Memories Of Gambling With life itself the biggest of all gambles - it is no wonder

that man has always been willing to risk losing all his worldly goods on the toss of a coin,

the turn of a card or the spin of a wheel.

To-day the gambling addict has his choice of games ranging from the simple

"Scratch And Win" ticket to the "649 Lottery" with prizes of a $Million or more as well

as Casino gambling and the latest in electronic bingo.

Now that gambling has been legalized in our country, it would be interesting to

wander back down memory lane and glance back a half century to see what was available

in "games of chance" in an average small town.

Of course there were the Bingos in church basements, wheels of fortune at

Kermesses and, if you had the right contacts, the chance to grab the brass ring by

purchasing a smuggled "Irish Sweepstakes Ticket" as was the luck of one Buckingham man.

Personally I was exposed to gambling while I was still in elementary school. Every

spring the old clay marbles came out of storage and it was not long before some shrewed

operator appeared in the school yard, armed with a shoe box with a one inch hole in the

top, and offered to give ten marbles for every marble you could drop through the hole and

into his box. Of course the odds were on his side and, given sufficient time, he ended up

with all his friend's marbles in his pockets.

Much later on in life I learned where many of the secret card games, which were

operated in various places in the Town of Buckingham were located, as well as what

establishment would sell a minor an occasional quart of "Black Horse".

One of the biggest permanent floating card games was held almost daily in the

back room of the town's last remaining saddler. The players sat at a round wooden table,

which had a slot cut in the middle, and the house rules decreed that the winner of each pot

had to put a quarter through this slot. As poker is a fast game it would have been

interesting to know how much the store owner pocketed from the day's play.

Personally I never had enough money, or desire, to take part in these games but

did hear stories about them from from my Uncle George, who was not averse to risking a

few dollars during an afternoon's play and this gentleman claimed that he usually managed

to break even. -2-2-2- But then, like all other simple forms of recreation, too many

of the players got carried away with visions of easily acquired riches, and would go home

on pay-day with no money left to pay the rent and purchase the week's groceries. After

enough irate wives complained to municipal authorities, the police department notified the

store owner the time had come to close the bank.

But necessity is the mother of invention, and it was not long before rumors

circulated that a game was operating in the open air on sunny afternoons. After asking a

few questions I discovered the location of this game, which was being played under the pine

trees, on the bank of the Lievre River, behind the location presently occupied by the

Buckingham Tavern. Can not truthfully say how long this game operated.

With the advent of the "Pin Ball" machines there appeared a type of machine

which was operated with nickles or special slugs and, if the ball dropped into the right hole,

you could win up to five dollars in slugs. A machine of this type was in the old "Petit

Paris" Restaurant on Main Street and the owner would take a person's winnings in on

deposit, and reimburse him with cokes, hambergers or more slugs to feed back into this,

the first of the "instant tellers". Once again the odds were on the side of the operator, and

it usually was not long before a person's accumulated credits were swiftly wiped out.

Of course if you wanted to play with one of the famous "one-armed bandidts"

you only had to be able to get to Long Lake and spend some time at the "Long Lake

Canteen". In the back of this establishment was one of the few remaining slot machines in

the area - and it had an insatiable appetite for nickles. Actually the machine would spit out

several dollars worth of nickels every now and then, but the input seemed to greatly

exceeded the output.

As like the present time - there was always someone knocking at the door selling

"throws' on a quilt, a hen, a set of dishes or what have you. Most of the time these were

perfectly honest raffles, with the money going to whoever was selling the tickets. In this

connectin there was the story about a certain officer of the law, who every summer sold

raffle tickets on a cow. Ask him in the fall who had won the animal and you would usually

be informed this summer's winner had lived in Rimouski, Quebec or possibly Winnipeg,

Manitoba or some other equally distant point.

-3-3-3-3- One of the twon's jokers once suggested it might be a possibility that this

honorable gentleman was raffling the same cow every year and, if the animal was ever won,

the cow would be so tough that it would only be good for shoe-leather.

And finally there were the $100,000 poker games which were held at regular

intervals in the back office of "The Buckingham Post". This group of heavy rollers always

ended up their night's play with nothing more substantial to show for their skill at handling

the paste boards than their individual accumulated paper profits. Oh well - it did help pass

those long, cold winter nights.

A Glance Back Into The Past There is hardly a person who has not

dreamed of being able to go back at least a centuary and learn more about the events which

helped shape the destiny of the villages, towns and cities of our province.

Some people wish they owned a "time machine" like the ones they read about in

science fiction so they could get a more detailed look at events which effect our present day

lives or just be able to obtain information to enable them to get rich.

In case you did not know - there is a "time machine " in almost every home! This

method of looking into the past does not require a mass of modern electronic equipment

- but can usually be found hidden amongst the baxes of books, records and letters which

most families accumulate over the years.

While recently sorting through some of the old papers which we brought from

Buckingham my wife, Vivian, came upon a letter dated June 2nd, in which Buckingham's

mayor, Mr. George Lakin Parker, wrote to the Secretary of the Town of Lachute, asking

for information about the legal steps needed to complete Buckingham's incorporation as a

Town. The letter reads as follows:- Corporation Of The Village Of Buckingham

M. H. Palmer, Sec'y-Treas.

Buckingham, Quebec, 2 June, 1890

To the Secretary-Treasurer, Town of Lachute. Dear Sir;

This village, having been incorporated into a town during the last session of the Legislature

at Quebec, and sanctioned by the Lieutennant Governor on the 2nd of April past and the

act coming into force in due course in 60 days from the date it was sanctioned, we would

ask you if you could give us any information as to what proceedings we have to take to put

the scheme into actual force and effect.

There is no election of the new council until the 1st January next, the old council

and the mayor being and becoming councillors of the town in virtue having been the same

in the Village, and the question now is how do we legally enter into a town, what steps

have we to take by proclamation or otherwise to bring the act into force and to legally

notify all it may concern in the matter? -2-2-2- If you could give us any information

in this matter I would be very much obliged - your town having gone, no doubt through

the same experience, you will know the procedures and are in a position to give us points

on the matter. Any information you can give us will be highly esteemed and should I be

able, at any time, to reciprocate your favor it will give me much pleasure so to do.

Yours very truly, Sorry to say, we have not

been able to fine a copy of the answer to this letter from the Town of Lachute, but history

records that Buckingham was incorporated as a Town one hundred years ago.

The final steps for this event took place at a special meeting of the village council

which was held in the council chambers on June 14th, 1890.

The first municipal council of the newly incorporated Town of Buckingham was

composed of; George L. parker, Mayor; William J. <ackenzie, Richard Rowe, Angus D.

Cameron, James MacLaren< Isidore Bernardin, and C. W. Pearson, as aldermen. W. H.

Palmer was the town's secretary treasurer.

WHEN GLEN ALMOND WAS YOUNG

(From Buckingham Post of May 29th, 1936) Should you

happen to feel like one of the early pioneers and decided to explore the valley of the Lievre

River you will not have to face the hazards which were met and overcome by the first

settlers to come into our region. All you will require is one of the improved models of

"Hery Ford's Famous Fliver" and a good road map. Your safari will commence in the

Town of Masson, at the junction of old Route 8 and 35. You start north on Route 35, pass

through the Town of Buckingham and head on up the highway. The first community you

will come to is the little Village of Glen Almond, which was first settled about the turn of

the centuary. As far as we remember Glen Almond has always been a hamlet, and is

generally better known as the site of extensive spar mining. Prior to 1910 the small

quantities of dental spar were mined in the hills back of the village, with the Derry Mine

being the main supplier. After this mine was worked out the "Back Mine " was opened

and remained the main producer of spar for Canadian Flint & Spar until the mine and

the Buckingham mill were closed on the late 1960's. There were fringe bemefits to the mine

- the company's road opened the way for fishermen into Jake, Brule and a number of

other lakes. A number of years ago the Hunters' & Anglers' Society of papineau and the

Quebec Department of Fish & Game restocked several of these lakes to again make the

Glen Almond area a fisherman's paradise. Found the story below amoungst the late Albert

Parker's clippings and are pleased to pass the information along for new residents of the

area.

