Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
A story about Family Continuity at Lake Louisa
H.C. (Herb) Montgomery
Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Author and Publisher:
Herbert (Herb) Montgomery BSc.
McGill University 1950
Lieutenant RCNVR WW ll
Printed in Lachute, Québec, by Papeterie Le Memo
lst Printing – September 2, 2006
Note: Texts were submitted to the author and modified for picture
placement and flow. Hopefully all the names and facts have been
reproduced as submitted. If not it was unintentional.
Table of Contents
Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow ............................................................................... 2
Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3
Dedication...................................................................................................................... 5
Who is Louisa Matilda Holland? ................................................................................... 7
Deneault (Gagné) ........................................................................................................... 8
Giles (Henry James)....................................................................................................... 9
Giles (John Samuel) ..................................................................................................... 12
Allen............................................................................................................................. 14
Ashfie ld ........................................................................................................................ 16
Christie (McLean) ........................................................................................................ 17
Eastop (Caron).............................................................................................................. 19
Giles – Jamison – Delorme (Acres) ............................................................................. 21
Hale .............................................................................................................................. 23
Hébert........................................................................................................................... 24
Janes (Ford) ….. Ford (Janes) ...................................................................................... 25
Martel - Kuntz (Weibusch) .......................................................................................... 27
McAlear........................................................................................................................ 29
Mitchell (Riddell) ......................................................................................................... 30
Montgomery................................................................................................................. 31
Morrison....................................................................................................................... 33
Mossey ......................................................................................................................... 34
Murdock (Pelly) ........................................................................................................... 35
Sawyer .......................................................................................................................... 36
Schultz.......................................................................................................................... 38
Thomas (Matthews)...................................................................................................... 39
Turnbull ........................................................................................................................ 40
Wight ............................................................................................................................ 42
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................ 44
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
You’d expect one of my age
To speak in public on the stage;
And if I chance to fall below
Demosthenes or Cicero,
Don’t view me with a critic’s eye,
But pass my imperfections by.
Large streams from little fountains flow,
Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
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Introduction
In the book I wrote and published in 2000 entitled Louisa and her Lake – A story
about Lake Louisa and the community of Louisa, I wrote in my Introduction: “In my
early youth…everything seemed to revolve around Lake Louisa. I couldn’t wait to get
back there.” There was and still is a certain ‘mystique’ for me about this Lake, almost a
“veneration attending some activity or person”, as the Oxford Dictionary defines the
word.
I have entitled this book Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow – Family Continuity
at Lake Louisa. The words on the previous page (from the Dictionary of Quotations and
Proverbs – The Everyman Edition) are attributed to David Everett and were written for a
school Declamation. I thought this a fitting title for a book which pays tribute to the
pioneers who first brought their families to the Lake and to the subsequent offspring who
continue to enjoy its charms and conviviality.
I said in my invitation to families around the Lake to participate in the preparation of
this book, “There is, I believe, a story to be told about the continuity of families at Lake
Louisa and a spirit which exists here because of this.” I believe it is this “spirit” or
mystique that has inspired the sharing of information by most of the families whom I
approached on this project. The contents of this book have come from a constituency of
believers in the “Spirit of the Lake.”
Most readers have had some experience in High School with the plays of William
Shakespeare. I recall vividly the lines from As You Like It, Act 2 Scene 7: “All the
world’s a stage, And all the men and women are merely players: They have their exits
and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts… As a student I had to
memorize this passage, which I can still recite today, and cite it here because of its
reference to the seven “ages” of man, the first four of which many of us can relate to:
Infant, Sc hool boy, Lover and Soldier.
This is not meant to be a story of the Montgomerys, however. In fact I feel that many
families would have followed a somewhat similar route through the various stages of life
and would have similar feelings about this place.
The first twenty five years of my life were centered around the Lake, and I pretty well
went through Shakespeare’s first four “ages” close to here. My memories are of
swimming all day, hiking, picking blueberries and strawberries, canoeing, rowing,
competing in regattas, surfboard riding (before water skiing), making a lot of our own fun
and attending dances at Liberty Hall. The few times we ventured to the Lake in the winter
for the day, we did some skating and ski-jouring, holding onto a rope and being pulled
behind a car on skis riding the snow banks on the side of the road. Very dangerous! When
we finally had the Clubhouse and the Lake Louisa Country Club it was time to think
about volunteering in the operation of the Club.
Shakespeare goes on in the rest of the passage to discuss the last three ages of life,
which I identify with as Business years, Contemplation of retirement and, finally,
Retirement.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
My business years were far away in Toronto (the good!), and this meant a nine hour
drive (before Hwy. 401) through Ottawa with the five of us aboard heading for the Lake Marjorie and the children to stay for the summer. Having spent two Christmases at the
Lake in a non winterized house, we still enjoyed some skating, snowmobiling and skiing,
not to mention a lot of shovelling!
And so it went until we were able to buy our own cottage, which was a financial
struggle, but we felt it was well worth it, as we had in the back of our heads that someday
we would still be coming back - call it remote affection if you will. As time went by we
did less waterskiing and spent more time working on the house. Eventually we had to
face up to preparation for retirement, and even the thought of leaving our comfortable
surroundings and wonderful friends in Toronto did not win out over returning to Ottawa
and the Laurentians and spending as much time as possible at Lake Louisa.
That was eleven years ago, and our activities now tend to have less and less to do with
the Lake itself. We can still appreciate, however, unparalleled sunsets, summer and
winter, beautiful summer evenings, some gorgeous, mirror image, deadly calm summer
mornings and occasionally early winter scenes of ice skaters on the shining mirror- like
Lake. Physical activities have, of necessity, been reduced or curtailed, and water skiing is
but a dream of the past, but we have our memories, our family whose love for the Lake is
vibrant, and our friends made over many years who give us ongoing pleasure.
Lake Louisa’s mystique will always be there fo r me, and I detect the “spirit” I spoke of
earlier is sensed by those families who have responded to provide the contents of this
book. Otherwise, how do you account for their willingness to share these family minihistories?
It was impossible to cover all residents in this book. You will read the submissions of
some 22 families only. The participants are of my choice, I regret that some may feel
overlooked or left out. Many families of longstanding residency have moved on or passed
away, and these could not be handled in a book such as this.
The first part of the book will deal with three families who date back to the early 1900s
(or earlier) and who have descendants still living here or visiting for lengthy periods.
After that, the sequence will be in alphabetical order.
Please enjoy what I and others have written.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Dedication
This book is dedicated to the many men and women and children who have
volunteered their time, their talents and their money to the various organizations that
existed, and still are active today, at the Lake.
In 1923 the Lake Louisa Fish and Game Club (LLFGC) was formed by people
interested in the preservation of the Lake, providing for Social gatherings and protecting
the property of owners. As the years went by, needs changed and other organizations
came into being. All the while the main theme of these organizations was “for the good
of the Lake and the residents.” The great number of volunteers involved precludes the
listing of any names. Here follows a listing of the important groups:
Lake Louisa Fish and Game Club (LLFGC)
Lake Louisa Corporation (LLC)
Lake Louisa Country Club (LLCC)
Association Pour la Protection de L’Environnement du Lac Louisa (APPEL)
Lake Louisa Environmental Protection Association (LLEPA)
Club Social du lac Louisa (CSLL)
Lake Louisa Social Club (LLSC)
Association des Propriétaires du Lac Louisa (APLL)
Lake Louisa Property Owners Association (LLPOA)
Notre Dame du Sourire Chapel
St. Aidan’s Anglican Church
Wentworth Recreative Centre (WRC)
While this list covers the main organizations that have been active at the Lake for
many years, there are many smaller groups that contribute to the “spirit that is prevalent
here.” Mayors and Councillors of the Municipality of Wentworth play an important role
in the life of Lake residents. While it is not a volunteer position to serve on the Council,
many men and women from this area have done, and continue to do so, representing the
Lake. In this regard we must not forget to acknowledge The Fire fighters who are always
on deck in times of emergency.
Below is a copy of the “Tribute to the Founders of the Lake Louisa Country Club”,
which has evolved into the Lake Louisa Social Club and has served the community
faithfully for well over 60 years. This tribute is on the wall at the Club and was a gift of
Dorothy Janes.
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Who is Louisa Matilda Holland?
And what does she have to do with this story of Family Continuity at Lake Louisa?
Well, she is the lady pictured here after whom our beloved Lake is named! The portrait,
in oil, hangs in Ottawa in the home of Wendy (Bailey) and Dick Harling. The important
thing is that her connection with Lake Louisa has been documented in my book Louisa
and Her Lake – a Story about Lake Louisa and the Community of Louisa. An
excerpt from this book summarizes the close connection:
Young Louisa worked during the summer for Mrs. John Abbott at Liberty Hall
(which is now the property of the Lake Louisa Corporation). Liberty Hall was part
of 73 acres of land owned by Michael Robinson in the 1850’s. The Hon. John C.
Abbott, bought this part of the Robinson farm during his first term in federal office,
1867-1874, serving his second term from 1880-1887. Sir John served briefly as
“Premier of the Dominion” upon the death of Sir John A. Macdonald in May 1891
until his retirement from politics in 1892. He was the first Canadian born Prime
Minister.
It was during this time that the Holland family visited their friends and would
often meet in Lachute at the Meikle store, one of the few places in the area to buy
provisions.
