Stories

Fleece, Lorne # 221 *

Honoured by Robert Becksted.

 

Herewith is his story commemorating his significant participation in developing and recording the history of the City of North Bay, where he now lives.

Lorne Fleece was born in Kirkland Lake at 106 Taylor Avenue on April 10, 1932.  His wife was Rita and they had three children and eight grandchildren.

He was employed by Ontario Northland Tele-communications for 37 years and two years as the Archivist for the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.  Lorne wrote eight articles and reports on Northern Ontario history including the T & NO plus the ONR.

In this participation he frequently visited the archives in Toronto and Ottawa for ten years collecting pertinent information on this matter.

Lorne provided extensive assistance to this City’s Municipal Heritage Committee for three years in the preparation of the “illustrative Guide to Heritage Properties in the City of North Bay” which was published in 2006.  His knowledge was gained over 39 years that became extensively valuable in our researching the development of the CPR & CNR Railway Stations.

Together with the ONR, these railways established this City as the “Gateway of the North”, which achieved “coast to coast to coast” rail service in this nation.

Lorne was much experienced in communication that secured safe passage of goods and passengers travelling in opposite directions on a single track.  Procedural orders were then conveyed with the “Morse Code”.  He has been recently teaching some interested youngsters that method of conversing.

Together with a “cross arm”, this can be employed in the operation of the model train service currently circulating the Waterfront Park.

Lorne Fleece deserves significant recognition of his major contribution to the history of this City. I am proud to present him as a member of those to be identified on a Leaf of Inspiration included in the Waterfront Pergola declaring Lorne Fleece.

Becksted, Walter Frederick #220 *

Honoured by Robert Becksted.

Walter Frederick Becksted

Herewith is his story commemorating his affiliation with the heritage of North Bay’s CPR Station.

Walter was transferred to North Bay from Montreal in the early 1940’s as official Signals Supervisor of the CPR, covering a principal territory of the east/west rail line between the Ontario provincial borders of Quebec and Manitoba.

This was the evolution of the Becksted family history which began in St. John’s (now St. Jean) Quebec.  At that time, all four brothers administered the signals territory of the CPR in the eastern half of this first coast to coast railway in Canada.

They formed a significant component of our national heritage that centered in the City of North Bay.  The youngest brother, Russell, became the signals foreman in St. John’s, Quebec, responsible to the signals engineer Ted who administered the Quebec territory through Montreal.  In Ontario another brother, Bob, served as the signals engineer head quartered in Toronto, to whom Walter responded as signals supervisor from North Bay.

As it occurred across the nation, diesel replaced steam engines, which enlarged the space between divisional points of equipment service.  This resulted in the transfer of all staff from North Bay to Sudbury, including Walter in his position.

This occurred in 1960 when he was 62 years of age, which consequently resulted in his return to North Bay when he reached the company specification of retirement at 65.

During the lives of Walter and his wife Violet they had two children, me and my sister Norma, two grandchildren Karen and Scott and five great grandchildren subsequently.

Until he deceased in 1987, Walter was a constant personage of this City’s heritage era.  In all of the years of his employment here he occupied a second floor office of our historic CPR Station; it was actually the birthplace of the City of North Bay.

 

Moher, Father Peter #298 *

Honoured by St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church.

Father Peter Moher was born on February 15, 1954 in North Bay.  He was the second of four children, son of Rose and John Moher.  He attended elementary school at St. Hubert’s, St. Rita’s and Mother St. Bride.  He spent much time exploring, hiking and getting into mischief.  He would concoct schemes and practical jokes to drive his siblings crazy.  At a very young age, Fr. Peter began to take piano lessons.  He diligently practised before and after school and could easily pick up tunes from the radio and play them by ear.  He especially loved ‘The Beatles’ and was thrilled to see them guest star on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’.

Fr. Peter’s high school years were spent at Scollard Hall.  It would be hard to find a more faithful or loyal fan of all things ‘green and gold’!  Hockey and football games were never missed, particularly the ‘east/west’ tournament.  He also entertained patrons at ‘The Golden Dragon’ restaurant by playing dinner music on the piano.  It was during his high school years that he began to consider the priesthood as his calling.  After taking one year at Nipissing University, and completing his A.R.C.T certificate in piano, he headed to Resurrection College at the University of Waterloo.  After his ordination, he became the pastor of a number of churches in this diocese.  Some of these included Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Elliot Lake and Manitouwage.

During his adult life, Fr. Peter would continue to share his musical abilities.  For a number of years, he was part of a group of singing priests known as ‘The Hidden Talents’. He loved to entertain with his jokes, puns and flying fingers.  In his spare time, he liked nothing better than to ‘hit the road’ with the C.D. player as his trusty companion, and multiple stops at Tim Horton’s or McDonald’s.