------------- Mr. Earl Wilson, in Old

Time Stuff in The Citizen, deals in an entertaining way with the Glen Almond of early days

thus: "Seventy years ago the little village of Glen Almond, on the Lievre river, ten

miles north of Buckingham, was an isolated community, hemmed in from civilization by an

almost impenetrable forest. The only way out was by a blazed trail through the forest, and

the only means the settlers had of reaching Buckingham, where they obtained their meager

supplies, was by canoes hewn out of logs. These facts and many other interesting ones are

related by Mrs. Melinda Graham, seventy-four year old native of Glen Almond, who has

been spending the last few months with her daughter, Mrs. Arthur C. Pitman, at 107 Prince

Albert Street, Overbrook.

-2-2-2- Mrs. Graham's father,

the late Chester Bigelow, was one of the poineer settlers in that district, where he lived to

the ripe old age of eighty. But Mr. Bigelow's longevity was as little compared to the records

established by some of the other residents. For instance, there was Mrs. Graham's uncle,

Jim Bigelow, who lived to be 102 years of age; and then there was Mrs. Roxy Wright, who

passed on not so long ago in her 101st year. And talking about longevity and smart old

people, Mrs. Graham said: "You should see Bill Lonsdale: he will soon be eighty-three

years of age, and a smarter man never came down the pike. Why, even today he will walk

the ten miles to Buckingham and back and never think anything of it." "It appears

that Glen Almond in the early days was peopled mostly by Bigelows and Lonsdales. Ned

Lonsdale settled there about the same time as Chester Bigelow did, and both men had

several sons who grew up and took their places in the community in later years. Other

early settlers were Ivry Newton and Levi Bigelow." When Mrs. Graham was a little

girl, Glen Almond was just a backwoods hamlet with no conveniences what-ever. There

wasn't even a crossroads store, nor a post office. The nearest store and post office was one

at Buckingham, kept by Emanuel Stricland, where one could buy produce in restricted

quantities only. That is, it was out of the question for one customer to carry off a whole

bag of flour, or cornmeal or oatmeal, for his own use, He would have to divide it with

three or four neighbors At first these supplies were brought up the river in log

canoes-- cumbersome things which took very careful handling lest they tip over. A little

later the settlers got together and built a corduroy road through the bush, and they used

to drive their oxen over this road to get their mail and supplies from Buckingham. In the

wintertime, if they had occasion to go to Bytown, they drove up the Ottawa river with oxen.

Mrs. Graham tells that there was no school in or near Glen Almond until she was

about twelve years of age. The first effort along this line was launched by Mrs. George

Lonsdale, who opened a class in an abandonned log shanty on the outskirts of the village.

Some of the old timers will probably recall the sad blow Mrs. Lonsdale suffered

six years later when her husband was drowned in the Lievre river. He was running the

"Little Rapids", some distance above Glen Almond in a birch bark canoe when the canoe

upset and he was drowned before any of the neighbors could render assistance

-3-3-3-3- Glen Almond was without churches

or religious instruction of any kind in those early days. The nearest approach to Sabbath

observance came about the year 1868 when old John Donaldson, a "Cecilite", visited the

community and held services in peoples' houses and barns. The first service he conducted

was in Mrs. Graham's home. The first church built in the village, about the year 1880, was

a little Anglican church, the rector of which was the late John Rollitt. Three years later

the Catholics built a church and the first parish priest was Father Brady.

"While the inhabitants of all backwoods communities today may not enjoy the

conforts of electric lights the same as in more civilized sections, at least they have the

advantages of coal oil lamps, which throw a reasonably good light. But in my young days,

before the advent of coal oil lamps in our district, we had to put up with what were known

as 'dips'--and a mighty poor light they threw. We didn't even have matches; we had to

depend on flint and punk. Sometimes that didn't work, and on such occasions we would

have to run to the nearest neighbor and 'borrow' a light--which meant carrying home a

lighted faggot in a pail; or if the neighbor was close enough we would just grab a burning

stick by the unlighted end and run with it.

Mrs. Graham tells of an amusing prank played on her uncle Ned Lonsdale. It

appears that Uncle Ned had gone to Buckingham early in the moring and was expected

back about eight o'clock in the evening. It was planned to give Uncle Ned a surprise he

wouldn't forget in a hurry and in order to carry out the plot, three of the Powers family,

Pat, Mick and Bridge, and Mrs. Graham (then Melinda Bigelow) hastened to Sand Hill,

a point about half way between Glen Almond and Buckingham, and lay in wait.

"We didn't have long to wait," relates Mrs. Graham, "and though it was pitch

dark we weren't mistaken when our victim came along, for it was a habit of uncle Ned's

to keep repeating "Whoa Polly" every little while when he was driving along a lonely

country road. We had a rope stretched across the road and as he got level with it we

pulled it taut. At the same instant Mick Powers, garbed in a white sheet, sprang out on the

road and gave voice to an unearthly shriek. Well, sir, you should have seen Uncle Ned

whip that horse into action. He well nigh killed the poor beast in his haste to reach home.

Next morning he boasted he had seen three ghosts at Sand Hill."

------------ -4-4-4-

PEN THOUGHTS May 29th, 1936.

The Ned Lonsdale in Mrs. Graham's story of Glen

Almond appearing in another portion of The Post was generally known as "Neighbor"

Lonsdale on account of his unfailing friendly relations with everyone he knew.

The English Church at Glen Almond was built by the Rev. Joh C. Rollitt, during

his incumbency of Stephen's Church here.

From here Mr. Rollitt went to Montreal, to one of the city parishes, and before

his death he had been created a canon of the church. Mr. Rollitt during a small pox

epidemic among his parishoners at Glen Almond visited the striken ones in turn and as a

reward for his devotion to duty and precautions taken against infection came through

unscathed.

In Mrs. Graham's story there are a few incidents missing. No mention is made

of burly Dick Newton who went to the bottom of the Lievre one cold December morning

to recover a drowned axe. Bushy of head and face, he shook himself like a spaniel as he

came out of the stream.

It was related of Glen Almond men in the early days that it was customary to

carry a barrel of pork over the Chute Hill on their way to the Shanties. This was

considered an outstanding feat until it came to be understood that a barrel of pork then

weighed 100 lbs. as distinguished from the 200 lb. barrel of late days.

----30----

Graphite City Mines (Part Two) Last week we started to look into the history of the

Graphite City Mines and how their financial problems lead their owner Mr. W. H. Walker

to go searching for new risk capital and how this hunt for capital got the Hon. J. A.

Chapeau intereted in graphite.

The Hon Chapeau was Secretary of State in Sir Wilfrid Laurier's Cabinet and

how he was involved in a debate with Sir Wilfred Laurier following the hanging of Louis

Reil.

Before concluding the history of Graphite City we will go on with the picture of

political life in those days and how Hon Chapeau was re-elected in his county without once

personally appealing to his constituents. Following these historical notes we will get back

to the conclusion of the history and the final demise of Graphite City as recorded by Mr.

Parker.

In consequence of the hanging of the arch rebel felling was raised against the

Conservative party in Quebec, and especially against Chapleau in his county of

Terre-bonne. At the close of this memorable session when Chapleau reached home he was

met at the station by an angry crowd and assailed for his part in having Riel hanged.

It looked like a lynching party at first, but only at first. Chapleau spoke with

all the fire and convincing earnesteness of which he was capable, and soom sentiment

changed; hositility gave place to understanding , and in the end, Chapleau was again the

idol of his constituents. When he finished speaking, enthusiasm knew no bounds, the horses

were taken out of Chapleau's carriage, and the populace drew him home in triumph.