On such occasions the surveyors who were
plotting the area of Wentworth were also
picking up their supplies; and as was the
custom, they sat and exchanged stories with
the Hollands. Mr. Holland was quite an
entertainer and, along with his daughter
Louisa, they would play the piano and sing
the songs of the day. The surveyors greatly
enjoyed these get-togethers, and one day
Louisa playfully asked them if they would
name a lake after her. They had just finished
plotting the first few ranges in Wentworth
including the largest and most beautiful lake;
and after one more song this lake and the
surrounding area would be called LOUISA!
Little did she realize in her lifetime (18551929) how often her name would be used when
referring to our Lake. It is fitting that we can publish this picture of this lady with the
permission of the owners of the painting Wendy and Dick Harling.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Deneault (Gagné)
To appreciate this story of the Deneault family at Lake Lo uisa, it is suggested that you
refer to the book “Louisa and her Lake” (pages 28 and 29) for important background
information. The forerunner family was named Gagné, and their connection with the
Lake began during the last part of the 1800s. With the help of Guy Deneault, here is an
explanation how this transpired.
Around 1870 Joseph Gagné (great grandfather of
Guy) arrived at the Lake with his wife Louise Martel
and family. Notwithstanding other stories about how the
Lake got its name, there is a legend that has been
circulating in the Deneault (Gagné) family for a hundred
years that the Lake was named “Louise” after Joseph’s
wife. Yet another slant on this important question!
Joseph owned Gagné Island and a large part of Black Bay where he did some farming.
In the late 1920s he survived financial difficulties but lost most of his land. Dr. Christie
of Lachute acquired some of this land and some was eventually purchased, in 1929, by
Léonidas Carrière the father of Léopold, who was well known in Lachute.
Joseph Gagné and Louise Martel had a daughter Josephine, who married Alexandre
Deneault, and they had ten children. One of these children was Roland Deneault. He
married Hilda Chaput and they had three children: two girls, Louise and Madeline and a
son, Guy. Guy has two children, Alexandre and Karaline.
The Gagné/Deneault names prevailed at the Lake, however, because of previous
transactions within the family. In 1932 Guy’s grandmother, Josephine Gagné, received as
a gift from her uncle, Louis Gagné (brother of Joseph), a piece of lakefront land
measuring 180 feet by 90 feet. The same year Noé Deneault (brother of Alexandre,
husband of Josephine), purchased from Louis a piece of land of the same dimensions
adjacent to the lot mentioned above. Guy’s father, Roland, bought the latter in 1934.
Alexandre Deneault, carpenter by trade, built three cottages on these two pieces of
land. Two of the three buildings are still standing. One, at 2031 chemin de la Baie Noire,
is occupied by Guy’s father, Roland, and the other lies vacant and unoccupied and is
located on Murray Road in the southwest section of the Lake.
Guy has been very active with the Lake Louisa Property Owners Association as its
current President and really does appreciate “the magnificence and beauty of our Lake”
and also says that “Lake Louisa is our share of heaven on earth.” He strongly supports the
protection of the environment and education toward boating safety on the Lake.
While we see five generations of this family who have enjoyed being part of the Lake
Louisa scene, Guy visualizes a sixth generation in the not too distant future! The
community spirit and family continuity will live on
.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Giles (Henry James)
We will never know what attracted Henry James Giles, a General
Merchant in Lachute, to Lake Louisa in 1903. Was it for privacy at a
beautiful, pristine lake; was it simply for adventure, for the excellent
trout fishing; or was it for a chance to get away from the big town of
Lachute? Whatever it was, the attraction proved addictive for the
Giles family.
Henry James was of Irish descent and worked in Lachute for his
father, who was a merchant, and who originally came from St
Andrews. The father, Henry, started his business in St. Andrews, and
with the advent of the CPR he moved it to Lachute. Henry James eventually became the
sole owner of H. J. Giles and Brother, and before his death in 1919 he had introduced the
family name to Lake Louisa. He first rented a house on Matthews Point and then
purchased a property on McFaul Point.
Getting the family prepared, buying provisions, and facing a long journey by horse
and buggy were formidable factors, but when they arrived at the Lake, they also had to
unload all the children and provisions and get into a boat to travel to their camp. That is ,
providing that the weather was not inclement.
For, you see, the camp was still a kilometre away across water from where they
embarked, at what is now the Public Landing. Was this journey a hardship by today’s
standards? No doubt. If it was a weekend trip, it was, by necessity, a short one, as
Saturday was a work day and business commenced Monday morning bright and early.
Even when automobiles became fashionable, the roads beyond Lachute and especially
near the Lake were difficult at best. Family lore has it that, early Saturday evening, on
weekends, Henry James would be coming by horse and buggy (a 2½ hour journey from
Lachute) over the “mile of hills” road and the family could see him long before he
reached Matthews Point. Then they would set out by boat to bring him over to the camp.
At that time the fields were open where the Robinson and Matthews farms were located.
So, where does all this take us? The intent here is to find out if the addiction to the
Lake was inherited by future generations of Gileses, and, if so, who in the family can
attest to it? We will note that some of the children of Henry James Giles and, their
offspring continued to be attracted to our Lake .
Henry James fathered ten children. The first was Henrietta
Margaret. Her mother was Margaret Young Meikle, and she died
at the age of 33. Henry James then married Jane E. Foreman
(pictured), and
they had nine children: Eva Irene, Albert
Gustavus, Henry William, Katie Meikle, Harlow Foreman, Elmer
Stewart, InezWaldron, Harriet Edna and Ella Hester (in
descending order of age Of these we shall see that Lake Louisa
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
remained in the blood of Eva, Albert, Katie, Harlow, Elmer, Inez, Harriet and Ella.
Eva married Clarence Hardie in 1907 and they had three children, one of whom, Jane
Letitia, married Leslie Franklin Ball. One of their three offspring, George William Ball,
resides at the Lake permanently with his wife, Mary Lee Helen Smith, on McFaul Road.
Albert had a summer cottage on the Lake in Echo Bay for many years.
Katie, who remained unmarried, acquired the original cottage from her mother, the
widow of Henry James, in the 1920s and sold it to her sister Harriet. After WW ll Katie
continued to come to the Lake until her health prevented her from making the journey
from Lachute. Howard Easton, the current owner of the Giles property, recalls his Aunt
Katie as the matriarch of the cottage during the thirties and forties when he came as a
youngster
Harlow Foreman built a cottage near Katies for his wife, Pearl Manson O’Hara, and
two children, Patricia Mary and Anne Elizabeth. Patricia died at age 49, but Anne still
has the cottage and summers there each year. Her children and her five grandchildren
spend time with her at the cottage every summer.
Elmer built a summer cottage on the lakefront, west of McFaul Point, that remained in
the family hands for many years. Elmer’s son, Henry James, and his wife, Marilyn Julia
Richardson, owned a summer place at the end of Lake Louisa North for several years in
the late 1990s. This was sold, and they now live in Ottawa.
Inez married Dr. William Alexander Murray and built a camp on the Lake north of
Blueberry Point in the late 1920s. Here they and their three children: William (Bill) Giles,
James (Jim) Alexander and Henry (Hank) McOuat, enjoyed the summer months.
Bill and his wife, Helen Gerda Kirchoff, had three children, William Edward (Ted),
Carl Andrew, and Elizabeth (Beth) Ann, and eventually built a permanent residence on
the site of the original camp. Ted now owns the cottage on Seale Road that was built by
the Kirchoff family. Beth married William (Bill) Erwin Christie whom she had met at the
Lake. Bill’s parents own a house near McIntyre Creek. Beth and Bill live in a permanent
home they built in Black Bay and they have raised their children there.
Jim and his wife, Kathleen Mildred Ashfield, live permanently near the site of the
family’s original camp. Jim is the owner of the largest island on the Lake that used to be
referred to as McBurney’s Island. In 2002 their daughter Kathy and her husband Jo
Taylor, who live in England, purchased a property on the north side of the Lake that was
originally built by the Jones family. Jim and Kay’s other children and grandchildren are
frequent visitors to the Lake.
Jim’s brother, Hank, owned a cottage on the Murray property and he and his wife,
Sheila Round, and their two children Heather and Steven spent summers at the Lake until
they moved to Edmonton.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Harriet (Hattie) married Frank Gatehouse and, in 1949, they built a new cottage on
the site of Henry James’ original camp in Echo Bay. Prior to Harriet’s death her nephew,
Howard Easton, purchased the property, so it has remained in the Giles family for over
one hundred years; and counting.
Ella married William Austen Easton, and their two children, John Howard and Albert
William, enjoyed their youth at the Lake. Howard and his wife, Barbara Isabel Peterkin,
spend the summers at the Lake, and their three children still visit often. Ella lived for 103
years and passed away in 2005, the last of the Giles children.
Henry Giles, the father of Henry James (the head of this family), had two other sons,
Gustavus Adolphus Hooker who died at age 22, and Harlow William, as well as a
daughter, Lila Foreman. Harlow William and his wife, Jennie F. Reid, and their
children had a long association with the Lake. This family had a camp on Matthews’
Point (sometimes called Giles’ Point), and their grandchildren, Terrence Reid and
Felicity, were well known around the Lake for many years. Terrence died in 1992, and
Felicity lives in California. Lila became the owner of this property on the death of
Harlow William.
Lila had a camp on Matthews’ Point around the corner from Harlow William in
Brownsburg Bay for many years. She lived in Lachute until her death in 1981.
