Historical magazine Way back when - January 2024

• The mayors of Saint-Lazare : Roland Bédard • Founding families of SaintLazare : the Martel family • Unusual professions : lunchtime school supervisors • Donation of the Saint-Lazare train station clock • Ancestors of the Therrien families of America • The last train station master

Many thanks to our valued collaborators

2

In the magazine this month :

Way back when is the SaintLazare historical society’s historical magazine published 3 times a year, in January, May and in September.

The content of this publication may be reproduced with the acknowledgment of the source on the express condition of having obtained prior permission from the Saint-Lazare historical society.

4

The mayors of Saint-Lazare : Roland Bédard

8

Founding families of Saint-Lazare : the Martel family

11

Unusual professions : lunchtime school supervisors

14

Donation of the Saint-Lazare train station clock

16

Ancestors of the Therrien families of America

20

The last train station master

Editor: Paul Lavigne Corrector: Lyne Boutin

Lifetime membership in the Saint-Lazare historical society as a civil member is free. By becoming a lifetime member, you will receive the link to our digital magazine 3 times a year and you will benefit from preferential rates for our events.

You can find the membership form on our website www.shsl.ca under the heading Becoming a member.

Saint-Lazare historical society’s board of directors The rates for becoming a corporate or institutional member of the Saint-Lazare historical society are as follows:

President: Donald Simpson Vice-president: Anick Chevrier

GOLD level member (1/4 page add) :

$200.00 per year

SILVER level member (1/8 page add) :

$150.00 per year

Treasurer: Emma Mergl

BRONZE level member (1/16 page add): $100.00 per year

Secretary: Paul Lavigne Administrator: Robert Rozon

To become a corporate or institutional member, contact the SLHS via email at info@shsl.ca and we will gladly inform you about all the other advantages.

Administrator: Manon Leroux Administrator: Gisèle Gareau 3

Administrator: Lyne Arbec

The mayors of Saint-Lazare

As part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the city of Saint-Lazare in 2025, we will be highlighting the contribution of some mayors to the success of our city in this and future editions of the magazine. In this first part, we have the pleasure of introducing Mr. Roland Bédard.

Roland Bédard

It was on the family farm, located on Montée Harwood, that Roland Bédard was born on November 7, 1929. The estate, built in 1859, was bought by his parents Séraphin Bédard and Alice Chevrier in 1920. The fourth of ten children, Roland and his 9 brothers and sisters participated, as was the custom at the time, in the work of the farm. From the age of 6, he attended the Sainte-Angélique rural school requiring he walk more than four-kilometers each day. Already blessed with what was deemed an ambitious

Mayor of Saint-Lazare from 1967-1975

By Paul Lavigne

4

and determined character, he left school at the end of the 4th grade to help his father on the farm. It was during these years that he learned and mastered the basics of the construction trade.

children, he showed interest to get involved in municipal politics. He ran and won the position of alderman for district 3 of Saint-Lazare, replacing Gérard Sareault. In 1963, he left his position as city councillor to run for mayor of SaintLazare. During a hotly contested election, Eugène Boileau won his 5th mandate as mayor with 53% of the votes against 47% for candidate Bédard. He would try his luck again in 1965, this time against Roger Groulx who won with 59% of the votes.

At the beginning of the 1950s, the sister of a visiting neighbor caught his eye and by the summer of 1951, Roland Bédard and Pierrette Beaudoin were married.

At the beginning of 1967, the family, now with with 7 children, moved into a brand-new house, built by Roland and located at the corner of chemin Sainte-Angélique and montée Poirier. During the summer, on his third attempt, Roland Bédard, 37, was appointed mayor of SaintLazare by acclamation since the former municipal magistrate, Roger Groulx had opted not to run for a second term and no other candidate applied for the position. Tragedy struck the Bédard family in December 1967 when his father, Séraphin, died suddenly at the age of 74.

Roland Bédard and his wife Pierrette Beaudoin Source: Collection famille Bédard

Roland, who had already built his first house in Hudson the year before, continued his career as a thriving construction contractor during the 1950s and 1960s with projects in Saint-Lazare, Hudson, and Pierrefonds among others. In 1961, he joined Léo-Paul Gareau, well known for his sawmill and his lumber store on chemin SaintLouis, to build the first bowling alley on chemin Chevrier. This bowling alley would become, a few years later, a dance hall where several of the best musical groups in Quebec would come to entertain the residents of Saint-Lazare and around.