In the general election which followed, Sir John A. Macdonald's government was

triumphantly returned to power, Chapleau retaining all the old-time confidence of his

compatriots in the district committed to his charge. In one of his electionss was a

happening which rarely occurs - Chapleau was reelected in his county without once

personall appealing to his constituents. He issued a leaflet to the electors of his county

stressing the necessity of his presence in the district committed to his charge and asking

their forbearance under the circumstances.

Terre-bonne county responded noble to this appeal and gave him a majority of

a thousand.. And this was the man the Conservative turned down in favor of those who

were found recreant to their trust and -2-2-2- were thrust from public life.. Refusing

the substance in facor of the shadow, the Conservative lost the positical hegemony in

Quebec which has never been regained.

How Mr. Chapleau, some time later severed his connection with the Macdonald

regime, shoved out of favor by one who subsequently was driven from public life through

the sinister practice of political thugs and hangers-on who have such pull with governments,

and not infrequently contribute to their downcome, is a matter of history. Two premiers

of our fair province have been brought down from their high estate through the perfidy of

close friends.

AS a sop to Mr. Chapleau - he was then Sir J. A. - the lieutenant-governorship

of Quebec was offered to him, and he went to the retirement of Spencerwood from the

seclusion of which he came out a dying man. One day when Mr. Mercier, a former premier

of Quebec, was languishing on a sick bed - his last - Mr. Cahpleau paid him a visit, and the

two former leaders sobbed in each other's arms. An eye-witness describes the scene a

pathetic. Men who formerly swayed the multitudes succumbing to their own emotions.

How Mr. Walker got Mr. Chapleau interested in Graphite City the writer had

no information, and it isn't material to the narrative. Mr. Walker saw to it that his latest

backer got a fine reception in town.

Mr. Chapleau was met at the C.P.R. Station at Buckingham by a large number

of people, organized for the purpose of impression. In town the procession was increased

by many rigs containing out of town residents, principally from the west side of the river

in proximity to the objective point. Memory visions Messrs. Chapleau and Walker at the

head of a long retinue disappearing down MacNaughton' Hill on the way to the covered

bridge, and thence to Graphite City. How long the plant was in operation after Mr.

Chapleau's connection with it, frequent absences from town interfere with the story at that

particular period. Presumably when the new funds were exhaused the quarry and mill

resumed the quiet of inoperation.

-3-3-3- There was a

resumption fo activity later with new capital and under new management. A tidy sum of

money was spent in preparation for the fresh operations. The mill was cleared of so-called

obsolete machinery, and the latest wrinkle in graphite refining installed. It took a long

while to get ready for working, but much less time to discover that good money had again

been thrown after bad, the new machinery hadn't clicked any more successfully than the

old, so those who had the purse-strings tightened them permanently and then came the

swansong of the place at which there had been so much outgo.

How much money was spent trying to make Graphite City a permanent industry

can only be guessed at, but it must total a surprising amount, and this may be added; the

most of it with entire faith in the ultimate success of the venture. With higher prices for

refined graphite, the separation process brought to perfection, one might in the not too

distant future see another Graphite City arise, phoenix-like from its ashes.

-30-

Graphite City Mines (Part One) Mining and

politics often go hand in hand and this was as true in the days of graphite mining on the

Lievre River as it is to-day, with both the Provincial and Federal governments having a

finger in the oriduction and refining of heavy crude oil.

Although Graphite City had been closed abandoned and dismantledlong before

your writer was old enough to know about such things, he remembers hearing his

grandfather, the later Albert Hamilton Parker, talking about the mining industry and on

one drive up the Lievre with his mother and grandfather, he remembered Mr. Pointing up

the side of a mountain and remarking that was the location of Grampite City.

Most of the graphite was brought to the landing on bardges, hauled by fleets of

tug boats, and both the bardges and boats were tied up and slowly rotting along the river

bank when I was still a teen ager. In fact these same abandoned wrecks were the favorite

fishing spoy of my grandfather and uncle and i have memories of wandering around on

these abandoned craft while the two anglers landed large sized bass, as well as as few trout.

but on with our story of Grahpite City as it appeared in "The Buckingham Post in May,

1938.

"It is not known, within a few years at least, of the date of the original mining and

milling operations at Graphite City. It may have been in the fifties, and it certainly could

not have been later than the early sixties. Those who could have given the writer data on

the subject have passed on leaving posterity the poorer for carrying their knowledge to

voiceless graves.

In the seventies production was in full blast, but whether as a paying proposition,

or as experimental operations, there are no figures to show; but frequent workings and

shutdowns would indicate a weakness in working capital and the necessity at intervals for

the raising of the where -withall to continue.

The owner or manager of the Graphite City proposition to come under the

purview of these thoughts was Mr. W. H. Walker, Advocate, of Ottawa. Of how he came

into posession there is no record; but under his aegis the fortunes of Graphite City

fluctuated as under other auspices; alternate starts and stops went with the regularity of

clock work. When mining and milling was going on, and pay day did not miss, the life at

the plant added materially to the business of the town.

-2-2-2- Graphite City was accorded the privelege of a daily mail, the carrier

being the late Charles Devine, whose trips to town for years became a daily feature whether

the plant ran or was idle. There came a day when Mr. Walker was at the end of his

resources for working capital and had to go afield, the local market being closed to

adventure in the cash line, though credit in supplies still hung out. Mr. Walker, to bolster

his claims to having a paying proposition, exhibited the parchment called the Grand Prize

of Paris, France for the most excellent sample of graphite. That the exhibit of flake had

been microscopically hand-picked was prudently kept in the background.

In his hunt for more capital by good luck or good management, perhaps a

combination of both, Mr. Walker got Hon. J. A. Chapleau, then Secretary of State to Sir

John A. Macdonald's Cabinet, interested in graphite. Mr. Chapleau, late Sir J. A.

Chapleau, was Premier of Quebec when called to the larger field by Sir John, owing to

jealousy, principally among his colleagues from this province, Mr. Chapleau was debarred

from his rightful place in the cabinet, and had to be content with a minor position when

his ambition was to be head of the great spending department, the administration of Public

Works.

Denied this and subjected to petty annoyances as well, Chapleau quit, and with

him went the great influence which had kept the Conservative cause in vigerous life in

Quebec. He was the only French Canadian to Successfully cope with his equally

distinguished fellow-citizen, Wilfrid Laurier, then forging rapidly to the front in the high

councils of his party, and to the leadership. As a member of the Macdonald government

Mr. Chapleau played his part manfully in having Louis Riel, the Metis leader and rebel,

hanged. The hanging was the subject of a lengthy debate in the House of Commons,

Chapleau approving, Laurier condemning.

The debate betwenn these clever men, Chapleau and Laurier, was considered a

field day in the House of Commons, there was not a seat vacant in the House and all

galleries were crowded. Both memberes used the English language in debate. Chapleau

was the more fluent, not a trace of the mother tongue appearing in his effort. Laurier on

his part, while rising to high flights of eloquence, but a wrongly accented syllable or a slight

slip in grammar - correced instantly - betrayed his origin.

-3-3-3- Chapleau was emphatic in his condemnation of the Metis leader,

nationality counted for nothing, a rebel was a rebel no matter what his cloak, and death,

justly so, was his portion. Laurier, with an eye on the big province of Ontario, condemned

less the execution of Riel than he did the course of the government which had brought on

the catastrophe. Unknown to the distinguished statesmen on the floor of the House one of

the galleries contained Paul Blouet, the celebrated French writer and lecturer, who under

the nom de plume "Max O'Rell" was the author of "John Bull and his Island" and other

English stories of equal interest.

