Andy Anderson worked at Smith and Chapple 35 years recalled Christmas as "busiest time" of year

Lindsay Anderson, best known simply as "Andy" who worked at Smith and Chapple Ltd. for 35 years recalled that "the busiest time of the year" was at Christmas.

In a 1987 interview with the Chapleau Sentinel as the store, one of Chapleau's historic businesses closed its doors, Andy said, it was the time when "the big shipment of bikes and trikes and electric trains and all sorts of dolls for the girls would come in. We used to get them especially for Christmas but later on we started to order toys all year round."

NOTE: CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE!!!

Andy started working at Smith and Chapple in 1947 and during the 1950s particularly, after Smith and Chapple expanded across the street from its main store at Birch and Young streets, the Christmas draws hosted by Arthur Grout, the store president, were a highlight of the holiday season.

Numbers were placed throughout the store and if you happened to be standing at one, you would win a prize.

In the Sentinel story, Bill Payette, who had joined the store in 1941, paid tribute to Andy. Bill's father, D.O. Payette, had retired as president of the company in 1949.

Bill said: "Andy carried on loyally for 35 years in the hardware department until he retired in 1982. Thank you Andy for being such a super guy."

All these years later, I am sure those of us who know Andy would second Bill's motion. Andy was a super guy. And I would just add that for years Andy sat on the board of St. John's Anglican Church, and was there on Sunday morning greeting parishioners as they arrived for services.

No matter the weather, citizens bundled up and headed uptown or overtown or across town, to the downtown, and the draws, serenaded along the way by music from the giant Christmas display at Dr. G.E. Young's clinic and building.

The  main store, for newcomers to Chapleau, is where Village Shops is now located. Collins Home Hardware occupies the expansion building.

Some time ago now Andre Renaud reminded me of the toy display downstairs at Smith and Chapple.  "I used to like going downstairs at Smith and Chapple's and look at the toy display..Also the train display they had there every Christmas.Nice place to duck into on the way to school when it was real cold..Warm up for a few minutes and keep going the rest of the way..LOL"

Andre attended the old Chapleau High School on Pine Street, and believe me it was real cold once you turned the corner onto Young Street and headed towards the river. No school buses or snow days back then!

 Ian Macdonald, now retired as professor and head of the department of architecture at the University of Manitoba, at one time had a connection to the Smith and Chapple train display, was also to provide details.

"My Dad looked after the Smith and Chapple hardware department including "toyland", Ian wrote. ". It was set up in the lower level at the east end of the building under the Grocery department. The toyland display always included two electric train layouts. One was an American Flyer and the other was a Lionel. 

"I had the nonsalaried assignment to oversee the operation of both of them which I gladly did. It was the only job I ever had at Smith and Chapple aside from occasionally delivering flyers."

Charlie Purich commented: "I used to love the train display in "Toyland" in the basement floor of S and C. at Christmas.Andy was always there.That place was magical.

  
According to Vince Crichton in his book 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario', T.A. Austin laid the foundation for the location of Smith and Chapple circa 1887. By 1914 it became known as Smith and Chapple Ltd. In 1930, Mr. Payette and Mr, Grout took over the store but did not change the name.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Kevin Walker shares "I'm so Chapleau" anecdotes for holiday season and Christmas

Kevin Walker returns with his very popular "I'm so Chapleau" anecdotes just in time for the holiday season and Christmas.

As many will recall, Kevin's earlier edition of Chapleau anecdotes went over real well, so in chatting with him recently, I asked if he may have a few suitable for the festive season. He did, and here are the results.

"I'm so Chapleau I can still hear the words GAME ON yelled out at the road hockey game at INGO's place! Great times on Boxing Day. We would all meet for food and drinks and of course Road Hockey. I can still feel the sting of the ball hitting my legs when I was in nets.. lol who else had Boxing Day blowouts?"

 "I'm so Chapleau and who can forget what to do with your old Christmas Trees? Yep drop em off at the Arena for the big bon fire to start the Chapleau Carnival! Does anyone still go out and get a real tree?"

"I'm so Chapleau who else remembers going downtown to see the Lighting of the Christmas Tree.. this still goes on right? Anyways it was and is a great way for the town to get together for a special time to talk and reunite with old friends and family!"

"I'm so Chapleau Christmas meant a time to spend with family and relatives.. We used to celebrate Christmas two or three times lol.. Once Christmas Eve then twice Christmas Day one at home and one at Aunt Joan's place.. great times had by all.."  (Kevin's Aunt Joan is Joan (Simard) MacGillivray)

I'm so Chapleau I still think of the car rides we used to take with the parents when we were kids to look at all the decorations around town.. it was always a great time... the town was always decorated to the hilt.. Who else used to do this?"

(Kevin, who was born and raised in Chapleau, is the son of Billy and Betty-Lou (Simard) Walker, while his grandparents were Bill and Della Walker and Bud and Kay Simard. His brothers are Larry and Bob.)