If you have struggled successfully through this genealogy, it is hoped that you get a
flavour for this “addiction” to Lake Louisa and the continuity of the Giles name.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Giles (John Samuel)
You have read of Henry James Giles and now you will learn of another unrelated
Giles family, headed by John Samuel the history of which provides a somewhat similar
pattern of family continuity at Lake Louisa.
The story begins when John Samuel (J.S.) arrived in Montréal
from England and went to work for a newspaper called “Witness.”
From here J.S. and his wife Lilian Titman used to visit Lachute on
picnics and eventually settled there where J.S.
was employed by Calder Brothers Printers.
By way of a series of circumstances, he
became sole owner of The Lachute
Watchman. They soon discovered the joys of
Lake Louisa during summer vacations.
In 1914 J.S. purchased Burnt Island (Land Registry Island 43)
from Daniel Joss of Lachute, for $100.00. In time, houses were
built on the northwest and southwest sectio ns of the island, and
much later the property came into the hands of John Giles, who
has provided the information for this story.
The “pioneers” of the family; J.S. and Lilian had a son, Robert Alexander (Bob), and
adopted a daughter, Katherine. Bob, a veteran of World War I, married Florence Gorman
(known as Peg), an English lady he had met while in the service. Bob and Peg came to
know Lake Louisa well and purchased a house in 1926 on a lot on Rocky Beach Island
(Land Registry Island 42) which is incorrectly listed in the map legend as Sandy Beach
Island. He purchased this property from Duncan Paul of New York state for some
$2200.00.
By now the Lachute Watchman had become an important newspaper in the area, and
Bob was working with his father, J.S. Bob and Peg had three children: Lorna, John and
Robert Jr., and the family came to enjoy summer seasons at the Lake from the island
property. Today Lorna and George Kirby are in Lockport, Nova Scotia and Robert and
his wife Janet live in Calgary. The continuity of the Giles family at Lake Louisa has been
perpetuated as the result of John’s marriage to Mabel Acres (see Acres section of this
book).
From the Giles camp on Rocky Beach Island, John would often visit with the Acres
family, and this finally lead to his courting “the eldest” of the Acres triplets, Mabel, and
to their eventual marriage. Another long term commitment originally started at Lake
Louisa!
John and Mabel had four children: Richard, Timothy, Susan and Donna. Richard owns
a lakeside house on the north side of the Lake as well as numerous other back lots also on
the north side. Timothy has recently returned to the area from Ontario. Susan and her
family live in Cambridge, Ontario, and they visit the Lake frequently. Donna married
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
David Smith, and they live in Montréal and own a house on the Lake, again on the north
side. John and Mabel have as their permanent residence the house that Alex Acres built in
1946. Without doubt the Giles name will continue to be important to this area into the
future.
The community has benefited from many hours of volunteer service from the Giles
family going back to Bob Giles who was a major factor in the formation of the Lake
Louisa Corporation and the Lake Louisa Country Club. Son John and his wife Mabel
have done, and still do, yeoman service at the Club. Mabel has many other
responsibilities in the community, all in volunteer work. David Smith also has given
many hours to the Club and now is Chairman of the Lake Louisa Corporation.
And so you see clearly ho w this Giles family who have given so generously of their
time and talents has embodied the “spirit” of Lake Louisa.
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Allen
Ralph Allen, a lifelong friend of the author, has recounted some of the family history,
and the part that pertains to the Allen name, which represents 85 years of continuous
association with Lake Louisa, follows.
Walter Jesse Allen was the eldest son of Walter Scott Allen and Martha Heazle.
Walter Jesse married Wilhelmina Fraser Macdonald Archibald (always known as
Lena), becoming the “pioneers” of the Allen family at the Lake.
They first learned of Louisa through a lady named Alice Blake, a
relative of Walter’s by marriage. The Blakes rented the original
Liberty Hall which had been moved from the original site by the
owner Tom Seale to its present location at 141 Lake Louisa
South.
It is interesting to note that in the early 1900s some cottages at
the Lake had names. Tom Seale’s two lakeside cottages, one on
either side of what we now know as the Club, were named Maple
Grove (east of the Club), and Rosebank (west of the Club).
Around 1920 Walter Allen struck a deal with Tom Seale to rent Maple Grove for the
season. The “Rent” consisted of $25.00 and a quart of Black Horse Ale, to be shared by
Walter and Tom in the Seale barn. Traveling by train to Lachute or Staynerville, the
family (Walter, Lena and sons Walter and Munro) were met by Bill Boyd in his Model T
taxi and driven to the Lake.
Later the family rented the White house owned by Tom Seale, located at 148 Lake
Louisa South. By now two more sons, Ralph and John had arrived, and several summers
were spent there by the family, which had grown to include a boarder, Frances Emory,
dogs, cats, and a rooster (for one summer).
Following Tom’s death the house reverted to Hannah Seale, and Walter felt that it was
time to build a house of their own at 164 Lake Louisa South. Still later, Munro built his
own cottage at 105 Lake Louisa South, and Ralph rented and later purchased a lakeside
home 158 Lake Louisa South.
Of all the family members only Ralph remains at the Lake. Walter resides in London,
Ontario, and Munro and John have passed away. Ralph married Joyce Lee Marshall, and
together they raised four children who were well introduced to Lake Louisa during their
early years. Douglas and his wife Jane reside in Calgary; Barry, a bachelor, lives in Pte.
Claire; Janet Lee and husband Bill Marshall live in Clinton, Tennessee, and Nancy Dale
and husband Michael Green live in St. Lazare. The children have produced five
grandchildren and one great granddaughter to date.
The plan is to have the house at the Lake revert to daughters Janet and Nancy with the
understanding that their children will someday continue to enjoy the property thus
perpetuating the Allen name at Lake Louisa.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Ralph remembers “making lifelong friends at the Lake, tree houses at scary heights,
canoe races, bonfires on Tin Can Island, and gathering at Habib’s store after the mail
with the hope of getting to walk one of the local pretty girls home.” He also states that
“our love for the Lake has been passed down to our children and grandchildren, who, I
am sure, will carry on the tradition for years to come.” Yet another family has been
imbued with the “mystique” of Lake Louisa!
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Ashfield
The Ashfields first came to Lake Louisa in 1946, when the family rented a cottage for
the summer which was owned by Phil Roy and located toward the south end of the Lake
at the entrance to Newton Bay.
Lucy Julia Spenser Creelman and Kingsley
McLaren Ashfield had first come this way with their
family on a tip from their Montréal friends the Janeses.
They and their children John, Kathleen and Jim enjoyed
this introduction to this area but family commitments
prevented them from returning until 1949. At that time
they and their friends the Brophys, neighbours in St.
Lambert decided that they would spend that summer at
the Lake. The Ashfields found a cottage in Montgomery’s Bay owned by the Morrins
which they first rented and later bought. They were here to stay!
That cottage is still in the family, being now owned by son Jim and his wife Hana who
live in Florida but return every year to spend their summers. Their children Debra,
Kimberly, Jo and Jamie are far scattered but make the long trip every two years or so to
get their Lake Louisa “fix.” Sadly son John died in 1992 but his widow Judy and their
children and grandchildren are still occasional visitors to the Lake.
Kathleen (Kay) met Jim Murray at the Lake Louisa Country Club, and they married in
1953. All of the Ashfield family, beginning with the parents, have supported the Club and
devoted much time to its success. Lucy (known as Lou) worked with the Ladies of the
Club and McLaren (Mac) was Treasurer for a number of years. Jim Ashfield was Vice
President and then President of the C lub in the early seventies. Jim Murray was Secretary
and then Vice President. Great examples of the volunteer spirit and “giving back to the
community.”
Jim and Kay Murray have lived at the Lake since 1983. Their children, David,
Gordon, Kathy and Chris remember the Friday night movies, swimming, tennis and Teen
Club and visit their parents regularly. In fact Kathy and her husband Jo Taylor, who live
in England, have recently purchased a house on Lake Louisa North and spend a month
each summer there. Son Chris married Laurie McCullagh, whom he had met at the Lake
while she was visiting her grandparents, Dorothy and Ralph Edson. And so Lake Louisa
romances continue generation after generation!
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Christie (McLean)
This is a story of family continuity at Lake Louisa, woven around a story of the
“McLean Camp” and the “Christie Cottage.”
William Stuart bought a piece of land on Stuart Point (see map)
prior to 1917. He and his wife Elizabeth Timperly had bought this
land because William’s sister Annie had married John
McFaul, who owned land at the Lake as well.
William and Elizabeth had four children, one of
whom was Alice, and she married Donald McLean.
He had built a small camp on the Stuart land but was
unable to buy the land on which it was built from his
father-in- law, because William did not want to sell any of his land
being afraid that it might eventually be sold outside of the family.
In 1932 Donald bought a piece of land for $100.00 from Cyrille Gagné adjacent to
Stuart Point. He moved the camp from Stuart Point to his new lot over the ice using
horse power, and the McLean Camp was in place. In the early days, Alice (known as
Sissy) and her family took the train to Lachute and travelled to the camp by horse and
buggy to spend each summer. They had to be sure to bring plenty of provisions because
the stores were a long walk, and even milk meant a long row to Seale’s farm.