Educated in both languages "Max O"Rell" was qualified to judge of the merits

of the exchange in parliament, and he described the debate as one between a "lion-lacked

tribune of the people and a cunning fox". As Chapleau's long hair almonst brushed his

shoulders there was no doubt who the tribune was. In later years Laurier was noted for his

"white plume" which his friends were invited to follow.

(To Be Continued)

Hallowe'en - then and now I often wonder if many of our present day children think

of 'All Hallow's Eve' as anything more than a yearly occasion to dress up in costumes,

wander from one house to another, ringing the door-bells and and shouting "trick or

treat"? After many years of watching Hallowe'en being celebrated, we have come

to the conclusion that this traditional night, when ghosts, goblins, witches and other things

which were supposed to 'go bump in the night' took possesion of the early evening hours

and made this a scary time for all concerned, has become a kind of milk-taast occasion.

I have vivid memories of the tricks which were played on unco-operative

homeowners when I was a teen ager and recently found a copy of a letter sent to "the Post"

in 1964 by Mr. W. Aldridge, who grew up in Buckingham but was then living in Winnipeg.

Actually this gentleman had written to Mrs Simpson to tell her about his

recollections of early Buckingham education and happened to tell abot what took place in

Buckingham on a certain Hallowe'en Night which took place some time after his family

settled in our town.

Now let us turn back the clock to a Hallowe'en Night sometime after 1885 and

read as follows; "One thing stands out in my memory. It was the first Hallowe'en Weaver

(one of the early principale of Buckingham High Sschool) was with us. S number of the

students remained after closing time and messed up the place; cutting our names in the

desks and moving everything moveable.

"Some of the older boys seem to have had a night of it as next morning the stove

and the piping were spread out on the floor and the teacher's desk was torn from the

platform and the other desks were torn loose. The place was a shambles.

"I can still see Weaver, standing in the middle of the floor beside the colapsed

stove, leraning on his cane and telling us to go home as there would be no school for a few

days.

"Whenn school opened again he asked who had had any hand in the destruction

and he got most of them. I remember that he told us to sit on the seats in front of the front

desks and the row was filled from the teacher's desk to the front door, the larger pupils at

the back and the smaller ones at the door end. I was second or third from the door.

-2-2-2- "He got out his ruler, a round stick an inch in diameter and about eighteen

inches long, which they used to whack our hands in punishment and started at the top end.

However he stped about two thirds down the line.. We smaller ones suffered as much, or

more, than those being hit, expecting our turn to come "I believe this was the same

Hallowe'en that the young men about townn put on a particular display. There was a plow

in the fork of the tree that stood on the street infront of the old Post Office and a

buckboard and other farm machinery had been hoisted on top of the stores on the west side

of what is now Main Street".

After reading the aboveaccount, and realizing that those executing these feats of

daring had nothing more to assist them than plain brute force and possibly a large quantity

of rope, the pranks of modern engineering students pale by comparison.

Long Association With Buckingham

In a March edition of The West Quebec Post there was a report of the

tragic death of 85 year old John Arthur Hambly who was found dead near Templeton,

Quebec. He was a son of the late Fred J. Hambly who came from somewhere in England.

John had retired to the family home in Buckingham a number of years ago.

The Hambly family name has been associated with the Town of Buckingham since

1896 when he arrived in Canada to join Walter A. Williams and W. John Gibbs in the

founding of the Electric Reduction Company, the oldest chemical company in Canada.

Other founding directors were J. C. Hobbs, Plant superintendent; Fred J. Hambly,

chemist and who later became company president; Edgar Roy, accountant and Fred C.

Dunscombe, chemist.

History shows that all of these men have left their mark on their adopted town -

many of them having played major rolls in either the town's municipal or social life.

As far as I can remember Fred Hambly was never active in municipal politics but

in 1933 he was one of the outspoken critics of the manner in which the James Maclaren

Company distributed electricity in the Town of Buckingham and was an outspoken

opponent of By-Law 42 which put a flat rate of $4.00 per year for each light of 16 candle

power.

In addition to these charges Mr. Hambly also opposed the company's policy of

suplying power only in the evenings and at night. He supported a plan for a continuous

supply of metered electricalpower which was finally adopted.

Mr. and Mrs Hambly were examples of the perfect English couple and their home

at 176 Maclaren Street was one of the social centres of the Town of Buckingham. I have

memories of being invited there, with my mother, for afternoon tea and was always made

to feel as though we were as welcome as though we had been visiting with our own

relatives.

It is interesting to note that there is at least one lady in the Buckingham area who

will have memories of working as members of the Hambly household before taking up

residence in RR #2 Buckingham..

-2-2-2- A Trip To Vancouver On a recent Saturday

morning our son and his parents decided to go to Vancouver and look for a kitchen table

and chairs at the Ikea Store. Arrived at the Swartz Bay ferry terminal at about twenty to

twelve and were told that, even though there was an extra sailing, we would not be able to

get off the island until at least one. As our car is equipped with a handicapped sticker we

asked which row we were to occupy and found ourselves leaving on the noon ferry.

As a rule Saturday traffic off the island is comparatively light, but we just

happened to be traveling on the day that the B.C. and Yukon Boy Scout Jamboree came

to a close - adding 1,600 Scouts, leaders and their many vehicles to the large number of

people who had apparently decided to go for a Sunday trip to the mainland.

Arrived at Ikea and had one of the wonderful meals featured in their cafeteria and

then started looking at the many items they had on display. Actually we would liked to have

refurnished our whole house, but held ourselves to the items we were looking for.

Actually the above statement is not quite accurate, as son John came upon a plant

he just had to have - even though it was five feet tall. The furniture fitted into the back

portion of our wagon, with Vivian sharing the second seat with the plant and trying to see

between the leaves to give directions to the driver.

-4-4-4- During our hour and a half trip back to Vancouver

Island we met four ferries on the way to the mainland and arriving back at Schwartz Bay

found the lot was still full, with cars waiting for a short distance down the highway. With

the average ferry carrying about two hundred assorted vehicles it would have been

interesting to know what the total traffic was for that day's operation.

Hockey History The sport of hockey has

always been synominous with the Town Of Buckingham. From its first beginnings in the

early 1890's, hockey steadily gained in popularity until, one year in the 1950's, the Town

of Buckingham had teams in the bantam, midget, juvenile, junior, intermediate and senior

hockey leagues during the same season. Actually it was in junior and intermediate hockey

that Buckingham teams made their name. For many years our intermediate team played

in the L.O.H.A. (Lower Ottawa Hockey Association) and were many times the winner of

The MacLaren Cup, emblematic of the championship of this league, We still have vivid

memories of the trials and tribulations faced by our team during a war-time season. That

year the Royal Canadian Air Force had a team in Lower Ottawa Hockey Association and

were set on winning the league's championship and going on for a crack at the Allan Cup.

To be sure of winning they drafted a number of players from the National Hockey League,

including the famous Kraut Line of Smyth, Bower and Dumart. It may have been a thrill

for the spectators to have these famous players performing in our arena - but the local

boys, playing for the "Aces", did not have the chance of the proverbial "snowball in

hades". Incidentlt the RCAF won the Allan Cup that year. Our Junior Hockey teams also

performed extremely well. Although I remember that the team was called the "Buckingham

Beavers", I do not remember the name of the league in which they played. I have vivid

memories of watching Jim Jamer, the goal tender, handling everything that the opposition

could shoot at the Buckingham nets. He later went on to play for the intermediate team,

where he also distinguished himself. On the same junior team we also remember Bruce

Laforce, Lyall Sicard, Phillip Fong and a number of others, whose names escape us at the

moment. Following this brief look at fairly modern hockey history it would be appropriate

to go back and reprint a story about the beginnings of hockey in the Town of Buckingham

as prepared and published in The Post by the late Albert Hamilton Parker. "Amongst the

earliest promoters of hockey in Buckingham were Messrs A. O. Anderson and O. L.