"I'm so Chapleau that to me December 24th meant going to the Sportsman Hotel and getting reacquainted with Ex Chapleauites who had come home for the holidays!! Always a great time getting caught up with old friendships... Who else remembers this Christmas tradition?"

"I'm so Chapleau I love the small town Christmas hospitality... Many a time during the holidays I found myself walking home from who knows where and hearing music and seeing lights on... The best part is you could just walk up and knock on the door and be invited in for a drink or two lol... yep small town hospitality you can't beat it!!"

Kevin now lives in Crystal Beach on Lake Erie  but for 17 years he worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Chapleau as an incident commander, then on to Pickering for a while now at his present home.

His great passion has always been music, and he now spends considerable time writing and performing. He advised that in 1987 he appeared at the Chapleau Winter Carnival. For more on Kevin and his music, I highly recommend a visit to his web site: http://www.reverbnation.com/bloodshoteyez

Here is Kevin's wish for you: "When I think about it we are all so Chapleau!! Who doesn't remember their childhood in our small northern town without a smile! This year why not make an effort to have an old fashioned Chapleau Christmas and with that I would like to wish everyone a safe and festive Merry Christmas! Oh and a very Happy New Year."

And the same to you Kevin! I would just add that when reading Kevin's "I'm so Chapleau" I think of Red Skelton and something he said at the end of his television show. It went something like this, "If by chance you should remember something I've said, and it brings a smile to your face or a chuckle to your heart, then my purpose has been fulfilled." 

HERE IS LINK TO KEVIN'S EARLIER I'M SO CHAPLEAU http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.ca/2014/07/kevin-walker-stirs-up-talk-and-brings.html

My email is mj.morris@live.ca Please feel free to send along your "I'm so Chapleau" for the holiday season and Christmas.

Richard 'Ben' Lacroix patented end to end rushes delighted Chapleau hockey fans

If you were an opposing player, (or even a goaltender), your best option was to get out of the way whenever Richard 'Ben' Lacroix let go one of his blasts during the years he played hockey in Chapleau.

 

Richard emerged as one of the players who defined hockey in the community for many years, starting about 1966 just after the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena got artificial ice. He played for the Chapleau Senior Bantams who won the Division B championship at a tournament in Lasarre. Quebec in the 1966-67 hockey season.

 

The Bantams, coached by David Mizuguchi and managed by David Futhey were part of a big year in the annals of Chapleau hockey history. In their first year of play in the International Junior B Hockey League the Junior B Huskies won the league and Northern Ontario Hockey Association titles.

 

However, it was in the 1967-1968 hockey season, the last for most of them as Bantams, including Richard,  that they really excelled. They were moved into Division A at the Lasarre tournament but won the title and they also won the Northern Ontario Playground Hockey Association (NOPHA)  'A' championship in the Bantam category with David Mizuguchi as manager, David Futhey as coach and Doug Prusky who was now overage as trainer.

 

Many of these players went on to play for the Junior B Huskies and later the Intermediate A Huskies in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League.

 

Keith 'Buddy' Swanson, who had founded the junior team with Lorne Riley and Tom Welch, also doubled as hockey writer for the Chapleau Sentinel.

 

In the 1970-71 season with Earle Freeborn as coach, Buddy wrote that the team was off to a fast start, and early in the season was in first place after defeating their arch rival Wawa Travellers 7-3 and 5-3 in weekend encounters.

 

 

Buddy noted that Richard had  "made one of his patented end to end rushes, passing to Ernie Chambers who scored and then followed up as he skidded a backhander the length of the ice to clinch things for Chapleau with 33 seconds left.

 

Richard's rushes and blasts were common during his junior and intermediate hockey years. At the end of the 1970-71 season, he had notched 44 goals and was named the team's top player among other awards. He was presented with the Molson Award by representative Ray Bradley, assisted by Jim Mair, then playing for the Vancouver Canucks.

 

Following his junior career, Richard Joined the intermediate Huskies, and was its first captain in the 1975-76 season. He was also named rookie of the year and won the leading scorer honours.

 

Richard had the distinction of scoring the third Chapleau  goal in the Mrs A.W.  Moore Arena in 1978 in an exhibition game against the Valley East Crusaders. John Tavella scored the first and Jamie Doyle the second. The Sentinel reported that Richard "put home one of his blasts." Assists went to Ron Larcher and Jacques Sylvestre.

 

From Bantam to Junior to Intermediate teams, Richard made a difference as a great team player and friend - and delighted Chapleau hockey fans too.

 

Let me share a personal anecdote about Richard. In 1970, I was in Lady Minto Hospital, and visitors other than family were not permitted for a time. Richard was one of my students at Chapleau High School.

 

One afternoon I looked up and there was Richard beside my bed, having snuck by those wonderful but very formidable nurses at the hospital. We had a great visit, and then off he went. He had made my day.

 

Richard 'Ben' Lacroix died In Wawa on November 14, 2014. Rest in peace Richard. You made a difference. My email is mj.morris@live.ca