Petrosky family home in Chapleau built in 1912 a wonderful place to live complete with dance hall and star gazing from the rooftop

At the dawn of the 20th century more families were arriving in Chapleau as it became an increasingly important divisional point on the main transcontinental line of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
John Anthony Petrosky was born in Lithuania in June 1867, and at age 19 in 1891, arrived in Canada to work for the CPR. His twin sister Elizabeth arrived later to join him in the new country.

In 1897, John Petrosky had met and married Mary Eva Argentine Brunet in Sudbury. His wife was from St, Placide, Quebec.

They moved to Chapleau in 1898, just 13 years after it had been established at Mileage 615.1, and three years before the community was incorporated as a municipality.

Renee Cecile, one of the 14 Petrosky children wrote about her family some years ago as part of the Centennnial of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, and her son Michael kindly made it available for part of the series of moments in the lives of Chapleau families.

Mrs. Cecile wrote that when her parents met, her father could not speak French and her mother could not speak Lithuanian so they compromised and both learned English. As their children went to school, their parents learned even more English.

Mr. Petrosky's sister Elizabeth married Alfred Bernier and they had a son Alfred who married Minetta Vizena from another Chapleau pioneer family. Their children were Berniece, Eugene, Francis, John Joseph and Clement.

In 1912, Mr. Petrosky decided to build a home for his growing family, and it was located on the corner of Cedar and Lansdowne Streets across from the former motel.

Mrs. Cecile provided a wonderful desccription of their home:

"What a wonderful place in which to spend your childhood -- back stairway in the kitchen, another in the front hall, two more in the double cellar and one going up to a large attic, two bathrooms, a large dance hall and to top it off, a trap door in the roof, with a ladder, so you could sit on the edge of the roof and see all over town.

"You could also study the stars. I still remember every constellation I learned up there."

On life in their home:

"What exciting games of hide and seek and tag we played. My poor mother had more patience than any person I've ever met. I can't ever remember her yelling or hitting us.

"As the older chidlren left there were bedrooms to spare and when empty we could choose any room we liked for a bedroom and move as ofetn as we pleased.

"We could paint our own room too with a cheap powder paint which was mixed with water.

"What beautiful shades and blends of colours we ended up splashing around..."

In 1917, Mr. Petrosky left the CPR and went to work at the town water pumphouse.

"We used to love to visit him when we brought his lunch over. He'd show us all the workings, including the trap door in the floor. When it was open, you could see a holding tank of water, with the occasional fish.

"Outside there was a neat little rail line and a trolley car on which wood, mostly slab, was carried to the big stove that kept the steam engine running.

"Part of the present bridge covers the shoreline where we used to play."

Mr. Petrosky died in 1932 and Mrs. Petrosky in 1955.

The Petrosky house eventually was owned by their granddaughter Monica and her husband Albert Tremblay.

The house is still owned by Monica, the daughter of Joseph Petrosky, and has been converted into five apartments. Her husband Alberrt has died.

The Petrosky children were Eva, Patrick, Anna, Rosalie, Aline, Agnes, John, Elizabeth, Reta, Joseph, Bertha, Isadore, Cecil and Renee

Renee married Lawless Cecile and became one of the community's most popular teachers and librarians. She was also the driving force behind the inclusion of the library in the Chapleau Civic Centre in 1978 when she was chair of the public library board. She was honoured at the official opening in June 1978 during the visit of Ontario Lieutenant Governor Pauline McGibbon.

Thanks to Michael Cecile for the information on his family, and the photos. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

BILL MCLEOD SENT ALONG THE FOLLOWING AMUSING ANECDOTE. The Petrosky home was located  across from his father Borden McLeod's motel and before that his office. Bill's grandfather William McLeod had a store on Lansdowne Street at one time.

BILL WROTE:

"There is one good story that involved that rooftop lookout. During the depression the Lowertown gang used to set bush fires to make a little money. When they were pretty sure the fires were reported to the Chief Ranger they would gather around the corner of Cedar and Lansdowne and wait for the Ontario Forestry Branch truck to come along and pick them up to go to fight the fire. The lookout was Cecil "Pogie" Petrosky who would watch from the roof of the Petrosky home. When he saw the truck coming he would race down and join the "boys". One time he didn't move fast enough and the truck left without him. Ironically he became a life-long MNR employee and retired holding a fairly senior position. Only in Chapleau!"

Chapleau becomes modern progressive community in 15 years under leadership of G.B. Nicholson after incorporation as a municipality in 1901, 110 years ago



C A "Bill" Pellow delivers laundry circa 1910 Chapleau

 Chapleau becomes modern progressive community in 15 years under leadership of G.B. Nicholson after incorporation as a municipality in 1901


By 1886, one year after Chapleau was established at Mileage 615.1 on the transcontinental line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, tents and shacks were being replaced with permanent structures and the streets of the young community were being created replacing the forests.

At the time, Chapleau had five general stores and as well as private residences being built. The Roman Catholic, Anglican and Methodist (United) churches were becoming established in the community.

Beamish and Smith later Smith and Chapple

THE CPR, the reason for Chapleau's creation had completed its first station and office building as well as a general store, coaling plant, freight sheds, two boarding houses and residences for local officials.

But life was not easy for the early citizens as a diptheria epidemic swept the community in 1888 and several, including some children died from the disease. Fires were also a threat.

Fast forward to 1901. In February, Chapleau became an organized municipality in the province of Ontario with George Brecken Nicholson as its first reeve, and in 2011, the community celebrates its 110th anniversary of incorporation.

However, Chapleau's pioneers were busy people from the moment of their arrival with the Chapleau Brass Band, curling and skating rinks, boating and social occasions and sports teams as examples, all underway before 1901.