MacLeod, and their efforts were largely due to the organization of the first club, which was

formed at a meeting held on the evening of Monday, December 18th, 1893.

-2-2-2- "The active officers elected at that

meeting were: President, Mr. Alexander MacLaren; vice-president, W. E. Middleton;

secretary-treasurer, Mr. O. L. MacLeod; while the honorary president was the late Mr. S.

P. Franchot, who was ever ready and willing to help forward any agency which tended to

effect an improvement in the social life of his adopted town. (Mr. Franchot also had

another claim to fame - being the father of the late Franchot-Tone the motion picture star).

"Unfortunately the minutes of that meeting are not amongst the archives of the club, but

a good record of subsequent meetings are found in the secretary's minute book, we think

an epitone there-from of the early history of the club will be interesting at the present

time. "During the first two years of the club's existance, the rink was a very crude building

adjoining an old house which stood on the Gorman property, nearly in front of the site of

the present rink. (Note by later editor: This was possibly on the site of the present Leger

Photo Studio.) Access to the ice was obtained through this old house, which was used as

dressing and club rooms, and during the first season the rink was lighted with oil lamps

backed by refelectors. "There is hardly a spectator of hockey in the present day in

Buckingham who does not instantly detect the slightest infraction of the off-side rule, but

in those days it seemed almost impossible to make it understood, and old players can recall

occasions when it was even necessary to explain this rule to the refree. The "loafing

off-side" was prevalent at all matches, and players were reproved by their supporters for

not remaining near to their opponent's goal, ready to shoot in the puck when lifted to them.

"A necessary qualification for a defence player in those days was to be able to lift the puck

from end to end, a style of play that is resorted to now by first class clubs. One also

frequently heard appologies expressed for unintentional foul play. "In the winter of 1894

the club played its first match away from home against Hawkesbury, and met with defeat.

The players who represented Buckingham in that match were Alex paquette, A. O.

Anderson, W. E. Middleton, Ozzie MacLeod, Albert MacLaren, Sam Gillies, Nelson

Bothwell, George Parker and John Lough; and it was a very bad defeat, indeed, that this

group could not advance a plausible reason for.

-3-3-3-

"In

December, 1894, at the beginning of the second season, an agreement was entered into with

Mr. Gorman, the proprietor, under which the club was to have the use of the rink three

evenings each week when not required for carnivals or other special events; each member

of the club was the holder of a season skating ticket, which cost him 50 cents more than it

cost the ordinary skater. "A prominent feature of those early hockey years was the

sporting disposition displayed by so many of the leading businessmen who thought it not

derogatory to their dignity to take part in local matches for the benefit of the club, the

Patriotic Fund, or other worthwhile objective. "No more amusing spectacle has ever taken

place at the rink than when such stalwarts as Wm. McIntosh, C. W. Pearson, W. A.

Williams, Alex MacLaren, Captain Bothwell and other "Benedicts" lined up against "The

Bachelors" of such like calibre, such as J. F. Higginson, John Lough, W. A. MacCallum and

others. Who, that witnessed these matches, will ever forget the pleadings of one player "to

be lifted back onto his feet" another "to be turned around" or the expression of "bulldog

daring" on the face of another as he clung to the rink on one side, nicely calculating time

and distance for the purpose of intercepting in mid ice, an opponent's rush, as he rushed

for cover at the opposite side of the rink himseld." -30-

Hon. Romeo Lorrain When a person starts thinking about the many

Buckingham boys who have gone on to make names for themselves, in various fields of

endeavour, one of the first names to come to mind is that of Romeo Lorrain, who

represented the County of Papineau in the Quebec Legislative assembly for more than

thirty years.

During this time," Uncle Romeo" as he was affectionately called by friend and foe

alike, did more to leave his mark on his home town than any other politician before or

since. I remember sitting through many a council meeting and recording motion after

motion requesting the secretary-treasurer to write to the Deputy for Papineau Country

asking his assistance for this or that project, and these requests for assistance were seldom

ignored.

Personally I do not remember him during the period that he was in the service of

"Le Droit", but do remember seeing him in a "Nyall" drug store which he operated on

Main Street.

It was mainly due to Romeo Lorrain's love for his home town that our children

were able to be educated in four new modern high schools; which included, St Michael's

Academy, The Convent, Buckingham High School and Our Lady of Victory High School.

Sorry to say I do not remember whether or not Mr. Lorrain had anything to do with the

construction of the Polyvalent School.

Uncle Romeo can also be thanked for having most of the town's streets paved, at

no cost to the community as well as being responsible for substantial grants towards the

building of Buckingham's present Town Hall. He was also responsible for replacing the old

covered bridge connecting the West Ward with the remainder of the town and later had

the viaduct built from the east side of this bridge to connect with Main Street at the Post

Office.

He also did not forget the Buckingham sportsmen; being responsible for the

construction of the old Buckingham Arena, the Joseph McAndrew Baseball Park, as well

as paving a court for the Buckingham Tennis Club and assisted the Buckingham Lions Club

when they installed public tennis courts beside the arena.

The above mentioned works speak highly of the way Uncle Romeo thought about

his home town, but only a few people knew about the thousands of dollars of his own

money that this man spent to assist local people who were down on their luck. -2-2-2-2-

At one time I was told by Romeo Lorrain's private secretary that I would not believe

him if he told me the amount of money his boss spent on charity every year. Back in the

days before World War 11 and the advent of universal medical care it was rumored that

Romeo paid to have a great many children's teeth repaired as well as for many an

operation. He also provided money to help out of work men to feed their families.

In later years these demands upon his generosity became so great that our deputy

was seldom seen on the streets of Buckingham, as he spent his time in the area at his

summer home at Long Lake.

But let us now pause and take a look at the biography of the Hon. Romeo Lorrain

as it appeared in a book put out in 1960 to honour him on his 25 years of service to Quebec

and the County of Papineau.

-------------- "Born at

Buckingham on May 26th, 1901, Hon. Romeo Lorrain comes from a highly-esteemed family.

The family was a large one and seven children still survive. Hon. Lorrain is the son of

Joseph-Alfred Lorrain and Marie Roy, who are both deceased. He still lives in his home

at 123-125 Maclaren Street East, in Buckingham.

After attending the St. Michel de Buckingham Superior School, Mr. Lorrain

continued with his commercial and classical studies.

"When 19 years old, he entered the service of "Le Droit", an Ottawa newspaper.

He was one of the founders of "La Region De Buckingham", a daily page in "Le Droit",

where he wrote on social, regional and national issues. Some of his articles have stirred

widespread interest.

"Mr. Lorrain was one of the main founders and a president of the Canadian

Catholic Youth Organization's Cercle Chatelain which was awarded a national action

trophy on three consecutive years. A member of several clubs and associations, he has

always been interested in the development of his region and particularly of his own county.

The devotion he has shown to agricultural, social and sports circles has greatly benefited

his fellow-citizens. When he reached the age of 32, Mr. Lorrain became the head of three

prosperous business firms and administrator of a farm and several properties. -3-3-3-3-

"Mr. Lorrain joined Union Nationale ranks from the very start and soon he was one

of its most active members. In 1935, he was elected member for Papineau, a riding which

had alway voted Liberal. He was successively re-elected in 1936, 1939, 1944, 1948, 1952

and

1956.

In 1948, Hon. Lorrain married Miss Lucienne Smith, a registered nurse who

worked at Montreal's Notre Dame Hospital. A graduate of the University of Montreal, she

took an active interest in her husband's career and quickly won the esteem of the Papineau

county population.

