Bucciarelli's Beach established especially for Chapleau children "in spirit of citizenship"

Upon his arrival in Canada in 1902 from Italy, George Bucciarelli first worked at various jobs in several locations for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

By 1910, he was working in Chapleau and became fed up, so he caught a train for Sudbury, planning to return home to Italy. However, while in Sudbury, he decided to look at the price of lumber, bought a carload and had it shipped to Chapleau.

He used it to start his store on Lorne Street but for a time it was only open early in the morning and in the evening as Mr. Bucciarelli went back to work for the CPR in the shops.

The town was installing the municipal waterworks system, and he had built several rooms on his store which he rented to workers on the project. He also worked on that project.

In 1911, Mrs. Bucciarelli and their son Angelo arrived and Chapleau became home for them.

In due course, he improved the store and built a house and for a time had a second location in the uptown area.

By 1935, celebrating 25 years in business, Angelo had become the store manager, and they had become wholesale tobacconists and the agent for Canadian Oils Limited, supplying gasoline for the motor vehicles that were beginning to appear in Chapleau. 

Mr. Bucciarelli was spending a lot of his time at the farm he established on the Chapleau highway, and the picnics for children were started in 1931.  The area later became known as Bucciarelliville.

The picnics also included a show by "The Clowns" who were young men of Chapleau all attired for their role in entertaining the children.

In 1935, as a matter of interest, those working for Mr. Bucciarelli included Fred Barty, who the Chapleau Post described as the "1st Lieutenant", Emmett Brazel, Irene Godbout who later worked as head cashier at the Dominion store, Gertrude Roffey, Leslie Perfetto, Pat Frawley and John Ciuffreda.

According to the Chapleau Post, John looked after the "beverage" or "refreshment" room advising him that the writer would soon be there calling for "Two big jugs John!"

But Mr. Bucciarelli did not retire and pursue his own interests entirely. In fact, during the 1940s, he developed "Bucciarelli's Beach" for which he is likely best remembered by many Chapleauites.

After my column on the children's picnics, I received an email from Frank Bucciarelli, who arrived in Chapleau with his parents in 1953. 

Frank included the photos of his Uncle George and the beach area, likely taken in the summer of 1949 as the area was being completed.

Frank wrote: "The back of the pictures that I sent you are stamped January 16, 1950.  I believe that this is when they were printed in Sudbury; the pictures were taken in the summer time.  When we came to Canada in 1953 the beach, as far as I remember had been completed just a few years before."

The "beach" had four small cottages, a dance hall with a juke box, and a small confectionery store open in the summer. It was also a great place to swim, complete with sandy area and diving boardand became very popular. Frank also noted there was great blueberry picking in the bush near the beach.

Chapleau High School held its annual wiener roast there to end the Grade Nine initiation each September, and dances were held in the hall on Summer weekends.

Ian Macdonald advised that he once did an Elvis Presley impersonation at one dance, but he couldn't find the picture. Keep looking Ian. That would be priceless. 

Beverley (Swanson) Hamilton in an email reminded me that the only place where white cream soda was available in Chapleau, was at the beach confectionery store. I recalled it right away.

Former Chapleau resident Garry Remus wrote, "One of the things I liked about Bucciarelli's Beach was the opportunity, after swimming, to wander into the bush where there was a grand display of mayflowers. I have not found another chance to appreciate these beautiful growths since."

Writing in his book, "Pioneering in Northern Ontario" Vince Crichton noted that Mr. Bucciarelli's "best friends were the children of Chapleau". On November 2, 1947, Mr. Bucciarelli was asked to attend at his property and was greeted by a large group of citizens and the Town Band.

A letter to Mr. Bucciarelli, signed by Reeve Frank Edwards expressed the community's sincere appreciation of the many improvements he had undertaken in Chapleau and for the spirit of citizenship that prompted him to make them available for the public pleasure and enjoyment. Particular tribute was paid for Bucciarelliville.

"We thank you Mr. Bucciarelli. We know that you desire much satisfaction in seeing the enjoyment the people -- particularly the young folk -- find in visiting your grounds", the letter said in part.

George Bucciarelli died on January 6, 1967 at age 88. 

My most sincere thanks to Frank Bucciarelli for making the photos available. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Alexandre Langis cleared land for townsite of Chapleau in 1885 and later became general merchant

In 1885 Alexandre Langis arrived at Mileage 615.1 on the Canadian Pacific Railway with a contract from the company to clear the land that would become the townsite of Chapleau.

Born in Rimouski, Quebec, Mr. Langis, who would later become a general merchant, had been working in Biscotasing before moving to Chapleau. For sure, he was one of the community's pioneer citizens.

After fulfilling his contract, Mr. Langis, became a CPR employee, first as a trainman and later as conductor.

In 1891, he married Marie Louise Mageau of Le Bic, and the young couple became active members of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church.

