal Canadian Legion properties in Canada. It is clearly the most sophisticated building of its time in Chapleau."

Thanks so much Ian!!!

Other public buildings in Chapleau at this time included the Town Hall, Lady Minto Hospital, the Anglican, Roman Catholic and United churches.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, St. John's was no longer able to afford the upkeep of the hall, and for a time it closed, and in due course was used by Branch 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion. It was not until 1955 when B.W, "Bubs" Zufelt was reeve that the Legion officially took over ownership of the building from the municipality.

For his efforts Mr. Zufelt was made a life member of the branch. (In the interests of full disclosure, Mr. Zufelt was my uncle)

Congratulations to the members of Branch Number 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion who have ensured that the hall has been an integral part of the community for many years. My email is mj.morris@live.ca