When Mr. Lorrain was first elected in 1935, a Montreal newspaper said of him:

"Mr. Lorrain is a young man who will go far. His past activities in journalism, business

and in several associations have prepared him admirably well for the important role he will

be called upon to play in the Legislative Assembly." It was not long before this

prediction became a reality. Indeed, in 1946, the Premier gave him the Public Works

portfolio which he still holds today. Every one knows of Mr. Lorrain's characteristic good

humor and of his eagerness to help his fellow-citizens such as by serving on associations to

help the needy. Mr. Lorrian's devotion to duty has won him countless friends and the

esteem of all the people who know him. A tireless worker who can always measure up to

the various tasks entrusted to him, Mr. Lorrain has known success in many and varied

fields.

In addition to his numerous responsibilities as Minister of Public Works and as

the representative of Papineau riding, a county of 47 centres, Hon. Lorrain has often

performed additional tasks in the Quebec Government. He has served successively, for

various lengths of time, as interim minister of Labor, Lands and Forests, Hydraulic

Resources, Mines, Trade and Commerce and as Provincial Secretary.

A remarkable thing about Mr. Lorrain is that each time he has fallen ill, he has

kept on directing his Department from his sick or convalescent bed through daily contacts

with his top officers. Mr. Lorrain has never abandoned his practice of opening his own

mail and of taking a personal interest in the problems, needs and progress of all sectors of

his extensive riding. His accomplishments are a testimony of his untiring devotion to his

riding and to his electors.

To Be Continued

Hon Romeo Lorrain Part Two

"Another victory awaits Hon Romeo Lorrain in the forthcoming election.

Papineau County electors are once again eafer to give to their devoted representative in the

Quebec parliament a token of their esteem, admiration and gratitude for all he has done

for them, and for the Counry of Papineau in general. The people of Papineau want Mr.

Lorrain to continue the good work he has accomplished in his 25 years of political life."

The above predication, as it appeared in his biography, proved to be true and Hon

Romeo Lorrain continued to represent the Counry of papineau until his death in the late

1960's. It is the opinion of yor columnist that in latter years the electors of Papineau County

actually voted for the man and not the party as he retained his seat even during the periods

when the Liberals took over the government of the province.

At this time it would be appropriate to go back to October, 1959 and read about

Romeo Lorrain's 25th Anniversary Celebrations as recounted in the Buckingham Post. On

reading the following story and looking at the date, there is no doubt that this was one of

my stories, even though I was not given a byline for my editorial effort. In all honesty I

must admit that I do not have any recollections of this Papineauville gathering, but after

nearly thirty years, a story would have thad to be very spectaculry to still come readily to

mind.

"Over 2,000 citizens from all walks of life converged on Sunday afternoon,

October 4th, to pay honour to the Hon. Romeo Lorrain, Minister of Public Works, in the

Quebec Cabinet. The occasion was to mark the completion of the twenty-five years Mr.

Lorrain has represented Papineau County in the Province of Quebec Legislature.

Hundreds of cars, led by the Gatinueau cadets and their drum and bugle band,

escorted the guest of honour and his wife from their residence on Maclaren Street in

Buckingham, to Papineauville where they were met by hundreds of Hon. Mr. Lorrian's

constituants and the Buckingham Band, under the direction of Bandmaster Laurier Moran.

Flags and banners decorated the route and brief stops were made at Thurso and

Plaisance, where arches had been erected.

The complimentary banquet took place in the Papineauville Arena and was

presided over by Paul Bonhomme, who headed the committee of 100 members. -2-2-2-2-

Master of ceremonies was Levis Lorrain, a brother of the Minister, who read a

message from Premier Paul Sauve extending his best wishes to his colleague in the cabinet

and regretting he was unable to be present on account of a prior committment. Other

congratulatory messages were read including thanks from 45 municipalities and 46 school

boards in the county.

Among the guests were Hon. Olier Renaud of the Legistlative Council of the

Provice of Quebec; five Cabinet Minisers, Hon. William Cottingham, Minister of Mines;

Hon. Paul Dozois, Minister of Municipal Affairs; Hom. Jean Jacques Bertrand, Minister

of Lands and Forests; Hon. Daniel Johnson, Minister of Hydraulic Resources; and Hon.

Gerard Thibault, Minister without Portfolio.

Also present wer the following members of the Legistature; Gerard Desjardins

of Gatineau; Fernand Lafontaine of Labelle; J. L. Blanchard of Terrebonne, Parliamentary

Assistant to Mr. Lorrain, and Raymond Johnston of Pontiac.

All the above guests gave addresses as did Paul Bonhomme and Camille Poliquin,

Mayor of Duhamel; all the speakers referred to the work of the Minister during the

quarter-century he represetnted the riding and stated that he had obtained in grants the

sum of $45,072,000. from the various provincial departments.

This sum was divided as follows: agriculture, $4,067; colonization $1,250,000;

social welfare, pensions, $3,690,000; public health, $3,000,000; schools $6,500,000; grants

for youth welfare, $215,000; lands and forests $250,000; bridges, $9,500,000; fire protection,

$350,000; roads and highways, $16,000,000; and help to mining industries in the

construction of roads, $250,000.

It was noted that Papineau County, thanks to Mr. Lorrain, possesses some of the

finest schools of the province. In the past 25 years, 70 new schools were built and

important grants were obtained for school boards who faced deficits.

The Minister obtained a sum of $9,500,000 during the past 15 years for the the

reconstruction of bridges in his riding. Important brdges were built at Buckingham,

Masson, Notre de la Salette, Val des Bois and another on the Nation River between

Papineauville and St. Andre Avellin. -3-3-3- The vast improvement in highways

was also spoken of, especially on the Hull-Montreal Highway, the paving of Highway 35

past Notre Dame de la Salette and the continued improvement of the same highway almonst

as far as Val des Bois.

Mayor Roland Theoret of Gatuneau presented a watch to the Minister while Mrs.

Hector Bourgeois presented a saphire and diamond ring to Mrs. Lorrian. A niece, Jose

Bleau and a nephew, Robert Smith, presented Mrs. Lorrain with a purse offered by the

family. Flowers were also presented to Mrs. Lorrain by Miss Marie Theoret, daughter of

Mayor Theoret.

Mr. Lorrain was deeply moved by the manifestation of respect and confidence

given to him by so many of his connstituants and expressed his sencere and heartfelt

thanks.

He said that when he was elected in 1935, Papineau County was almost unknown

to the rest of the Province, but since then he had been able to obtain grants for

improvements to highways, construction of numerous bridges and schools.

He also pointed to the cooperation and harmony existing in the county between

all religions, races and social groups which helped considerable to give the county true

democracy in every sense of the word. In conclusion, Mr. Lorrian said tha the Province of

Quebec could face future with confidence because it is one of the most important provinces

in the whole Dominion of Canada.

So ended a day of honour to and triumph for Hon. Romeo Lorrain, our

representative at Quebec for the past twenty-five years".

HISTORY OF HORSESHOE BAY The

following history of Horseshoe Bay's rise and fall was writted as "Old Time Stuff" and

appeared in the issue of an Ottawa newspaper dated November 13th, 1931. Horseshoe Bay

is that section of the north bank of the Ottawa River running east from the present

Masson- Cuberland Ferry landing. Although this area is strictly devoted to cottages and a

few permanent residences at the present time, a reader will gather from the following story

that this area was once a thriving industrial centre. We know that Mr. Albert Parker was

the first local correspondent for the Ottawa Citizen, but do not know if the following was

one of his many brain children. Alas, we are diverging slightly and better back off and let

the author, whovere he was, tell the story:- -----------

"Horseshoe Bay, on the shores of the Ottawa River, near Masson, came

into prominence in the early seventies when the Swift and Courtney and Beecher Company

started a match splint factory situated there, the output going to the United States. The first

manager of the plant was Mr. Edmonds, who emphasized a short residence by falling in

love and marrying a Buckingham belle of tha time, Miss Rose Ann Stars.

"Mr. Edmonds later, for reason which became patent in a short time, was

superceeded in the management of the concern by another American, the late Edward

Prince. Under Mr. Prince the business was taken over by the Diamond Match Company

and expanded to take in a sawmill and lumber operations in the bush.