Donald and Alice had two children, Dorothy and Thelma. Dorothy passed away at an
early age and Thelma related to the author she ha s not missed one summer at the camp
since she was a baby. In 1985 Thelma inherited the camp and she and her husband Tom
Christie enjoyed it as it was until 1995, when they tore it down and built a new cottage
further back from the water with a few more modern conveniences. Thus the Christie
Cottage came into being.
The Christies had been busy over the years raising a family of three: Debra Reuber,
Tom, and Cheryl McCallum, all of whom visit and enjoy the ‘mystique’ of the Lake.
Thelma has provided a family tree to show how six generations starting with William
Stuart and Elizabeth Timperly beginning in the early 1900s continued the “Stuart
Story.”
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Eastop (Caron)
There is a cottage at the west end of Echo Bay that is occupied by Marjorie and Peter
Eastop during the summer and fall as a retreat from their Pierrefonds, Montréal, home.
Marjorie is the daughter of Roger Leopold Caron and Margaret Agnes Cole, of
Longeuil and later Chambly, who purchased the cottage in 1939. How this all came about
is related below.
Roger (who did not like to have his picture taken and
preferred to be in the background.) and Margaret loved the
outdoors, and in 1937 they and their two daughters Norma
and Marjorie, camped in the Black Bay area on the site
where Rosario Richer eventually opened his store. (see
pages 60 and 61 of “ Louisa and her Lake). The following
summer they rented a camp owned by Mr. Alexandre
Deneault located deeper into Black Bay.
The parents loved to fish and did so by trolling with
their 2½ H.P. outboard motor. One day they met a Mr.
Young, who was rowing a boatload of lumber, and offered
to tow him to shore. He lived in Echo Bay in the cottage
now owned by the Schwinhamers. He told Roger and
Margaret that there were two camps for sale in the bay
owned by Dr. Christie.
When they enquired of the owner they were offered either one cottage for $500.00 or
two for $700.00, or both cottages and a large prime piece of land for $1,500.00. The
Carons settled for one of the camps and the Caron story started in earnest at Lake Louisa.
As they could not drive to their camp, they had to park their car at the Public Landing
and cross the Lake, often in dangerously rough water, in a flat bottom Verchères boat.
When they were in the cottage and expected family or guests they would listen for a car
horn signalling “dot-dot-dot-dash”, and at night the same signal was used by flashing the
lights. During WWII when gas rationing was in effect, the Carons were able to get
additional gas coupons to cover the crossing of the Lake.
The Caron family were great supporters of the Lake Louisa Country Club and
Margaret spent many hours there teaching the kids to swim and dive. Her credentials
were excellent, having won several competitions in diving and swimming. Norma and
Marjorie participated in Club activities and, of course, the annual regatta. For several
years when the Club did not have a diving board, the combined raft and diving board
belonging to the Carons could be seen under tow to the Club to be used in the regatta.
Margaret soon became “Ma” to all who knew her, and she started the Field Days and
the Baby Regattas still popular today. She boarded many children over the years, and
several came back years later to recall the time and to say that those summers were the
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best ever. On the 75th anniversary of the Club the clubhouse was named “Ma Caron
Lodge” in her honor. She died in 1983.
Roger Caron dreamed of the day that he could drive his car to the door of their
beloved cottage but, unfortunately, he passed away in June 1975 just as the road was
being built to that area. Starting out in the “camp” was a bit primitive by today’s
standards but eventually Roger installed a propane generator to produce electricity for the
various appliances. In 1981 hydroelectric power arrived in the area.
Norma Hiscock, the eldest daughter, and widow of Frank, moved away in 1968 and
now lives in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. She has three children: Judy in B.C., Linda in
California and Jim in Texas.
Marjorie is married to Peter Eastop and they live in Pierrfonds. They have three
children: Debbie (Rick Wilson), Sandra (Bill Hannah) and Peter Jr. who all live in
Ontario.
Marjorie, with the help of her sister Norma, provided this information. Marjorie says
that all of the family have wonder ful memories from the past 67 years at Lake Louisa.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Giles – Jamison – Delorme (Acres)
By 1945, transportation had improved somewhat from what it had been in the 1920s,
when the Henry James Giles family began to camp at the Lake. World War II was over,
and the supply of automobiles was increasing as peacetime came to Canada.
A.D.McGibbon and Sons Ltd. (see “Louisa and her Lake” – Development Begins in
Earnest) had started to develop the north side of the Lake.
The decision of Stewart Alexander Acres,
and his wife Mabel Mary MacTaggert,
sewed the acorn seeds from which the tall
oaks of continuity have grown. In 1945 they
and their four children were living on Wilder
Avenue, in Outrémont, Montréal. “Alex”, as
he was known, was a member of the
Outrémont Curling Club. Through the curling
bonspiels he became friendly with several members of the Lachute
Curling Club, who told him about Lake Louisa and the new developments around the
shoreline.
Alex and Mabel had moved from Brockville to Montréal, where he was working for
the Mutual Life Insurance Company as Montréal manager. He became one of the early
purchasers of a lakefront lot on the north side and had a camp built. (Remember that
seasonal houses at the Lake were still referred to as “camps”). By 1946 Alex and his
wife began to enjoy lakeside living with their four children.
Their eldest, Donald Stewart, was born in January 1934. The other thr ee were girls all
born on the same day in 1935. Yes, they were the Acres triplets! The first to arrive on the
scene in the Royal Victoria Hospital was Mabel Mary, followed by Marjorie Flora and
Margaret Ann. No doubt a momentous occasion and one which brought onto the stage
three more actors who were indoctrinated into life at Lake Louisa at an early age and
eventually decided to make their homes here.
As the result of a tragic car accident in 1959 Donald lost his life at the age of 25. He
had enjoyed his summers as a youth at the Lake, and it was a great loss for his family and
friends.
Each of the girls met their husbands at the Lake, as was the case with many others
who summered at the Lake. To say that they are close to each other is true both from a
geographic and a caring sense. This closeness does not exclude the many friends they
have made over the years in the area.
Mabel married John Giles from Lachute, where they lived for
some time. They now live in the original house built by Alex
Acres at the Lake. Their four children are Richard, Timothy,
Donna and Susan. Richard lives in Ottawa, and he owns a house
on the north side of the Lake as well as numerous other back lots
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in the same area. Susan and her family live in Cambridge, Ontario, and Timothy has
moved from Brantford, Ontario, and is now living at the Lake. Donna and her husband,
David Smith, live in Montréal with their family but spend a lot of time at their property at
the Lake, also on the north side.
Marjory married Hervé Delorme, a widower, who had lost
his wife, and became the step- mother of Donald and René. She
and Hervé had two children, Cathy and Ronald. Hervé died in
July of 2002 but not before he had acquired several lakefront
lots at the south end of the Lake. These lots were in addition to
their own property in Newton’s Bay. All of the children were
given choice lots, and today René has a permanent home in the
same area.
Margaret and her husband Tom Jamison have their cottage at
the Lake next door to Mabel and John, on the north side. They
have three children: Debbie, Donald and Jim. Debbie and her
husband Randy Sinclair have a summer home also on the north
side. Donald and Jim and their families are frequent visitors to
the Lake.
There have been no more faithful volunteers than these girls,
their husbands and their children, in community affairs around
the Lake. The girls are ardent church workers and truly
symbolize the “spirit” that has prevailed since the days of the early campers.
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Hale
Doctor Burt and Anne Hale live year round at the Lake in a cosy home on the
southeast side. The Hale family name has been associated with the Lake since the early
1920s. How did this come to pass? The story follows:
Burt’s grandfather, Henry Ranney Hale, originally from
Cromwell, Connecticut, immigrated in the late 1800s to Montréal,
where he met his future wife Rose Swathell who was from the
same region in Connecticut. Henry was in the piano business and
a Director of the C.W. Lindsay organization. He was quite active
in Masonic and Shrine affairs. It was
through this connection that he met Bill
Griffith (of the Young and Griffith Island)
and learned about Lake Louisa.
A camp was built by Henry in 1920 on a site adjacent to Burt
and Anne’ home, it still stands today and remains in the family. A
garage was also built across the road from where Jean and Russell
Seale are today (i.e., at the intersection of Lake Louisa South and
Blueberry Point Road). From this point all the supplies and equipment had to be carried
across the field owned by Tom Seale and down to the camp.
Henry and Rose had four sons, John (Burt’s dad), George, Frank and Harry. John
married Mary Margaret Potter and had a son, Burt, and a daughter Inez. The Hale camp
was the centre of activity for the whole family. In 1947 John built a cottage immediately
adjacent to the original Hale home. Later it was moved from this location, on the same
lot, and a basement was added. This is now home for Burt and Anne.
Over the years Burt has done his part in volunteer work for the community with a
special contribution being made leading to the formation of the Lake Louisa
Environmental Protection Association in 1975. (see“Louisa and her Lake”, page 55 for
details). Anne continues to contribute to community affairs and the Hale’s certainly
subscribe to the “spirit” of this community.
Burt’s son John and his family stay at a cottage across Seale Road from Burt’s
driveway. The daughter Linda visits the Lake frequently.
John has been active in the Lake Louisa Country Club and the Lake Louisa Social
Club for many years and recently served as President of the latter for several years. His
volunteer contribution to the community has been significant.
For 85 years now the Hale family have enjoyed the pleasures of our beautiful Lake
and it appears that their name will continue to be well represented. The author has known
Burt Hale for 65 of these years and he shares “the Lake Louisa mystique” with Burt and
his family.
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Hébert
There must be several old grey trout still swimming in Lake Louisa that somehow
escaped the trolling line of Albert René Hébert, who has fished the Lake since early
childhood. He and his wife Thérèse Labelle live in Lachute but spend at least six months
of the year at their cottage at 44 Blueberry Point Road.
The story of how the Hébert family arrived at the Lake begins with the marriage of
Marie Rose Drouin of Cote St. Louis, Québec, and Emile Hébert of Plantagenet,
Ontario. While living in Ottawa this couple made a visit to Brownsburg, and, as a result,
Emile was hired by Hector Pariseau to work in his general store. Fifteen children of
whom eight are still alive were born to Marie Rose and Emile in Brownsburg during
Emile’s career with CIL of 42 years, during 25 of which he served as Secretary of the
Brownsburg Corporation.
In 1940 Emile bought a lakefront lot from Leo Carrière near the entrance to Black
Bay. He had a log house built by Hervé Gagné that was large enough to accommodate the
expanding family, and the Hébert name was established here. It is still us ed by members
of the Hébert family.
Albert René had met and married Thérèse Labelle who was from Montréal, and in
1984 they purchased another log cottage from Roger Brophy near Blueberry Point,
situated close to the Lake with a beautiful view facing northwest. This cottage had been
built in 1926 for Eric and Eva Schofield, Eric being an uncle of Lawrence Irany. Other
prior owners before Roger Brophy were Dr. Murray and Jack Davis.
René, as he is known to many of us, served in the RCNVR aboard the HCMS
Gatineau for over three years during WW II and later worked in the Customs Office in
Lachute for 32 years. He and Thèrese, had three children: Luc, Brigitte, and Christian
René. After a long career with the QPP, Luc is teaching in the same field at the
University of Montréal. Brigitte is living in Dollard Des Ormeaux with her children.
Christian is a doctor and is retired from the Canadian Army.
The children, the five grandchildren, and one great grandchild love to visit the cottage
and do so often. There is clear evidence here that the continuity of the Hébert family has
been, and will be, assured into the future.
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Janes (Ford) ….. Ford (Janes)
A sale took place at the Lake in the summer of 2005 which ended a dynasty and likely
started another. That’s why the title of this piece appears somewhat tentative. Is it the
Janes selling to the Fords or is it the Fords buying from the Janes? Of course it’s both, but
the new owners will excuse the author if this story centres on the continuity of the Janes
family at Lake Louisa over 73 years.. Dorothy Janes has provided the story.
Lemuel Willey Janes, born in Hants Harbour, Newfoundland, met
and married an English lady, Ethel Murgatroyd in Vernon, B.C. In
the late 1920s, Lemuel was Grand Secretary of the Loyal Orange
Lodge for the province of Québec. During a
Lodge meeting at Louisa one of the members
mentioned nearby Lake Louisa and Lemuel drove
up the road to the spot where you get the first
glimpse of the Lake. He knew then that he would
one day purchase land and build a cottage here.
When he heard that Mrs. Inez Murphy of
Sherbrooke had land for sale at the south end, he and his wife Ethel
Mergatroyd drove from Montréal and they chose a site in Newton
Bay with a southern exposure. And so began the Janes stay at the
Lake.
Lemuel, with his son Clary, built the “camp” in 1932. The building materials had to be
transported through the bush to the site as the gravel road ended several hundred yards
from the campsite. Of course, there was no indoor plumbing, no electricity, no phones
and no garbage pickup. And still no road the camp!
Over the many years, the family have “paid their dues” and given back generously to
the community over the years. Lemuel was president of the Lake Louisa Fish and Game
Club (founded in 1923) and a founding member of the Lake Louisa Country Club in
1945.
Son Clary met Dorothy Burridge while swimming in front of what was a boarding
house owned by Tom Seale – now the Lake Louisa Social Club. Clary and Dorothy were
married in 1941 and had two children; son Terry and daughter Nancy. Terry and family
have a cottage on Shuswap Lake in B.C. close to their Vancouver home. Nancy and her
husband Terry live in Stirling, Ontario. Dorothy says that her children enjoyed many
wonderful years at the Lake and made lasting friendships. They both feel that their time
spent here helped shape their future lives.
Dorothy served as President of the Ladies Section of the Club and Clary was
Chairman of the Regatta Committee, when the regatta was the highlight of the summer
season. Clary was an avid sailor and helped organize sailing races for a number of
seasons.
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It was an unhappy time for the Janeses as the closing date for the sale approached, but
it was somewhat mitigated by the fact that Marianne Ford had been a lifelong friend of
Nancy Janes. Terry, Nancy’s husband, wrote a story for their local paper about Nancy’s
last trip to the Lake in which he said “that scratched into the door frame between the
kitchen and the dining room are notches and pencil marks indicating a person’s height,
name, and the date they were measured against the wall.” Marianne’s name is on this
record! Both Clary and Dorothy said that the one conciliation as they parted from this
phase of their life was that the new owners were Fords, one of whom is Marianne.
Bruce and Marianne Ford and their children, Katherine and Madeline, need no
introduction to the Lake. Marianne has been an active Director of the Lake Louisa Social
Club, and Bruce is a Director of the Lake Louisa Corporation and has been heavily
involved in the club activities. For three years Katherine has been employed by the Club
for the summer season. Her younger sister Madeline is active in the Club summer
program.
The Fords respect the history of the cottage they have acquired and plan to enjoy their
time here, all the while remembering the importance of what has transpired at this
location.
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Martel - Kuntz (Weibusch)
Heidi Martel and Karin Kuntz are residents of the Lake and, with their husbands Al
and Paul, enjoy their time here from two homes on adjoining lots that can be used the
year round. They are on the south west side of the Lake. How this all happened is an
interesting story recounted in part below:
Irma Dorothea Holtcamp immigrated to Canada from Germany in
1930. She first met Harry Heinz Weibusch at the YMCA in Notre
Dame de Grace (NDG), Montréal. They were married and had two
children, Heidi and Karin. During their time in NDG their neighbours
were Frank and Fran Round, who had property at Lake Louisa. During a
visit to the Lake, Frank Round made Harry Weibusch aware of lakefront
property that was available at the time which had a summer cottage, an
outhouse, an icehouse, a boathouse with a cedar strip boat and motor and
best of all in Irma and Harry’s view, a sandy beach.
This property lay uninhabited from 1942 to 1946 because the owners, Frederick Raeth
and his wife Fedora Fortier, tragically, had drowned in the Lake on November 20, 1942.
In 1946 Irma Weibusch purchased this property. On its southeast corner, there is a
cemetery measuring 22 feet by 42 feet which is the gravesite of Zachariah Robinson
(deceased in 1892) and his wife Ester (deceased in 1907), and of one adopted child who
died in infancy. The Robinsons farmed at the Lake just a few hundred yards west of the
Weibusch property. (for details see “Louisa and her Lake” pages 23 and 24).
Their friend and neighbour, Frank Round, built his summer cottage on the site of the
Robinson farm a few years later. He used it for 2 or 3 years and then sold it to Albert
Sawyer. (see this book under Sawyer family).
For many years the only access to this property was by boat. The family car was
parked at the public landing and the crossing was made in multiple boatloads in order to
get everyone, groceries, linens, pets and anything else that was needed for the summer, to
the cottage.
There was no electricity, lighting was by oil lamps, cooking was on a wood stove, and
the icebox was filled with ice from the ice house that had been cut by Rosario Richer.
Later, lights and a refrigerator powered by propane replaced the oil lamps and the icebox.
It was, however, a challenge to load the propane tanks on the boat, transport them across
the Lake, and carry them up to the cottage from the wharf.
For many years Karl and Marie Kirchoff, parents of Helen Murray, lived in a log cabin
they built with the help of Cyrille Gagné. (see this book under John Henry Giles)
.
In the mid 70s a road was built into the area which seemed at first to be an intrusion
into the privacy of some of the residents, and it was a tough ride on a rough road in the
beginning. It did not take very long for one to appreciate the idea of being able to drive
right to the cottage, not having to worry about weather conditions on the Lake or boat
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availability. Eventually the road was improved - electricity and telephone became
available - and it was appropriately named Robinson Road.
The Weibuschs had two daughters, Heidi and Karin, living in Ottawa and Kitchener,
spent many summers in this “wonder ful, crooked summer cottage”. In 1971 Heidi and
her husband Al Martel purchased the log cabin from the Kirchoffs, who had bought a
cottage across the Lake.
In 1993 Irma Weibusch turned the family property over to Karin and Heidi and the
property was divided with each of the girls having a lot in their name – 99 and 101
Robinson Road. The “crooked cottage” and the log cabin have been replaced with homes
that can be used all year round.
Heidi had two daughters, Tanya and Julia. Tanya was killed in a tragic school bus
accident in1979. Julia is a true fan of Lake Louisa and visits whenever she can. Karin has
3 boys who still visit the Lake regularly. Heidi submitted the original copy for this story.
How fortunate it was for Heidi and Karin that Irma Holtcamp and Harry Weibusch
sought out and purchased this property at the Lake! It has, for sixty years, provided
enjoyment to their extended family. The continuity continues!
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McAlear
Maurice Edmund McAlear and Lilian Marguerite (Mayhew) McAlear first visited
Lake Louisa in the summer of 1934 as guests of Grace and Elwood Mark of Montréal at a
cottage opposite Habib’s store. Maurice fell in love with the Lake, and in 1935 he had a
camp built on the hill opposite what is now
the Clubhouse of the Lake Louisa Social
Club. The builder was Mr. Bissell, who lived
at the corner of Lake Louisa South and
Blueberry Point Road.