His reign as mayor continued in 1969 following a victory over outgoing municipal councillor Gérard Chevrier and for a third term in 1972 following his triumph over Roger Groulx.

In July 1960, at the age of 30 and father of 4 5

Many thanks to our valued collaborators

6

The Green Maples Hill project, and its 85 houses, would occupy Roland for several years.

The second development, entitled Petit Boisé, located on chemin Sainte-Angélique, includes the streets named Michel, Stéphane, and Richard among others (names of his children). He even built a 9-hole golf course to the east of the village, but following imbroglios associated with the type of zoning permitted in the area, the business was abandoned after only a few months of operation.

Roland Bédard and his wife Pierrette Beaudoin during their 25th wedding anniversary Source: Collection famille Bédard

During his tenure, numerous improvements to the municipality's sewer and aqueduct networks were completed as well as the inauguration of Bédard Boulevard, as it was called at the time, providing a rapid access from the village center to highway 40.

Mr. Bédard lost his dear wife Pierrette on May 4, 2018, at the age of 87 following a long illness.

He will follow her a few years later, on July 12, 2022, aged 93. A daring man, known for never giving up in the face of a challenge and for his outspokenness, left few people indifferent during his tenure as mayor. During his stay at City Hall, he was able to lead the municipality through the first major economic and residential boom. His contribution, as a political figure, an entrepreneur and builder, will forever be engraved in the history of the region.

Seeking a fourth term as mayor in 1975, he lost the race against former municipal secretary/ treasurer Bernard Charlebois, who won with 54% of the vote. After almost 9 years of political life, Roland Bédard returned full-time to his career as a construction contractor.

Following the construction of highways 20 and 40 and the chemin de la Cité-des-Jeunes during the 1960s, Saint-Lazare became easily accessible from both the East and the West. During the first half of the 1970s, a demographic boom hit the municipality and numerous housing projects appeared, including Saddlebrook and Cedarbrook. In 1976, Roland Bédard announced the creation of two new residential neighborhoods, including one to the west of the municipality, near the family farm.

7

Octave Martel, main architect associated with the construction of the first catholic church of Saint-Lazare in the late 1870’s.

Source : Quand le passé se fait présent 18751987 de Flore Bouchard Lauzon

When Saint-Lazare was created in 1875, several families had already been established there for over 100 years! The côte Saint-Louis concession was opened in 1774 and the one on côte SaintCharles, in 1811.

Let me present to you one of these founding families, the Martels.

Founding families of Saint-Lazare

First generation of Martels

The Martel family

Honoré Martel, dit Lamontagne, is a French soldier who arrived in Quebec on June 30, 1665. He was a member of the Berthier's company of the Carignan-Salières regiment. He was born in Paris around 1632. He married Marguerite Lamirault on November 26, 1668.

By Donald Simpson

The couple had 14 children from their union and 8

followed by Catherine on February 11, 1770. Both were buried in Saint-Pierrede-l’Île-d’Orléans.

Third generation of Martels One of the sons of Antoine Martel and Catherine Guillot was Augustin Martel.

He was born on August 1, 1730, in Saint-Pierre-de-l’Île-d’Orléans. He married Marie-Louise Asselin on February 7, 1752, in the Sainte-Famille parish of Île-d’Orléans. The couple had 5 children and Augustin died on August 23, 1778, in Neuville and followed MarieLouise on October 20, 1814, in Mascouche (Saint-Henri parish).

Fourth generation of Martels One of the sons of Augustin Martel and MarieLouise Asselin was François Martel. He was born on January 16, 1764, in the parish of l’Assomption. He will eventually be the first Martel to settle in the seigneury of Vaudreuil. On September 23, 1790, he married Josephte Malboeuf from the Saint-Joseph-de-Soulanges parish in Les Cèdres. The couple had at least 2 children and François died on January 14, 1830, while Marie-Louise followed him on June 19, 1832. Both were buried in the parish of Vaudreuil.

Familly of Norbert Martel and Armandine Brabant.

Source: Collection famille Martel

this couple is considered as the origin of all the Martels of America.