Chapleau football team Circa 1906

In the early years of the 20th century, not only did Chapleau have hockey and ball teams but lacrosse and football were also being played. The curling rink and hockey arena, both on Lorne Street at the time, were enclosed by 1905, and although the curling rink eventually moved to Pine Street, the "old old rink" stayed on Lorne Street until it was replaced by the "new" Chapleau Memorial Community Arena in !951 and served the community until the Chapleau Recreation Centre opened in 1978.

Imagine the challenges facing Mr. Nicholson and his council when first it met in 1901. While Chapleau was a busy community in many respects, municipal services as we know them were almost non-existent,

G B NICHOLSON

However, by the time Mr. Nicholson retired as reeve in 1913, having been returned each year by acclamation, the physical face of Chapleau had changed, and on the eve of World War I in 1914, it was a most modern community for the times.

The population had reached about 2500 people by then, a bit higher than it is today and there were a number of special, general and department stores as well as the Mageau and Leblanc Lumber mill founded about 1900. Social excursions ("Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon..") to Mulligan's Bay were also popular.

By 1905, Chapleau had its first power plant established by Mageau and Leblanc who sold it to James Austin who built a new one near the Ontario Provincial Police office.

Here are some of the projects completed in Chapleau between 1901 and 1915, which upon reflection really show the determination of the early citizens to carve a progressive community out of the proverbial wilderness.

The water works system was described as "thoroughly up-to-date and efficient" and there were two "modern" school buildings. The Town Hall on Pine street included a hall downstairs, a theatre with balcony, upstairs meeting room and municipal offices.

The Railway YMCA with rooms, restaurant and bowling alley was referred to as "one of the best institutions of its kind to be found anywhere in Canada".

The Lady Minto Hospital under the auspices of the Victorian Order of Nurses opened in 1914 with funds being raised by a public subscription campaign. It was, at the time, the only hospital between Sudbury and Fort William (Thunder Bay).

Although Chapleau had a volunteer fire department from its earliest days, the Chapleau Volunteer Fire Department was officially organized in 1910, and the fire hall was opened in 1915, with an apartment for the fire truck driver in it as well as the town jail in the basement.

As Chapleau enters into its 110th year as an incorporated municipality with a mayor, (formerly reeve) and council, I wanted to share a glimpse some highlights from its early history, and plan to share more moments from Chapleau, then and now in 2011.

Much credit for Chapleau's progress in the early years must go to Mr. Nicholson who was referred to by Guy Rogers as the 'real leader of life in Chapleau" and an "able man of affairs."

Thanks so much to all who have written to me and to Hugh Kuttner of http://www.chapleau.com/
 and Dr. Vince Crichton. Happy New Year. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Michael McMullen wins first annual Buckwheat Award for his story on growing up in Chapleau in the 1950s

Buckwheat surveying his world

Michael McMullen is the winner of the first annual Buckwheat Award for having the story with the highest number of visitors in 2010 on Michael J Morris Reports.

After asking for suggestions on naming the award for top story, Ken Schroeder, one of my oldest Chapleau friends, suggested using Buckwheat, my beloved cat and buddy for more than 20 years who died on November 7, 2009. My story on Buckwheat was the top 2009 story, and amazingly has remained in the top 10 most popular all this year. Thanks Ken.

When I advised Michael that he was the first winner of the award, he replied: "It is a rare day that I ever win anything, although I do try by buying a lotto ticket when the jackpot is high. Many thanks for this. Buckwheat will live on!"

Buckwheat ready for Chapleau trip

When I told my friend Vieh about the award on Facebook chat, she exclaimed, "YEAH BUCKWHEAT."

Vieh had a special relationship with Buckwheat. In 2001 she looked after him in her home when I went home to Chapleau for the 100th anniversary celebration. She survived the experience and one day she may tell us her story of life with Buckwheat.

Michael's story recalls his life in Chapleau between 1952-54 when he lived there with his parents Margaret and Keith McMullen. It is a great read about growing up in the 50s. While living in Chapleau, Michael met Alison McMillan, who later became his wife.

Although he only lived in Chapleau a short time, he is a member of one of Chapleau's founding families. His great-great uncle Patrick Mulligan arrived in 1885 and was one of Chapleau's first merchants. Mulligan's Bay is also named after him. Full disclosure: Michael's grandmother May (Mulligan) McMullen and mine, Lil (Mulligan) Morris were sisters.

Here is link to Michael's story: http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.com/2010/04/michael-mcmullen-recalls-life-in.html

In 2010, my blog had over 33000 visitors  bringing the grand total since I started it to over 52000. You have arrived there from 1166 different cities in 67 countries, and have come from all 10 Canadian provinces and the three territories. Thanks for visiting.

The story about the death of Dr. G.E. Young in November attracted the second highest number of visitors, and all the stories about him had more than 2,500 visitors.The others were tributes to him, his founding of the beach, his cable TV system and photos of his building at Christmas.

The photo display of Chapleau in the Fifties, provided by David McMillan came third, while the post on the death of Rev. William P Ivey took fourth spot.

In fifth place was the election of Tom Corston, a Chapleau boy, as the ninth Anglican Bishop of Moosonee. St. John's Church in Chapleau is Tom's home parish and he travelled home to conduct the Christmas Eve service. He told me it was the first time since 1974 when he was a young deacon that he had been home for Christmas Eve service.

Finally, thank you so much to all those who have contributed in the past year. Many of the articles have also appeared in my Chapleau Moments column in the Chapleau Express, and I extend a special thanks to Mario Lafreniere, the publisher. for his cooperation.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca