February 23, 2025
The Sault Star, from Sault Ste. Marie Ont., which was established in 1901, had effectively become the local paper in Hearst in the 1930s. With the Algoma Central and Hudson Bay Railroad connecting the towns since 1914, Hearst now enjoyed daily train service and could read their small-town news in the Sault Star. They claimed to publish the news a day before the Toronto papers.
An Oct. 13, 1922 headline read. “Gold at Red Lake; Hearst Men Report A Big Find There,” as Hearst Mayor Gus McManus struck it rich. On June 27, 1925 the Star reported that a kidnapper was caught by Fire Rangers in Hearst, although that proved to be incorrect later. These were among the most exciting stories but the regular reports covered all aspects of life in a small town. Music concerts, hockey games, accidents, births and deaths, weddings, local politics, street-fights, comings and goings, were reported in detail to be eagerly devoured by the people of Hearst.
A Feb. 12, 1931 headline blared: "M. Poliquin Met with Accident. Scalded face and Hands When Lifting Coffee Pot Off Stove.” Mr. Poliquin, Janitor of the separate school on Sunday night had the misfortune to get badly scalded while lifting off the coffee pot at the Euchre party at the Parish Hall. It slipped and the contents splashed over his face and hands."
On Nov. 30, 1930 the Star reported “Great excitement was caused in town, in the Finnish circles when two Finlanders held a quarrel on Front Street. One Finlander was rushed to St. Paul’s Hospital and required several stitches. Police were called and the assailant put in the lock-up. Evidently there had been hard feelings between the two men for some time.”
The same issue reported that the Canadian National Instruction car was in town on Friday. This school on wheels travelled to the remote stations along the CNR line providing schooling to the families of the section gangs, trappers and hunters living along the way.
Elia Bosnick’s birth was announced March 7, 1932 and the Wade Chalykoff wedding in the Sept. 21, 1936 issue.
There seemed to be no secrets and even the guests registered at the Waverley and Windsor hotels did not escape the reporter’s eagle eye.
The Waverley Hotel was strategically located
across the street from the Railway station where
both the CNR and ACR railways provided the only
connection to the outside world. Built by Bob and
Catherine Sharp in 1924, the Waverley was often
the first choice of travelers. Catherine Sharp and
her mother-in-law can be seen in the attached
photo (at right) that was provided by her great grandson,
John.
While not quite on the scale of the Grand Hotel in the movie, these guests came from all parts of Canada and it is interesting to read their names and wonder what brought them to our town.
Registered at the Waverley 1930 March 11: R. Vennis, Capreol; T. Millard, Hornepayne; A. Stoddart, Capreol; R.H. Bliss, Oba; L. Ross, North Bay; C. Martindale, Coppell; N.E. Robinson, Toronto; S.B. Norris, New Liskeard; H. Pollock, Cochrane; R. Williamson, North Bay.
R.H. Bliss, Fire Inspector from Oba arrived in town last night enroute to Oba from a business trip to Kapuskasing.
Registered at the Windsor 1930 March 11: S.P. Therrault, Cochrane; A. Sauve, Montreal; George Drumon, Montreal; A.V. Charron, North Bay; A. Lalonde, Timmins; Leo Roy, Cochrane; C.W. Lind, Duluth.
Registered at the Waverley 1931 Jan 5: Dr. and Mrs. M.C. Cain, Toronto; Misses Audrey and Evelyn Cain, Toronto; Douglas Mitchell, Hale; Phil Brunelle, Remi Lake; M. Swanson, Frank; H. Evans, Kapuskasing; Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Brougham, Oba; J.V. Considine, Kapuskasing; A. Hale, D.L. Polock, J. Kenny, Kapuskasing; P. B. Smith, Coppell; H. Kissman, Toronto; G. Henly, Mattice; A. McDonald, Rosetown; E. Thorning, Cochrane; Finlay Campbell, Staynor; E. Pellow, Chapleau; E. Sutcliffe, A. E. Jarvis, Oba; V.H. Stone, Toronto; D. McDonald, Rosetown; D. Duncan. Kapuskasing; A. Perdue, Walkerton.
Mr. E. Pellow of Chapleau returned to town after spending the Christmas holidays with family. Mr. G. Henly of Fryatt was a visitor here this week.
Editor’s note: Dr. Molson Cain was the third doctor to practice in Hearst after Dr. Kinsey and Dr. Quackenbush. Dr. Cain sold his practice to Dr. Bill Arkinstall.
Registered at the Windsor 1931 Jan 5: R. Salo, South Porcupine; Vero Prontre, Oba; W. Vandette, E.J. Pitre, Town; E. Olson, Cochrane; M. Wallace, Fort William; J.A. Hanson, Stavert; A. Demers, Opasatika; J. Guice, Timmins; A. Lalonde, Timmins; J. Dubois, Cochrane; J. Mavres, Fryatt; Chas. Sodecie, Longlac; J. Grenier, Kapuskasing; J. Durack, Cochrane; C. Mores, Fryatt; E. A. Lamothe, Franz; Chas. Soucie, Longlac; J. F. Glick, Sudbury.
Mr. F. Lamothe,
A.C.R. lineman for the A.C.&H.B. Railways was a visitor
here Tuesday evening. Mr. Chas. Sodecie of Longlac was a business
visitor here this week.
The Waverley is still standing one hundred years after it was built although no longer functioning as a hotel. Over the years it was the home of jail cells, bowling and live entertainment. (This is an authentic bowling pin from the Waverley Lanes.)
If its walls could talk, they could provide a complete history of the town of Hearst.