After Marguerite’s death, Honoré Martel took on a second wife, Marie Marchand, whom he married in Quebec on November 3, 1707. The couple did not have children and Honoré died between 1710 and 1714 and was predeceased by Marguerite on October 17, 1706.

Fifth generation of Martels One of the sons of François Martel and Josephte Malboeuf was François Martel. He was born on August 3, 1791, in the parish of Vaudreuil.

On September 17, 1821, he married Euphrosine Emond in the parish of Saint-Josephde-Soulanges in Les Cèdres. The couple had at least 5 children and François appeared as a resident on côte Saint-Louis during the 1831 census. In fact, on September 26, 1823, he acqui-

Second generation of Martels One of the sons of Honoré Martel and Marguerite Lamirault was Antoine Martel. He was born on January 7, 1681, in the parish of Neuville. He married Catherine Guillot on November 15, 1706, in the parish of Saint-Pierre-de-l’Îled’Orléans. The couple would have 11 children and Antoine died on March 17, 1759, and was 9

red lot 3 of the 4th concession on côte SaintLouis. François died on August 23, 1879, and Euphrosine on June 24, 1857. François was buried in Saint-Lazare while Josephte was buried in Vaudreuil.

3, 1898, and Marguerite on August 29, 1901.

Both were buried in Saint-Lazare.

2 — Joseph Martel, born April 12, 1825, married Domithilde Gauthier on February 17, 1857, in the parish of Vaudreuil. They will have 2 children (Emelina and Mathilde). When Domithilde passes, he then married Olympe Ménard on September 6, 1875, in the parish of Vaudreuil.

They had at least 3 children (Héliodore, Narcisse and Zénobie). Joseph died on February 7, 1893, and Olympe preceded him on February 15, 1889. Both were buried in Saint-Lazare.

Sixth generation of Martels François Martel and Euphrosine Emond will have three sons who will settle in turn in Saint-Lazare.

In 1875, at the time of the creation of our city, we found the following Martels on the territory of Saint-Lazare (these are therefore part of the founding families of Saint-Lazare. These are married couples and not children or singles)

3- Timothée Martel, born November 27, 1831.

He married Emelie Derepentigny on May 10, 1852, in the parish of Vaudreuil. They will have at least five children (Edmond, Emiliana, Timothée-Antoine, François-Xavier and Adélard).

Timothée died on January 24, 1912, and was buried in Montreal’s Notre-Dame parish.

1— Jean-Baptiste Martel, born 1824, married Marguerite Leduc on May 10, 1847, in the parish of Vaudreuil. The couple will have at least 10 children (Julien, Rose-Marguerite, Alexina, Julienne, Octave, Emiliana, Pomela, Olivine, JeanBaptiste and Clerilda). Jean Baptiste died on April

The Martel family farm located on chemin Saint-Louis in Saint-Lazare.

Source: Collection famille Martel 10

Henriette Rozon, lunchtime supervisor at Auclair school in 1992.

Source: Collection Robert Rozon

A very well-known but little-recognized job, that of a school lunchtime supervisor.

Unusual professions

Lunchtime school supervisors

By Robert Rozon

I remember a few of them, who were our supervisors at the Auclair school: Mrs. Henriette Rozon, Henriette Ratelle, Mariette Lavergne, Monique Gravel, Berthe Martel, Josée Lavergne and Nicole Lauzon. I'm certainly forgetting some, in addition to those that followed them.

My mother, Henriette Rozon, started working as a lunchtime supervisor in the mid-70s and worked there for more than 20 years. A job not made for everyone, but which allowed her to know more than one generation of young people from Saint-Lazare. Even today, she nostalgically meets former students who have now become parents and even grandparents.

11

Many thanks to our valued collaborators

12

She had to leave the house, go to school, even if it was very little travel, for a salary which, at the start of her career, was, as she remembers, $2 a day. When she finished her career 20 years later, it was around $15. I remember that at the time their work started when we left class for dinner. We had to head to the gymnasium, in silence for the entire lunch period. We all wanted to chat with our neighbor, but rules were rules. The supervisors had to ensure discipline, but also help the children open their drinks, peel an orange, open a bag, etc., while walking between the tables to ensure that all the students were eating. If one of them had accidentally forgotten their lunch, she tried to find someone who was willing to share theirs.

out of the schoolyard: those who were going to eat at home or with relatives, without forgetting Le Braisier, our little restaurant on the corner of le chemin Sainte-Angélique and la rue des Cèdres. And since it was the beginning of shared custody, they had to make sure that the child left with the right parent if he had to go out at dinner time.