"The splint operations were on a large scale. One year the company bought from

Ross Brothers the quantity of 300 cords of deal buttings, which formerly went into wood

bringing 25 cents a cart load. This sale gave Ross Brothers $3,000 or $10.00 per cord, not

a bad price for refuse for the times. The sale created a sensation for the moment.

"Horseshoe Bay was then at the zenith of its prosperity. After Mr. Prince's

removal the business started on the down grade, bush operations were discontinued, splint

manufacturing was stopped, the business being restricted to the making of pine match

blocks for export.

-2-2-2- "When the sawmill

ceased operations,and there was scarcely a corporal's guard of men for Mr. Panet, the

manager to look after. Then came the final order to close up, and what was a most thriving

business, giving work to over four score of hands, many of whom owned their own homes,

became a thing of the past, the former employees scattering to be absorbed by other

activities which the brightening period had brought into existance.

"The propoerty later came into the hands of the late W. H. Kelly, well known

lumberman of Buckingham, who turned the sawmill to account in his activities as a

contractor, supplying lumber and timber to the Montreal Harbour Commission.

"The property has degenerated in usefulness and value from year to year A

couple of years ago someone conceived the bright idea of turning the Prince residence into

a roadhouse; but the scheme fell through owing to the disinclination of the Quebec Liquor

Commission to liscense the place because of the comparative seclusuion of the locality,

which in its opinion, lent itself to the abuse of privileges. Our local member, Mr. Desiree

Lahaie frowned upon the proposition, which strengthened the hands of the Commission in

the refusal.

(Editor's Note) In the edition off "The Post" dated November 13th, 1931, Mr.

Parker comments on the previous article that appeared in an Ottawa newspaper and goes

on to suggest some changes and additions to the story. The article in this edition of his

newspaper runs as follows:) "Occasionally a newspaper writer draws upon his

imagination for his facts and gets rapped over the knuckles for his slip. Some overdrawn

incidents and misstatments in a recent bunch of the "Old Time Stuff" in an Ottawa

newspaper came in for a mild castigation at the hands of one of the persons treated

disparagingly.

"Old Time Stuff, unless written from first hand knowledge, is most unreliable.

And reminiscences in general, unless backed by a good memory, are not to be depended

upon either; and if there is a tendence to embroidery, facts suffer correspondingly and the

story becomes doubly unreliable.

"A writer of Old Time Stuff, or something similar in nature, dealing with

Horseshoe Bay publishes some facts, second hand, and leaves out deltail which are very

essential to the story. The Diamond Match -3-3-3-3-

Company, though not the first concern to manufacture in Horseshoe Bay, gets

mention to the exclusion of the original company, The Swift and Courtney and Beecher

people. Mention is made of match blocks, but not of splints ready for dipping. Mr. Prince,

the manager, is left altogether aside, and a labourer is brought into prominence. Other

details left out make the tale resemble something very incomplete, as though taken from a

diary with important leaves missing".

--------- ---

(Parting Thoughts) During our youth we remember being taken to Horseshoe Bay by

members of our immediate family and remember being pointed out the large wooden house

which was said to have been the home of Mr. Prince. A number of years later we were

again on the scene when members of the Masson Fire Brigade were called to the scene to

fight a fire which almost completely destroyed this aging structure. The memory of this fire

is very strong and we have pictures somewhere taken at the scene of the confligration.

-30-

Early Days Of St, Michael's Hospital (Part Two)

In last week's column we outlined the events which led to the

founding of St. Michael's Hospital, with its motto "The Doors That Never Close" and went

on to tell about some of the hardship endured by those early members of the Order of the

Grey Nuns of the Cross as recounted by Rev. Sister St. Constance. This week we will take

a look at the gradual expansion of services which eventually made 'Hopital Saint Michel'

the fine institution that it is to-day.

Records show that as early as 1906 surgery was practiced at St. Michael's Hospital.

Experienced surgeons willingly came from Ottawa or even Montreal. The names of Doctors

Provost, Chevrier, Chabot, Sherrington, Valin, Bourque, Lamy, Hooper and others appear

here and there in the chronicles of the hospital. Since 1915 Buckingham doctors usually

took care of their own surgical cases.

It is hard to believe that a hospital could operate without an X-Ray machine and

an elevator, but these every-day pieces of equipment did not come into service at St.

Michael's until late in the 1920's. What a treasure! What a relief when both were installed.

Rev. Sister St. Helene, superior in 1926, realized the utter necessity of an X-Ray

machine. It was purchased a year later, thanks to the enthusiastic co-operation of local

citizens, as well as a substantial grant from the Provincial Government and generous

donations from local industries.

In 1929 an Otis-Fenson elevator was running up and down between the floors, to

the utmost satisfaction of all concerned. No more exhausting carrying up or down of

in-coming or out-going patients. The building of the elevator pit offered an opportunity of

adding two rooms on the ground floor, a children's ward on the second floor and a baby

department on the third floor. The hospital had entered into a real era of progress.

In September 1930 the institution celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary and this

event took on the proportions of a city wide celebration. The hospital was open to visitors

for several days, with the general comment being 'It's too small, much too small'.

Yes, it was much too small indeed. More than 500 patients had been admitted

since the beginning of the year. The Quebec Government was approached and on January

31st, 1931, Mr. Desire Lahaie, Deputy for the -2-2-2- Counry, notified Rev. Sister Louis

Eugene that the government would provide a grant od $45,000 to help erect a wing to the

original building. This raised the bed capacity to 65.

The new wing was completed in 1932 and Sister Louis Eugene had been replaced

by Sister Jeanne de Montfort. Following a decrease in admissions during the depression

years, the work load steadily increased to 683 in 1940; over 1,000 in 1943. When Sister St.

Firmin became superior in the summer of 1947 the number of patients admitted since

January 1st had reached 1,679. Either the building would have to be enlarged or else it

would collapse due to interior congestion.

In 1948, through the generosity of the Hon. Albiny Paquette, deputy for Labelle,

a grant of $25,000 enabled the Sisters to construct a two storey addition in which a modern

heating system with stokers was installed. Room was also provided for storage and room

was provided for the engineer and the hospital attendants.

The next step in the transformation of St. Michael's into a modern institution

came in 1949 by an almost magic bounty; Hon Romeo Lorrain obtained a further grant of

$350,000.00 for the hospital. In addition the Fedewral Ministry of National Health provided

a building grant of $1,000.00 per bed capacity. The total bed capacity of the hospital is

now 150.

Construction commenced in April 1951, with Collet Freres Co. of Montreal as

general contractor. Labour furnished by local employees proved satisfactory. During the

summer holidays college boys from Buckingham, Masson, Papineauville and Ottawa were

engaged for manual labour and the dilligence manner in which they accomplished their

assigned tasks reminded the regular workmen of their own youthful enthusiasm.

The cornerstone was laid on August 20th, 1951. In this cornerstone has been sealed

medals and small statues; a copy each of the important French Newspapers, of Le

Flambeau and of The Buckingham Post; coins of the year 1952; the names of the religious

authorities and of the civil authorities; those of the Sisters of the Hospital and of the

Convent; of the general contractor and of the sub contractors; and of the doctors, nurses

and servants actually present in the hospital. -3-3-3- The preceeding historical

sketch would not be complete without a notice of the nursing personnel trained within our

walls since 1930. At that time a regular School of Nursing was opened with the approval

of the Provincial Ministry of Health and the Provincial Association of Qualified Nurses.

Sister St Constance acted as directress.

When the provincial Association of Nurse raised their qualifications, St Michael's

Hospital decided that they could not cope with these new rules, and Sister St. Gideon, the

Superior, decided to train Practical Nurses.