Allan McAlear, the son of these
“pioneers”, has provided this information on
how the family name has continued to be
prominent in the area. Soon after he was born
in 1936 he seemed to have a built- in craving for summers at the Lake, and he continues to
this day the love for the Lake he inherited from his father and mother.
The first camp was equipped, as were others of that date, without electric power and
running water and telephones, but with an outhouse off in the bushes. By 1959 electric
power with all its possibilities was available and, in that year Maurice purchased the
Heath property (in the vicinity of 37 Seale Road) on which there were two houses, one on
the Lake and the other nearer the road. The family lived in the latter and sister Shirley
lived in the lake house.
In 1962 Allan built a house on this property close to the road (where Jay Brothers is
now), and he and his wife Cathy and their five children spent the summers there until
1974. At this time Allan bought property owned by Gordon McGibbon of Lachute on the
north side of the Lake and built a stone house which is his main Lake house today.
Two of Allan’s children, Mic hael and Jim, have succumbed to the lure of the Lake and
have summer homes here. In 1989 Michael, the youngest boy, purchased a log cabin built
by John McKimmie and later owned by Marvin Chase. In 1995 Jim bought the Nuttal
house on the south side of the Lake at 107 Seale Road.
Allan’s sister Doreen married Marcel Raymond, whose parents had purchased the
original camp built by Maurice and Lilian. Doreen and Marcel bought the property of Dr.
Sylvestre in the late 1980s and replaced the house with a modern home on that site in
2003.
And so we see still another case where a spirit of affection for the Lake has resulted in
the continuity of the McAlear family in this area. It expresses the warm feeling this
family has for Lake Louisa.
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Mitchell (Riddell)
Jim Mitchell, who lives in Lachute, owns a property at 13 Giles Road at Lake Louisa.
Today, he and his cousins and their children enjoy visiting there from time to time.
The land for this cottage was
purchased from the Matthews family in
1911 by Alexander Riddell of Lachute.
With his wife, Margaret Carpenter,
they had a camp built on a rocky ledge
away from the Lake with a beautiful
southern exposure. They were the
“pioneers” of the family to follow, and
the house on the property changed
significantly over the years.
The Riddells had a large family, and we note that one of the
girls, Margaret Irene Riddell, married Major George Gordon Mitchell and had two
children, Doris and Jim. The whole Riddell family enjoyed the long trips from Lachute to
the Lake by horse and wagon over the “mile of hills” road.
Another daughter of the Riddells, Ella, was married to Albert Hills, and she eventually
purchased the camp. Transportation improved and additions were made to the camp
which slowly became a cottage and is, today, a year round Lake property. The sisters,
Irene and Ella, and their families enjoyed summer vacations on the large property that
included a fine sandy beach.
In 1968 Jim Mitchell purchased the property from his aunt, Ella Hills, and over the
years proceeded to develop the house into a comfortable summer and winter get away.
Doris passed away in 2000, and now Jim and their cousins and friends continue to enjoy
the original Riddell investment during each of the four seasons of the year. The
continuity of this family is alive after 95 years!
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Montgomery
Andrew Emerson Montgomery and Nina Gertrude (Glover) Montgomery
immigrated to Canada from Maine, U.S.A., in the early 1900s and eventually settled in
Outrémont, a suburb of Montréal. They raised six children there, living in a semidetached brick house on Hartland Avenue.
How then did the Montgomerys ever find Lake
Louisa?
Andrew, (known as Drew), had come to notice
that every spring and fall and during the summer,
the C. T. Storey family who occupied the other part
of the house was away. Over the back fence one
day, he asked Mr. Storey where they spent this
time. The answer was Lake Louisa, and Drew received an invitation
to visit with them for a day to see this beautiful Lake.
In 1936 the long trip was made with Nina and Drew and several of the children on
board. The end result was that a camp was found that day on Blueberry Point owned by
W.J. Boyd of Brownsburg. For the hefty sum of $25.00 it was rented for the season –
May 24th to Labour Day! And so it all began. With an outhouse and no electricity, and
water fetched from the Lake or the spring.
Blueberry Point was eventually bought by Drew, and a second camp was built in 1944
from the proceeds of an insurance policy taken out on the eldest son, Richard, who went
missing while flying with the R.A.F. over the Bay of Biscay during WW II. Both camps
were used and enjoyed by all of the family, and today there is a new cottage on the site of
the second camp which is enjoyed by Louise (Perley) Knight and family. Louise is the
only daughter of Frances Elizabeth Perley, who was the eldest of two daughters of Drew
and Nina. Drew was a Director of the Lake Louisa Fish and Game Club and a founding
Director of the Lake Louisa Country Club in 1945. Nina was active with the Ladies of
the Club and became renowned for her baked beans served up at the Annual Regatta.
Herb Montgomery, the second youngest of the four boys, is the only surviving member
of the family. He and his wife Marjorie Leggett reside in Orleans, Ontario and spend a
good deal of time at the Lake. Herb and Marjorie met in 1938 at Habib’s store at the
Lake. In 1955 their business years took them to Toronto and away from easy access to
the Lake. Nevertheless their affection for this place prompted them to buy the property of
Phil Roy at the entrance to Newton’s Bay at the south end. As more grandchildren arrived
and more dogs came on the scene, this cottage became crowded when everyone
assembled. Subsequently, they purchased the house next door owned by Jack
Breckenridge, which now serves as their Lake headquarters.
They had three children, Richard, Leslie and Marianne. The girls spend their summers
at the Lake with their children and occasionally Leslie’s daughter and her two children
visit as well. Todd and Leslie Comfort and Bruce and Marianne Ford are active as
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volunteers in community activities, and they and their children surely share the “spirit” of
Lake Louisa. The beat goes on and family continuity has recently manifested itself right
next door to Marge and Herb. The Comforts have purchased the property on Wheatfield
Road next door that was owned by Marcel and Lorie Bourbeau. The Fords have
purchased the property of Clary and Dorothy Janes across the street on Wheatfield Road.
Over the years Herb has contributed to the success of the community, and he says that
his input has been returned to him many times over as he sees the excellent community
spirit that has built up over the years, continuing to this day.
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Morrison
Keith and Agnes (Morrow) Morrison have a cosy cottage looking out north and west
toward Griffith and Hodge Island which they have enjoyed for twenty years. Previous to
their purchase of this cottage they owned a cottage on the north side of the Lake for
thirteen years.
Their present cottage was originally one half of an 8 bedroom cottage owned by
Archie McGibbon and it was located at the top of a steep hill on the lot. It was split in
half and part of it was moved down the hill on skids to be located close to the shoreline.
The other half was demolished. It was owned for three years by the Phillips family and
then the Morrisons bought the property and moved from the north side to this location.
(40 Blueberry Point Road)
Keith and Agnes stay at their lakeside cottage from May till the first of November
when they move back to their Dalesville home. Agnes was born in Dalesville and in later
life had a successful real estate business. During this time she sold many properties
around the Lake and has a good knowledge of who owns what at the Lake.
Keith was born in Brownsburg, lived in Lachute for some time and eventually ended
up farming in the Glen. He too has an intimate knowledge of some of the early history of
the Lake.
Agnes and Keith have two children, Barry and Karen. Each was given 100 acres of
land in the Glen by their parents and both of them live there with their families. Barry
married Christine Watts, and Karen married Doug Maidens.
The children of both families visit the Lake frequently and will, at some time in the
future, carry on the Morrison name here.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Mossey
Doug and Dorothy Mossey live in Montréal and have a “get away” at Lake Louisa.
How this came to be is recounted below, based on information supplied to the author by
Doug.
Stewart James M ossey and Constance Maxwell Conner first came to Lake Louisa
in the spring of 1953 to visit and stay with good friends Bud and Jean Jones. Bud Jones
was a business acquaintance of Stewart as well as a friend. After several visits, Stewart
and Connie began looking for a house to rent, and in
1954 they settled on one owned by Alex Acres located
near Cedar Point. (see Giles, Jamison, Delorme, history
elsewhere in this book).
During that year at the Lake, Stewart learned that
Joseph Fletcher had a house he had built in 1945 and was
willing to sell it. The deal was made. The location is on
the north side, best described by Doug as “at the jut in the shoreline which sticks out into
the Lake and has two large rocks in front that stick out of the water”. Try 227 Lake
Louisa North as a reference, and note the location on the map below.
Stewart bought the cottage and renovations followed. The following year he bought
two vacant lots next door with plans that their best friends, Ralph and Dorothy Edson,
would build next to them, which they did a few years later.
In 1968 the cottage was demolished and replaced with a stone house, probably the
most elegant house built at the Lake at the time. The house was built by Riddell
Construction of Lachute with stone gathered from a quarry in St. Andrews. The family
enjoyed the house and the Lake for many years and eventually it was sold to Brian
Sutton, and Connie and Stewart moved to Stittsville, Ontario, in 1992.
Connie and Stewart (Stewart passed away in 1996) had two children, Doug and David
and it was Doug who supplied the information on the family for this book. Doug and
Dorothy Murdoch of Brownsburg had two sons, Robert and Adam who visit the Lake
frequently.