When recess was over, the students, hearing the whistle, had to take their places to return to class. Before bringing them into the school, row by row, the supervisors had to carry out a count and check that no one was left outside.

Imagine 3 supervisors for more than an hour and a half watching over around 200 students, with cold temperatures during the winter and sometimes very hot in May and June.

The work of the supervisors, or rather of our dinner hour angels, being finished, they could return home.

After a good meal, it was playtime. It was much more complicated during the winter months. We were lucky that our supervisors were there to help us put on our snowsuits, mittens, boots, scarves... not to mention those who couldn't find one or the other of these items... phew! Once outside, it was a blast. We would play, run, bicker and when things didn’t go according to plan… who would we go and see? Of course, one of the supervisors! Madam, he hurt me! Madam, he pushed me! Madam, two students are fighting over there! Madam, I want to go to the bathroom! In addition to having with them a few clinging to their arms to walk. To add more, they had to manage the written permissions of parents to let certain children

Saint-Lazare’s Auclair school after the renovations

13

On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, a few minutes before the start of the monthly city council meeting, I was happy, as vice-president of the SLHS, to formalize the loan to the city of SaintLazare, of an important artifact which bears witness to a part of the history of our city and therefore, a symbol of the passing of time...

Indeed, the original heritage clock from the Saint-Lazare train station is now displayed in full view in the city council room. This clock, dating back more than 135 years, was once hung on the wall of the waiting room in the Saint-Lazare station, originally located on Chemin Duhamel.

Saint-Lazare mayor Geneviève Lachance and Anick Chevrier (vice-president of the SLHS) during the presentation of the clock and commemorative plaque.— Source Anick Chevrier

The construction of the Saint-Lazare station began in 1886 and was completed a year later.

The Canadian Pacific Railway line, going from Montreal to Toronto passed through here and made a stop in our city. In 1908-1909, a second railway line was added, which significantly improved rail service. Landowners Joseph Montpellier and Antoine Leduc had to concede part of their land to the company for the addition of the new rail line.

Donation of the Saint-Lazare train station clock

By Anick Chevrier

This means of transportation was of great use to the community for shipping or receiving goods as well as for traveling to Montreal.

Sadly, in 1957 we learn that starting on April 28, the train would only stop in Saint-Lazare on Sundays. The station would immediately 14

mother both continued to occupy the apartment at Saint-Lazare station until its closure in 1969. Gilles Chevrier was station manager for 36 years and the last one at Saint-Lazare.

see a decrease of more than half of the number of customers. A few years later, the Sunday passenger service was also cancelled and from then on, trains would no longer stop here. On April 24, 1960, the last passenger train stopped at Saint-Lazare. Canadian Pacific made the decision to close the station for good on August 31, 1969, and packages and goods would now travel by Canadian Pacific trucks. It was finally on April 24, 1978, that the last freight train, a steam train, passed through our station.

Retired in November 1992 from the Canadian Pacific, he was a member of the Canadian Railway Historical Association, including Exporail in Saint-Constant and the Railway Museum in Smiths Falls. Gilles Chevrier was a notable man in our community and the surrounding areas.

Although elected officials at that time attempted to acquire the train station in the hope of preserving it and moving it to Bédard Park, unfortunately, Canadian Pacific maintained its decision to demolish it.

He always felt a great attachment to the region and the people here, particularly in SaintLazare and Vaudreuil-Dorion where he later settled. Gilles knew all the local families and their genealogy well. An extraordinary reference, he contributed greatly to our archives by sharing with us a good number of photos, documents, and valuable information, without forgetting the station artifacts he left us.

Nothing remains of the station today, only a few artifacts that Mr. Gilles Chevrier, last station manager of Saint-Lazare, had carefully preserved. In 2016, following the creation of the Saint-Lazare Historical Society, he generously donated the heritage clock and in 2019, left us the signalman's lantern and the oil lamp that lit the station’s waiting room.