Amongst the Praactical Nurses we find the names of the following Buckingham

ladies: 1942-Juliette Chartrand and Jacqueline Lavergne: 1944-Jeannine Latour, Gertrude

Cameron and Reine Fauvelle; 1946-Julia Simard, Rolande Chartrand, Jacqueline

Desjardins, Pauline dauvelle, Rolande Fauvelle and Georgette Hewson; 1950-Chantal

Lemay, Madeleine Chartrand, Huguette Fauvelle and Denise Fauvelle; 1951-Rita Lemieux

and Andrea Parent.

(Editor's Note: A number of years before we left Buckingham St Michael's

Hospital was again expanded. This time the old stone sections of the institution was

demolished and replaced by a new three storey building, attached to the 1951 addition and

extending west almost to Belanger Street. We do not know what other changes have been

made to this place of healing in the past seventeen years but are sure that the hospital and

its staff are stll dedicated to caring for the residents of Buckingham and the surrounding

territory.

-30-

Life In The Early Days of St Michael's Hospital (Part One) St

Michael's Hospital - "The Doors That Never Close" is the title proudly displayed on the

1956 Souvenir Programme commemorating the 50th Annivarsary of this institution as well

as an account of the dedication of the members of the Grey Nuns of the Cross, who showed

untiring devotion to the care of the sick and the injured in our community.

In 1902, during a conversation with the Most Reverend Archbishop Duhamel,

Lady Minto, wife of the Governor General, suggested that Buckingham should have a

"Cottage" type hospital and His Excellency replied that he would see to it in the near

future. Before leaving Canada, Lady Minto again reminded the Archbishop of his promise.

Actually the people of Buckingham have Rev. Canon Michel to thank for making

St. Michael's Hospital a reality. As the result of a suggestion from his Archbishop, Canon

Michel ceded to the Congregation of the Grey Nums of the Cross a piece of land on Denis

Street (now MacLaren Street East) having a fromtage of 400 feet and a depth of 197 feet.

To this generous gift he added, by transfer, the $5,600 he had loaned to the Parish of St.

Gregory. It was through this generosity that Canon Michel should be considered the true

founder of St. Michael's Hospital and its first distinguished benefactor in Buckingham.

Work on the new hospital started on June 6th, 1905 and on June 30th The Most

Rev. Archbishop Duhamel blessed the corner stone. The building itself was blessed on Good

Friday, April 30th, 1906 by Rev. Father E. Croteau, local parish priest.

From April to September the Sisters were busy furnishing the rooms, with the

population in general and industries helping financially. The Maclaren Company itself

furnished two private rooms, a seemi-private room and the children's ward.

The first patient, Mr. Boudrias, was admitted on September 17th, 1906. He came

from Notre Dame-de-Pontmain. A week later a strike broke out at the Maclaren Company

saw mill and three strikers and five policemen, all severely wounded, were admitted.

But what was life like for the Sisters of The Grey Nuns of The Cross in the early

days of St. Michael's Hospital? To answer this question we are going to quote from the

writer of the 50th Anniversary Programme as well as from the experiences of Sister St.

Constance, one of the original members of the Order posted to St. Michael's Hospital.

-2-2-2- For several years, poverty and lack of conveniences made the life

of the Sisters one of daily fatigue and sacrifice. This often passed unnoticed to others, but

time has brought a remedy. It would be a mistake to think, on looking at the megnificent

building lately erected, that sacrifice and fatigue would, from now on, be eliminated from

the life of of the sisters and their aids. No! Sacrifice and fatigue always accompany the

intergal fulfilment of one's duty.

Some thirty years ago, and even later, the conditions of life in at the hospital were

a strain on the best trmpered, the most courageous and the most energetic. Sister St.

Constance, who experienced this early life, has given us a portrait of the situation, not

devoid of humor.

"We could not use electricity inthe house she writes, except for a couple of hours

in the eveninhg. The pressing occupations of the day obliged us to do the laundry after eight

p.m. The ironing was done afterwards. The only mechanical ironer we had was two feeot

long; however we managed to pass sheets, pillow covers, towels and handkerchiefs through

the wooden rollers.

The rest of the ironing was done by hand. Twice a week, washing and ironing

would keep us up until late at nigh, though we were very tired from the day's work. Sister

Albertine, then superior, lightened the burden by preparing for us a good midnight lunch.

Early rising was the rule; we had to go to Mass at the parish church. We were

too poor for servants; all the cleaning of any kind had to be done by the Nuns.

"The house was cold. During the winter months , the younger Nuns took turns in

going down to the cellar during the night to keep the fire going. The furnace man always

went home at six o'clock and did not come back until eigh o'clock the following day. We

found it hard to get up in the cold of the night. When the fire was lighted, we hastened

upstairs, muffling every footfall so as not to disturb those who slept.

"But our elderly lady patients had a keen ear. They usuall heard us.

'Ding...Ding..."would go the little bell at their bedside. They wanted a hot drink of some

kind. So, the young "Furnace Nun" would go down to the kitchen, light the stove and heat

the desired beverage. The old ladies would sip it with such relish that we forgot the trouble.

-3-3-3- "it did happen now and then that two or three of these aged persons would

keep us up until the early hours of the morning ... thus unconsciously reducing to a

minimum, sometimes to nothing, the few hours of sleep we could have enjoyed.

"We had no stoves on the different floors of the building. We had to go to the

ground floor kitchen for a cup of hot broth or a poultice or a compress. To sterilize the

dressings we took the tiny Arnold Sterilizer to the kitchen, placed it on the hot plate of

the stove so that it would heat faster. 'Economize Coal' was the slogan - - - we were really

poor. Notwithstanding this poverty we made some headway; patients came in and the

hospital progressed". The day came when there were twenty patients at a time; later on

there were thirty. The Nuns could certainly not be ladies of leisure.

Under the administration of Sister St. Telesphore, charitable organizations took

various capacities; Tag Days, lawn parties, taffy parties, card parties, pound parties and

what not. Everybody contributed to make them a success. some as organizations, other -

this was the majority of the people - as partakers or donators. Usually these parties turned

out to be "Socials" of a very amusing nature. There was always a large attendance.

The anonymous charities of an entire population were more than necessary, since

the needy patients were quite numerous in those days. No "Blue Cross" existed then. It was

only in 1925, through Mr. Desiree Lahaie's influence, St Michael's Hospital benefited from

thee 'Public Assistance' allowance.

It was through prodigious economies that Sister St. telesphore succeeded in putting

in a modern laundry.

To Be continued

St Michael's Contribution To Sport Although very

few people are aware of the fact, St Michael's High School has had a profound effect on all

types of sports in the Town of Buckingham. As "The Buckingham Post" editor, Mr. Albert

Parker pointed out in a story published on Noverber 1st, 1935, if it had not been for the

St. Michael's College ice rink many scholars would never have had the chance to learn the

art of skating. As far as we know St Michael's was the first school in the Town of

Buckingham to have an ice rink in its playground during the winter and open its facilities

to the town's citizens, whether young or old.

By the time that your columnist came upon the scent this situation had greatly

improved - with a public rink on Denis Street maintained by the Knights of Columbus as

well as another rink at the Buckingham High School, which was also open to all and

sundry. Although I did skate on all of the above mentioned rinks I never attained the

skating skill necessary to play hockey.

Personally I remember the bitter rivalry that existed between the Buckingham

High School and St Michael's College teams, with supposedly friendly games turning into

veritable doneybrooks - even though these memories go back some fifty odd years the game

itself still seems to have the same effect on players, whether they are minor or major league

players. But on to the sports picture as painted by Mr. Parker some fifty or so years ago.

------- But for the ice rinks on the summer playgrounds of St.

Michael's College many scholars would have no place to learn the art of skating or to have

hockey practice. Strange as it may seem to those who remember Buckingham in the balmy

hockey days, and who then may have thought the popular game woul