Doug’s brother, David, and his wife Edith live in Cambridge, Ontario and have three
married children, Debbie, Christopher and Torrie-Ann. They do visit the Lake from time
to time.
Doug and Dorothy were married in St Aidan’s Church in Louisa and had the wedding
reception on the family property at the Lake. In 1974 they bought the house at 185 Lake
Louisa North from the Roberts family that was previously built and owned by Stanley
Doige.
In 1992 they renovated this home and still enjoy their time at the Lake. They feel that
there is a certain “mystique” about the Lake and appreciate the many friendships they
have enjoyed over the years.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Murdock (Pelly)
Bruce Murdoch and Joyce (Pelly) are enjoying their retirement years at Lake Louisa.
How did they happen to build their last home at this Lake?
Here is the story:
Walter Clarence Pelly and Norah Hill, (he of Montréal, and she
from England), met in the classroom in Montréal and eventually
married. They vacationed at Lake Louisa in the summers of 1928
and 1929 having been told about the Lake by a friend, Harold
Carson. They rented a cottage from Bob and Peg Giles of Lachute,
the cottage being on the “back side” of Giles
Island (Burnt Island).
In 1930 they purchased the property known today as “Pelly’s
Point” from P.&A. McGibbon Ltd. Two log cabins were built by
members of the Seale family on the tip of the point using logs from
trees cut down on the property. Walter and Norah owned one cabin
and Walter’s parents Henry and Mary Louise owned the other.
There was no road access to the property, which meant that cars had to be parked at the
top of Betty’s Hill. The hike down the hill to the cabins on the old Portage Trail was a
challenge as all their supplies for the visit had to be brought in this way. This became
more difficult when Norah produced twins, Sheila and Thelma, in 1940. As if on notice,
the announcement that year that a road would be built which would give much easier
access to the Pelly cabins was welcome news.
Walter and Norah’s oldest child, Joyce, has supplied the information for this family
history at the Lake. The twins eventually married local men, one from Dalesville and the
other from Habib’s Bay.
The two log cabins were replaced with a Panabode type house in 1960 and it was used
by Walter and Norah and family until it was demolished in 2000. Joyce, the eldest
daughter, had married Bruce Murdoch of Montréal and they owned the old Grisch
property at 47 Lake Louisa North for 11 years before deciding to rebuild on the Point.
In 2000 Bruce and Joyce built their retirement home on the original site of the two log
cabins. The builder was Karl Wockner of Beaconsfield Construction, a Lake Louisa
resident. A total of 5 generations have enjoyed living on and visiting the property at
beautiful Lake Louisa.
Author’s Note: In 1939 the author’s summer job was driving Mrs. Habib’s motor
boat delivering supplies to the camps without road access, and to the islands. Aside from
milk, ice and other supplies the Pelly order at least once a week consisted of a package or
two of Meerschaum pipe tobacco for Henry Pelly!
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Sawyer
To say that Albert Edward Sawyer and Elsie Frances Beston “started something” at
Lake Louisa will become clear as we trace the Sawyer family history over the past fifty
five years on the property that lies between McFaul Point and Stuart Point.
Moving from Toronto to Montréal in 1947, Albert
and Elsie acquired land and a cottage (from Frank
Round, a business friend), located in the vicinity of
one of the first farmer- settler’s original house.
Zachariah Robinson and Ester Story had raised 14
children and adopted one child. They farmed this
property until the early 1900s and are buried on
neighbouring property. (see Louisa and her Lake,
pages 23,24). Subsequently, Cyrille Gagné continued
to farm the property and had his homestead at this location until the 1930s.
The Sawyer name enters the picture in 1953, when this beautiful part of Lake Louisa
was purchased by Albert and Elsie. It was the usual routine for “campers” in those days:
weekends in the spring and fall and two months in the summer became the way of life for
the Sawyer family. It is noteworthy that this location was not served by a road until 1976,
and, as Isobel Sawyer St. George (who supplied this story) says, “Staying tuned for
honking horns, (in particular, 2 long followed by 2 short blasts) was essential.” The way
to the Sawyer property was by car to the public landing and then by boat the rest of the
way. Of course there was no electricity, no hot water and no phone and daily boat rides
to Richer’s store for ice for the ice box.
The Sawyers participated in Church Services which moved from home to home at the
Lake and which originated as a Sunday School for children in 1948. (see Louisa and her
Lake, page 93). Isobel states that “It was always a special moment to see an armada of
boats arrive Sunday morning……as this was the only time in the summer that everyone
had to come by boat.”
Albert and Elsie Sawyer had a family of five children: Doreen, Isobel, Marilyn, Ken
and Eileen, in descending order of age. Lake Louisa was, again, the place where enduring
relationships developed for three of the children. In 1958 Doreen married Lorne Acres, a
cottage owner; in 1969 Marilyn married Jim Latimer, whom she met at the Lake, and
Eileen married Hal Smith in 1973.
In 1976 the Sawyer land was sub-divided, and Isobel and Paul St. George built first in
1980, followed by Ken and Shirley Sawyer in 1988 and Marilyn and Jim Latimer in1990.
During the earlier days the Sawyer family did their full share of volunteer work giving
back generously to the community. The Lake Louisa Country Club was the beneficiary of
this generosity. Sisters Doreen and Marilyn live with their families in Brossard and
Ottawa respectively but visit the Lake regularly.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
As a newcomer to the Lake, Albert quickly became involved helping to obtain the
financing for Totem Lodge, a waterfront building on the Club property. He played an
important part in establishing a Junior Club in the 1950s. His wife, Elsie, was secretary of
the Club for several years. Isobel was treasurer for several years and served on a number
of committees. Isobel and Paul’s son, Mark, was a tennis director for the years 1988 and
1989. Ken was Program Director of the Club for two years in the 1960s (a paid position)
and later became a Director of the Club, Club Treasurer and President, and Corporation
Treasurer.
The third generation of Sawyers have clearly shown their attachment to the Lake.
From 2001 to 2003 four grandchildren of Albert and Elsie, Mark St. George, Chris
Sawyer, Scott Sawyer and Julie Latimer were married and had their wedding receptions
on the original Sawyer property. Some of them have their own children (the 4th
generation) who are soon to become involved in the Lake Louisa Social Club. And so,
the Lake continues to beckon the Sawyer family, and the “spirit” of Lake Louisa lives on!
37
Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Schultz
Carol (Kirlin) Schultz and John Schultz have enjoyed Lake Louisa for over 60 years
and their family have followed in their footsteps. Some of the details of this”love affair
with a lake” appear below. Carol has supplied the information.
At an early age Carol knew about Lake Louisa
because their ‘across the street neighbours’ on Hartland
Avenue in Outrémont, the Montgomerys, used to
disappear each summer, and it was finally determined
that their destination was Blueberry Point at Lake Louisa.
Many years later when Carol first met John, she was
invited to John’s brother’s cottage at the Lake. Bob’s cottage had been built in 1946 when
the north side of the Lake was being developed. Carol’s descrip tion of the Lake was “an
amazing jewel hidden in the lower Laurentians.”
In 1961 John and Carol and four children rented a cottage owned by the MacLeans.
The next year they tried another vacation spot but could not be happy anywhere but Lake
Louisa. They returned to the Lake, renting once more, with close neighbours the McFauls
and the Wights and four children, John, Cindy, Craig and Jennifer. During this period
Carol says “she became hooked for good on Lake Louisa.”
In 1964 the Schultzs had Russell Seale build a cottage for them near the outlet at the
south end, and this was the start for the family to spend all the summers and weekends
where they enjoyed summer and winter sports. They had found a place where the whole
family was happy.
As the children grew older the cottage (by now a home) wasn’t big enough for them
and the many “forever friends” they had made. So, they acquired a small cottage just
down the road to be used as an annex and shared by the children.
Son John and his family built a home on Robinson Road, and son Craig and his young
wife bought Dr. Gordon’s cottage. The girls shared the annex and everyone was happy
and close to each other.
Sadly, in a tragic automobile accident three days before Christmas 2002, daughter
Cindy and her daughter Vanessa were taken from the family. At the request of the family
this piece of the Schultz history is dedicated to their memory.
The following quote from the information Carol supplied sums up the feelings this family
have for Lake Louisa: “There is something so unique about this Lake with its bays and
islands, a club where people of all ages can enjoy different aspects of their lives as lives
change with the years. No matter who comes to visit, the reaction is the same, they want
to be part of this special place.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Thomas (Matthews)
That sense of continuity which has characterized the extensive history of the Matthews
family’s association with Lake Louisa is best understood by referring to the account
given in Louisa and her Lake (pp 26-28), beginning with the entry for Valentine
Matthews and continuing with those of his younger brothers and subsequent offspring.
To summarize briefly some important dates concerning the
Matthews family history we determine that Valentine was 21 years
old when he and his brothers arrived in Argenteuil from County
Monaghan, Ireland in 1832. In 1837 he obtained 100 acres of land
at Louisa as a “free tenant” with certain qualifications. His original
log house was located near the gravel pits across from the Seale
homestead.
What perhaps matters more in the present context, however, as
testament to the strong affinity the present Thomas family has for the spirit of Lake
Louisa may be properly said to begin with Inez (Matthews) Murphy, youngest daughter
of Sarah and Thoma s Matthews, who was born on the family farm at Louisa in 1898.