The Saint-Lazare Historical Society is proud and honored to have entrusted the station clock to the City of Saint-Lazare, now installed in the municipal council room. Mr. Gilles Chevrier, who died on March 7, 2020, at the age of 81, would also be very happy and touched. We are eternally grateful to him for his gift, and we thank the city for housing in this noble and ceremonial place, this exceptional artifact which survived the passing of time and which remains a witness to our heritage and our history.

It is well known that Gilles Chevrier was a native of Saint-Lazare, the only son of Phillias Chevrier and Yvette Rozon. He started working at the Saint-Lazare station in 1956 and lived in the station apartment with his mother, who also helped maintain the premises and provide customer service.

At the same time, we would like to sincerely thank our elected officials for the support and interest they show in the mission of the SLHS.

He was transferred to the Viger station in 1958 and subsequently to Windsor station in 1965 where he ended his career but he and his 15

Coat of arms of the Therrien family Source: https://therrien.org/

On April 5, 1656, before the notary Moreau of La Rochelle, Pierre Terrienne de la Jarne, diocese of La Rochelle in Aunis, agreed to work in Quebec for a period of three years with an annual salary of sixty pounds (approximately forty dollars), all expenses paid. He was then 21 years old.

Ancestors of the Therrien (Thérien, Therien, Terrien) families of America

Once his contract completed, Pierre decided to stay in New France and settle on Île d'Orléans, whose lands were rich and fertile. On February 26, 1669, he obtained a land grant from Monseigneur François de Laval, bishop

By Gisèle Gareau

of the country and lord of Île d'Orléans. The lot he was given extended over three acres of frontage and was located on the edge of the St. Lawrence River, on the south side of the island.

16

As per the act of concession he agreed to with the lord, Pierre Terrien undertook to pay each year "twenty sols of land rent... and twelve deniers of cens for each acre of frontage", i.e. about a sum of four dollars per acre. He also had to, as was the custom at the time, have his grain ground at the lord's mill, who collected taxes on all grinding (molding rights).

(IV) Jean Terrien married Louise Beauchamps, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Beauchamps and Agathe Taillon, on January 20, 1772, in SaintHenri-de-Mascouche.

(V) Jean-Baptiste Thérien married Geneviève Lemieux, daughter of Jean-Baptiste Lemieux and Marie-Josephte Leclerc, on May 12, 1794, in Lachenaie. Ten children were born from this marriage.

A year later, on May 17, 1670, he married Gabrielle Mignot, daughter of Jean Mignot and Jeanne Caille. They temporarily left Île d’Orléans and settled for three years on Île-auxGrues.

(VI) François-Xavier Therien, day laborer, married Judith Wattier, daughter of Antoine Wattier and Josephte Dubois, on January 28, 1823, at the Saint-Michel church in Vaudreuil. From this marriage nine children were born, including Moise.

In 1675, they returned to their land on Île d'Orléans which, by 1681, had doubled in size to six acres of frontage. Pierre was to later enlarge it even more by acquiring a new lot.

(VII) Moise Therien then married Alphonsine Chevrier, daughter of François Chevrier and Marcelline Vinet. Fourteen children were born from this marriage, baptized at the SaintMichel church in Vaudreuil.

With Gabrielle Mignot, he had a family of fourteen children, including twelve boys and two girls. He was buried in Quebec on September 12, 1706.

It was in 1883 that the Therriens settled in Saint -Lazare on lot 123 (two acres frontage by 20 acres of depth) and were buried in the cemetery in the same place. Moise died on August 13, 1884, at the age of 41, while Alphonsine died on March 21, 1944, at the venerable age of 100 years, 3 months, and 18 days.

(II) Jacques Terrien married Marie Bareau, daughter of François Bareau and Françoise Joliet, on April 28, 1718, at Ange-Gardien.

(III) Jean Terrien married Marguerite Alard, daughter of Jean Alard and Marguerite Forget, on April 16, 1742, in Lachenaie.

17

Many thanks to our valued collaborators

18

Alphonsine Chevrier, her son Joseph and daughter in-law Alvina Fex Source: Collection Gisèle Gareau

Alphonsine Chevrier Source: Collection Gisèle Gareau

(VIII) One of their sons, Aldéric Therrien was a

harvest, and, in the summer, they gardened

farmer and worked for the railway, married Ma-

and then sold their vegetables in Vaudreuil and

rie-Louise Felx in Saint-Lazare, on April 21, 1890.