Although he enjoyed all of his assignments, he was happiest in his hometown of North Bay, or being near enough to visit on his day off.  For the past 12 years, he has happily been the pastor of St. Peter’s parish.  During this time, he took great pride in watching the waterfront being developed, and loved to walk through the park and ‘show it off’ to visitors and relatives.  As of September, 2012, Fr. Peter will be transferred to Sudbury.  It seemed only fitting that his parishioners would decide to honour him with a leaf on the pergola.

Father Peter could be described as an ‘ordinary person who has been extraordinary’.  He is a sincere and faith—gilled pastor who cares deeply for each person in his parish.  He can be as serious or light hearted as the occasion allows.  He delivers inspiring sermons to young and old, plays the piano before Masses, and his singing voice is a beautiful expression of prayer.  Father Peter will be greatly missed, but we wish him the best of luck in the future and hope he visits often and strolls under the pergola.

 

Carruthers, Dr. J.B. #1851 *

Dr. J.B. Carruthers

Honoured by his grandnieces Beth Palmer Snyder and Carol Speers Ricci

Dr. James Benjamin Carruthers was born in 1851 in Dumfries, Scotland.  His parents were Benjamin and Margaret.  He was the youngest of seven children and came over to Ontario with the family about 1870.  He married Mary Ann Thompson in 1880 in Georgetown, Ontario.  They had eight children, two born in the Barrie area and the younger six in North Bay, Ontario.

In the 1870’s, James Benjamin taught at the Barrie Central School for a while then became principal of the West Ward School, also in Barrie.  While there, he was the leader of the Presbyterian Church Choir and played in the Philharmonic Society.  He left the teaching profession to go back to school in Toronto, and graduated as a medical doctor and afterward he and his family moved to North Bay.  He was one of the pioneer doctors in North Bay and was a member of the 1st North Bay Medical Fraternity in 1886.  In 1895 he was the Mayor of North Bay.

In 1898 he was a member of the first North Bay Presbytery and in 1899 was president of the Building Committee for the new Presbyterian Church, St. Andrews where he was in the choir.  He was active in preparing and laying of the corner stone of the church, August 15, 1904.  He was one of the first members of the organization, The Sons of Scotland.  Dr. Carruthers founded the first ecumenical choir in North Bay which became known as the Choral Union in 1907 and eventually became known by its’ present name, the North Bay Choral Society.  He served on the Public School Board for many years and the Dr. Carruthers Public School was named in his honour.

Dr. Carruthers died in 1904 while out on a call to a patient.  He and his wife are buried in the Union Cemetery, North Bay.

Respectfully submitted by grandnieces, Beth Palmer Snyder and Carol Speers Ricci

Lloyd, Bill & Janet #853 *

Honoured by Sandra Lloyd

High school sweethearts Bill Lloyd and Janet Grant were married in Collingwood Ontario on August 8, 1953 at the age of nineteen.  Bill was born on Manitoulin Island and Janet emigrated from Scotland to Canada as a teenager with her parents and younger brother James.

The first year of their marriage was spent in Ottawa, where Bill was a mechanic in the Canadian Air Force.  After the birth of their first son, Grant (in June of 1954) the couple returned to Collingwood where Bill worked as an auto mechanic at Don Wright Motors.  Their daughter Sandra was born in Collingwood in May of 1956, followed by a second son, Glenn, in January of 1958 and another daughter, Brennain, in March of 1959.  Janet was busy at home with four children under the age of five years! Bill opened his own garage in Nottawa, Ontario and the family moved to the village (just outside Collingwood) in the fall of 1963.  In December of 1964, Lloyd’s Auto Repair burned to the ground.  Bill joined the fledgling Mister Transmission company soon after, commuting to Barrie until opening his own shop in North Bay in the spring of 1968.  The family followed at the end of the school year.

In North Bay, Janet managed a household with four teenagers but still found time to volunteer with the AMR (now North Bay Association for Community Living) and take DSW courses, later working as a supply EA in the school system.  The family enjoyed HASC (Historical Automobile Society of Canada) activities, camping and travelling regularly to Florida for winter vacations.  In 1978 Bill and his son Glenn built the stock car track Sunnydale Speedway in North Bay.  Although not a fan, Janet also worked hard in the family efforts to make the endeavour succeed against the odds of weather-dependence and expenses that frequently exceeded revenues.

By the end of the 80’s, Grant and his wife Tricia had three children (Simon, Andrew and Ashley) and Glenn and his wife Monique had two children (Kristen and Darren), all living in Barrie area.  Bill and Janet moved back to Simcoe County in the early 90’s to be closer to their five grandchildren. In 2003-2004 Brennain and her partner Phillip blessed the couple with two grandchildren in North Bay, a chosen teenaged son (Antonio) and a baby daughter (Beatrice), followed by a great-grandchild in 2009.  Grant and his wife Tricia, and Sandra and her partner James are also each proud grandparents of two, giving Bill and Janet a total of five great-grandchildren.  Bill and Janet are active members of the resident-owned retirement community at Big Cedar Estates on Bass Lake near Orillia, and still love to travel together in their motorhome to Florida in the winter and to bluegrass and other music festivals in Ontario in the summer.