Helen Wolfe, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Kruger, in an article about the Langis family written at the time of the Roman Catholic church centennial celebration, related that at one time Mr. and Mrs. Langis shared a house with Mr. and Mrs. James Rose which she said was located on the west side of Beech Street near the CPR tracks.

(Note: Mr. and Mrs. Rose lived on the west side of Pine Street which I think later became the Babin residence. Does anyone recall if they moved from Beech to Pine at some point, sort of across the street and a lane!)

Mrs. Wolfe related that the "two women got along beautifully sharing a kitchen" even though Mrs. Rose could not understand French and Mrs. Langis could not understand English.

In 1901 Mr. Langis left the CPR and started a business with E. Jackman in 1902 at 4 Birch Street West at Birch and Young streets,  in a building which at the time was owned by Patrick Mulligan, my great-great uncle. In later years the building housed the Dominion store and then Bank of Montreal for a time.

Albert Desjardins came to Chapleau in 1908 from Montreal and bought out Mr. Jackman so the name was changed to Desjardins and Langis, General Merchants.

In 1909 they relocated to the southwest corner of Birch and Lorne streets which for a short time had been the site of the first Roman Catholic church.

Later, Harry Wolfe, who was the son-in-law of Mr. Langis, purchased the interests of Mr. Desjardins, and in 1924 the store became known as Langis and Wolfe.

In 1928, Charles W. Collins, the son of Mr. and P.J. Collins, who had arrived in Chapleau in 1909, bought out Mr. Langis and the store became known as Wolfe and Collins. The Collins name has been associated with ownership of a  store at that location ever since.

Mr. and Mrs. Langis later lived on Lorne Street near the Roman Catholic church. They also enjoyed "picnics down the lake" at Mulligan's Bay where they built a camp, later owned by Mansel Robinson.

They had four children Joseph, Wilfred, Lydia and Julia. Julia was a charter member of the Catholic Women's League in Chapleau.

I have really just provided a glimpse into the life of Mr. Langis and  his contribution to Chapleau -- and opened the door a bit on the Rose, Jackman, Desjardins, Wolfe and Collins families, and of course my own Mulligan ancestors. 

Thanks to Doug Greig for his research assistance. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

George Bucciarelli decided to do something for Chapleau children and 'Bucciarelli's Picnic' was born in 1931

One day, George Bucciarelli, who had arrived in Chapleau in 1910 and established a grocery store on Lorne Street, decided that he wanted to do something for the less fortunate children of the community.

According to the Chapleau Post, it was exactly August 22, 1931, just as the effects of the Great Depression were beginning to be felt.

Mr. Bucciarelli made a decision, which was to become one of the most popular events for children for many years to come when he decided unfortunate children of the town needed a treat -- in the beginning he was thinking about those who were in town year in and year out without so much as a trip down the lake or highway,

"The more he pondered, the more his desire to give kids something grew," the Post reported.

Finally, he had a "brilliant idea" and at that moment, Bucciarelli's Picnic "without a doubt the biggest event" of the years for children was born.

Mr. Bucciarelli saw a group of children playing on the street in front of his store and called them aside and asked if they would like to go on a picnic down the road the next day.

"You bet your life they would," was the response.

He told them to be in front of his store at one p.m. the next day, August 23, 1931, and they would go on a picnic. He added that "Tell all your friends I'm going to make a picnic and bring them along".

All well and good but Mr. Bucciarelli didn't know what he had started.

The next day, at 12:40 p.m., he looked out the window of his store, "rubbed his eyes, looked again" and instead of the 30 to 40 expected, there were over 200 children assembled. More were arriving every moment.

He called Angelo, his son and other employees, asking "What are we going to do?", he asked. They had only prepared enough treats for a much smaller group. As a matter of interest, the Post reported that the other employees present were Frank Principe and Leslie Perfetto.

At 12:50 p.m., Mr. Bucciarellei bellowed, "OK! Fix them up!" and one headed into the candy department, another was downstairs getting more crates of oranges and extra cases of soft drinks, while Leslie managed to find a couple of nice watermelon.

By this time, the crowd has reached 275 children.

And, Mr. Bucciarelli? He was "sitting in a corner, ringing the telephone hot in a valiant last minute effort to get sufficient cars."

The result? Enough vehicles were found to accommodate all the children (quite an accomplishment in itself in 1931 Chapleau when there were not that many motor vehicles) and the procession left the store at 1:15 p.m., just 15 minutes late. The kids had a whale of a good time at his farm at Mileage 17, the Post reported.

George Bucciarelli decided that the children should have a yearly event of this kind. "I like to see the kids playing and having lost of fun."

Thus began Bucciarelli's Picnic which continued for years and evolved into Bucciarelli's Beach where many events, including the annual Chapleau High School wiener roast was held each September.

More to come on Mr. Bucciarelli in future columns. Thanks to Doug Greig for providing information.

Just another friendly reminder that you are invited to become part of the public library online history project by providing photos and stories about your family and/or community events. Please contact Doug or the library for more details. My email is mj.morris@live.ca