Charged with the responsibility of overseeing the final distribution of what had been
the “summer farm” property, she became the sole executrix of the Matthews’ estate in
1930. During the next 30 years she sold all the remaining land, with the exception of a lot
comprising the western and southern portions of Wheatfield Point. In 1962 Inez
Murphy’s daughter, JoAnn, had a Pan Abode cottage built by Douglas Boyd (Louisa and
her Lake p. 79) as a summer retreat from her teaching duties in Lennoxville.
JoAnn married Geoffrey Thomas in 1966, and the couple moved to the Lake as
permanent residents, remaining until 1978, during which period Geoffrey served as Vice
Principal of the newly built Laurentia n Regional High School. It was also during this
time that their only child, Jennifer, was born at the Lake. her birth no doubt provides the
best case for continuity, as Jennifer, (following in her grandmother’s footsteps), truly
became a child of Louisa.
In 1978 the Thomas family ceased to be permanent residents of Louisa and moved to
Ottawa, where Geoffrey became a Director of Ashbury College – a post he held until his
retirement in 1999. Throughout this period the family maintained their Louisa residence,
returning each year to renew their many Louisa friendships and to host frequent visits
from their Ashbury friends and colleagues.
In 2001 it was decided to sell the Ottawa property and, following extensive
renovations to the Wheatfield Point cottage, to return as permanent residents again in
retirement. Sadly this dream was cut short by the untimely death of JoAnn in 2004.
As perhaps a final attestation to the strength of the Thomas family’s sense of
continuity at Louisa, the Wheatfield property is not to be sold but to remain in the family
of Jennifer and her future offspring.
39
Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Turnbull
Brian Turnbull and Gail Elizabeth McCallum have their cottage at Lake Louisa
which is located at the east end of Montgomery Bay. How they came to settle in this area
is an interesting story and is recounted below:
During the winter months of 1956 Brian Sutton approached several of his friends at
Pickwicks store on Earnscliffe Avenue in
Montréal’s Notre Dame de Grace about
renting a cottage for the summer months.
These discussions continued over coffee at
the Cote St. Luc BBQ and culminated in the
decision to rent a cottage at Lake Louisa for
the summer months. Little did Brian know of
the impact this would have on his friends.
Among this group of young men was
Brian Turnbull, who was just graduating from
high school. The house they rented on Seale Road was the start of an adventure for Brian
with the result that three generations of the Turnbulls are now living at the Lake. Brian
has provided the author with this information.
The Boys first rented a large blue cottage at the north end of the Lake. The following
year they rented the adjoining log cabin. They became active in the Lake Louisa Country
Club, which held dances most Saturday nights throughout the summer. The group called
themselves “The Lads from the Pad” and provided the music for the Club, soon
becoming well known around the Lake under the leadership of David Field. After the
dance, they gathered up their equipment and continued to party at the cabin until the wee
small hours of the morning. Among the party group were, Ian, Roy and Marge Nelson,
Tom Heslop, Michael Sarazin, Gene Lewis, and Monique Coté.
They got along well with their neighbours but when they tried to rent for the fourth
year their land lord said he had been asked by a group of Lake residents not to rent to”The
Boys” the next year! We know that music travels far and wide over water, and the strains
of Billy Haley’s Rock Around the Clock at 4.00 a.m. was not well received by some.
With the help of Dr. Coté, Brian and his friends were able to rent the boathouse at the
end of Montgomery’s bay which was owned by Omer Legault of Brownsburg. This
worked well for several years, and, as the group of boys dwindled, Brian thought it would
be a good move to buy the boathouse, and he did so. The group of boys had become well
accepted by the neighbours in this new location, and this resulted in enduring friendships
with the Louis Coté family - specifically Louise and Claude Prefontaine, Yolande
Tweedy, and the Dr. Coté family, in particular Monique and Richard Lauzon.
Brian married Gail Elizabeth McCallum in April 1966. Gail, Tony and Brian
immediately made the boathouse central to their family’s leisure hours. In 1967 they were
joined by Jim followed by Peter in 1971, and Monica in 1973 Over the years the
boathouse underwent many changes as family needs changed.
40
Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
In the fall of 1971 they moved the boathouse onto an adjacent site a little further from
the Lake and commenced a series of renovations that would eventually transform it into a
home, which is now occupied by Jim Turnbull.
When Brian retired in 1995 after 37 years with Nortel, he built a new home on the lot
beside the cottage. In 2005 son Peter and his wife Maija, residents of Fairfax, Virginia,
purchased property at Lake Louisa known as Island 43 (Burnt Island) and at 1 Laurin
Point.
Both Brian and Gail are active in the Clubs and Associations serving the Lake and
Gail keeps very busy in many other activities. Gail is the Past President of the Lake
Louisa Property Owners Association, and Brian continues to serve as Secretary. They
have both contributed significantly to preserve the “spirit” of Lake Louisa.
41
Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Wight
Blanche Janet Smith first came to Lake Louisa as a
young girl and fell in love with area. She had been drawn
here because her great grandfather, Samuel Smith, was
one of the first settlers in the Dunany area. She married
Ralph Albert Walter Wight and they had two sons, Van
and Edmund (Ed)
On May 23 rd, 1951 Ralph and Blanche packed their sons into the car and headed for
Lake Louisa. Blanche’s sister, Hannah Smith, and Ralph’s sister, Barbara Page, followed
in Hannah’s car. As of that date there were probably one hundred cottages around the
Lake. (see “Louisa and her Lake” page 48 – Lake Louisa -1936- A Guided Tour). Fifty
plus years ago it was a long trip from Montréal, and at the top of the hill outside
Brownsburg the pavement gave way to a gravel road at Dalesville and on to the Lake.
Bob McFaul ,a merchant in Lachute, had built a camp on Matthews Point in 1914. (To
locate it today it is at 8 Giles Road in Brownsburg Bay).
Living conditions were very unlike those of today, there being no electricity or indoor
plumbing, and by the flickering of oil lamps at night the Wights could tell which families
were at home. Flashlights lit the way to the outhouse in the woods. The boys would haul
water from the Lake in buckets until a hand pump was installed.
Their friends and neighbours, Ernie and Shirley Boyd, introduced them to the Lake
Louisa Country Club (later to become the Lake Louisa Social Club) and to other families
around the Lake. The whole family enjoyed many activities at the Lake such as
swimming, canoeing, sailing, regattas, water- skiing, Saturday night dances, bridge, and
tea at the Club. Van, who submitted this story said, “The greatest enjoyment of all has
been the many summer friends we have met who have become part of our extended
family.”
Howard Easton, (see this book section on John Henry Giles), introduced Van to
Barbara Nelson at the Lake and she and Van were married in 1956. They were avid
sailors and were often seen sailing their Flying Scott #442 in the Sunday sailing races on
the Lake, along with ten to twenty other boats competing for the sailing trophies.
Barbara’s dad, Cecil Nelson, purchased the first fibreglass boat and he taught the
family and friends to water-ski. This boat was followed by The Victory, a larger more
powerful boat which is seen cruising on the Lake today. The Nelson families still reside
at the Lake and are often spotted partying with the Wights.
Van and Barbara built a house in 1963 at 6 McFaul Road on land provided by
Margaret and Cecil Nelson. Their three daughters, Debbie (Anderson), Dale (O’Reilly),
and Darlene (Campbell) all own homes at the Lake.
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Van served his time on the Board of Directors of the Club and was its President in
1959. He also served on the Board of the Lake Louisa Corporation. Ed’s first summer job
was at the Club assisting Ma Caron with swimming lessons, cleaning the Club and rolling
the tennis courts. After working in Africa for three years, he returned home to appreciate
the beauty of this area.
He was addicted to flying at an early age and first landed a plane on the Lake in June
1960 at the age of 19. One of his greatest pleasures today is taking friends and neighbours
for a flight in his float plane to better appreciate the unique beauty of Lake Louisa from
the air. When he retired from Air Canada he was a Boeing 747-400 captain.
Ed married Allana Ballantyne. They and their two sons, Scot and Glen, shared a
cottage at 20 Giles road (north side of Matthews Point) with Ray and Jo-Ann Jones and
their son Bryn for some years. Allana passed away and later Ed married Carol Hanna Lafave in 2002, and together they built a home at 16 Acres road in 2002, where they now
reside permanently, enjoying all the seasons at the Lake.
In his submission to the author Van Wight wrote, “From that first trip in 1951 the
Wights have had over a half century of wonderful experiences at Lake Louisa. Our
family and friends have grown in numbers and we all feel truly blessed to be part of the
“Lake Louisa Family.” And that says it all!
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Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow
Acknowledgments
First and foremost I thank my wife and companion for 58 years, Marjorie, for her
patience and understanding. She says she did miss me during the many hours I spent in
“the pit” working on this book!
Of course without the participants who provided the facts, we would have had nothing.
I thank them all.
My editor, Geoff Thomas, did a great job correcting my goofs and getting some flow
back into some of the work. Much appreciated!
Thanks to Bill Murray, a notorious genealogist, the extensive Henry James Giles story
was covered in full.
Burt Hale provided the pictures from his multitudinous library of rare photos of Lake
Louisa and I thank him.
Proofreader Howard Easton , I thank you.
Brian Turnbull came to my rescue, again, at the last moment, and, although he must
think that I have not learned anything since his last rescue mission in 2000, I do
appreciate his help and thank him kindly.
I am truly disappointed that I could not produce a larger book covering more families.
But that’s the way the cookie crumbled this time!
May the beat go on and on!
44