Written (2012 08 08) for your 60th wedding anniversary on August 8 2013 with love to Bill and Janet from your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Leppert, Elliot, Edna & Family #920 *

Elliott and Edna Leppert

This is the story of Elliott and Edna Leppert and their family.  Elliott’s parents, Vernon and Anne Leppert, were born in Wainfleet, Ontario, parents of three children, Glenn, Elliott, and Carol Anne.  Elliott’s father, Vernon, worked in farming, and during WW II he operated the lift bridge over the Welland Canal.

Edna’s parents, Edgar and Clairabell, were born in Trenton, Ontario.  Ed worked at the Battawa (later Bata) Boot and Shoe Factory in Frankfort, Ont, during WW II, making footwear for the Armed Forces overseas.  They had eight children – Edna, George, Mary, Ed, Jack, Dorothy, Gordon and Bruce.  IN 1949, the family moved to Long Beach Provincial Park on Lake Erie.  Edna’s parents managed this park, including maintaining and renting 50 cottages.  Elliott’s father, Vernon, assisted with the work at this park and many members of both families pitched in as well.

Edna and Elliott met during Grade 10 at Pelham High School in Fonthill, Ontario, in 1953.  After high school, Edna worked for Ontario Hydro for three years, travelling throughout the Niagara Region in her work upgrading Hydro resources.  Elliott began teaching school at the age of 17 right out of high school himself, training as a teacher as he went!  In the one room schoolhouse he taught 52 children in eight grades; the oldest student, age 16, while he was only 18 years of age!  The couple married after 10 years of dating, in 1963, at Morgans’ Point.   Soon after, the couple moved to Arnstein, Ontario, where Elliott had obtained a teaching position.  The couple made this area their home for the next 45 years.  Elliott taught in a variety of one and two room rural schools, before moving to a new nine room school in Port Loring.  He coached many sports teams during his teaching career, often transporting the entire team to games in his own vehicle!  Elliott retired from teaching in 1984.  The couple have two children:  Kenneth Elliott and Kristina Louise.  They are very proud of Kenny’s work, initially with the Canadian military, and with the OPP during the last 18 years.  He and his wife, Dawn have three children; Rochelle, Kirk and Cassandra.  Elliott and Edna are very proud of their grandchildren, especially enjoying Rochelle’s accomplishments in pole vaulting, Kirk’s in hockey and golf, and Cassandra’s in horseback riding and show jumping.  Their daughter, Kristina, resides in Ajax, with her beautiful white husky.  She has worked 22 years as a graphic designer/commercial artist in Toronto and has been an important member of the marketing team for many name brand products.

After retiring from teaching, Elliott and Edna began a 15 year career running a fly in fishing camp owned by Darrel and Judy Rogerson, on Smokey Lake.  Elliott became a much sought after fishing guide, regularly finding the “big ones” and cooking up wonderful shore lunches.   Edna ran the fishing camp, cooking, housekeeping and generally organizing the camp.  The couple spent much of each winter travelling to the United States to promote the camp at numerous sport fishing shows.  Edna and Elliott left the camp and moved to North Bay in 2006 to be nearer to their son and family.  Elliott speaks passionately of his fishing and camping trips, by canoe, to Smokey Lake, every summer since their move, with good friend, Reverend Ken Deer.  The couple were very happy in their home on Jane Street, before re-locating to the Empire Living Centre, and again to Nipissing Manor in Corbeil, where they feel very involved and well cared for.

Their work with the Sunday School Boys’ Clubs in Niagara in the ‘50s began a 60 year career with volunteering.  Edna ran a leadership group for 24 boys aged 9 – 12 for many years.  These grateful boys surprised the couple for their wedding by providing an honour guard with hockey sticks arched overhead as they left the ceremony!  Elliott, who also led a boys’ group for many years, became a superintendent of United Church Sunday Schools in Niagara region, responsible for the supervision of 400 children.  Elliott was a member of the Argyle Lion’s Club for 45 years (ARGYLE stands for AR=Arnstein, GY=Golden Valley, L=Loring) for 45 years, and the North Bay Lion’s Club for 5 years.  He became a Club legend for his fundraising efforts, raising +$15,000 for Eye Laser Equipment at the North Bay General Hospital and thousands more for the Specialized Children’s Room at the Sudbury Regional Cancer Centre.  His challenge to all comers was a game of crokinole, with $50 to the winner.  All his winnings went to his fundraising, and he never lost a game!!

Edna and Elliotts’ continuing dedication to each other, their children, grandchildren, and their community inspire all who know them.

dePencier, John L. & Family #206

Honoured by Muriel and Family.

Thank you for honouring John dePencier and Family with a Leaf of Inspiration and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.