Dorion, with their horse Bidou.

They settled on lot 123, on Côte Saint -Louis.

From their marriage nine children were born, including only one boy, Philias. After the death of his wife on April 28, 1914, Aldéric chose to

stay with his children.

(IX) Philias Therrien, farmer and carpenter, married Ida Besner, daughter of Odilon Besner and Mélina Rouleau, on September 9, 1925, in Coteau-du-Lac. They lived with Alderic, father of Philias. From their union eight children were born: Aldéa, Germain, Gisèle, Fernand, André, helped their parents cultivate the land and

The Therrien Family—On the horse : Germain, standing : Philias, front : Gisèle, Pierrette, grandfather Aldéric, Aldéa and Ida.

raise animals (horses, cows, calves, pigs, chick-

Source: Collection Gisèle Gareau

Raymond, Pierrette, and Mariette. The children

ens, sheep). They also participated in the hay 19

Following the gift of the Saint-Lazare train station clock by the Saint-Lazare Historical Society to the town of SaintLazare last October, we felt it was appropriate to republish an article written by Gilles Chevrier, the last station master at Saint-Lazare, written for the Saint-Constant Railway Museum magazine back in 1971.

Gilles Chevrier, the last Saint-Lazare train station master - Source collection Gilles Chevrier

Famous writers tell us that when you have a story to tell, it is best to start at the beginning.

The last train station master

By Gilles Chevrier

For me, the beginning of this story begins at the age of four, when my family moved very close to the railway tracks in the small village of SaintLazare-de-Vaudreuil which is about 30 miles west of Montreal. This village is positioned on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

With a little luck you can find this village on a map of the province of Quebec. This railway line heads west towards Smiths Falls and Peterborough on the one hand, and towards Belleville and Toronto on the other.

Quickly, my child curiosity takes me to the rail-

20

trains on Sundays.

way and then to the little red station which served as the residence of the station manager Mr. D’Amour. He lived in the little station - an idea that filled me with joy - with his wife and daughter. As the daughter was away to complete her studies in a convent, these wonderful people somewhat adopted me.

Night trains 21 and 22 that ran to and from Toronto and Chicago rarely stopped at SaintLazare. Incidentally, I was told that train 21 occasionally would stop on the westbound leg to pick up passengers on their way to Toronto. Mr. D’Amour quickly taught me how to tell the time on the Seth Thomas clock located in the operator’s room. He also taught me the appropriate hand signals that the crews used. My enthusiastic greetings to crew members would often result in a few well-meant whistles. During this period of my life, my relatives would debate as whether I would become an engineer or a conductor for the railway company. I also learned during this period how the station was divided.

It was a one-story building. From the platform, one could access the hangar on the west side of the building or the waiting room which occupied the east part of the building with the station manager's office. From the station manager's office, a short passage led to the kitchen, parlor, bathroom and two bedrooms (at first).

Grandfathers are usually a source of knowledge and wisdom for their grandsons. My grandfather, who is still alive, excelled in this field.

When I was old enough, he explained to me how the Saint-Lazare train station was built in 1886, when the Canadian Pacific opened a railway line to Smiths Falls and Toronto. By September 1887, trains were running between Montreal (Gare Viger), via Montreal Junction (today Montreal West), Dorion and SaintLazare, en route to Toronto.

He also described a day in March 1942, when 19 cars of train 906 derailed in front of the station, seriously damaging the ticket office and terrifying the station manager. Later, I also found an old station receipt book from 1945 which showed that the station's revenues were $261,141.38, a very nice amount and much higher than the revenues subsequently recorded. I digress from my story...When I was old enough, not a day passed when I was not at the station helping Mr. D'Amour or one of his successors, unload the trains and waving a hand to the crews.

Clara Chevrier and Clara Blais in front of the SaintLazare train station - Source collection famille

During all my years of an ‘Unofficial’ employee of the Saint-Lazare train station, there were no more than four passenger trains from Monday to Saturday, and no more than two passenger 21

When the newly appointed station manager, G.E. Séguin, moved in with his wife and two children, there was enough room for everyone.

But as the family grew, Mr. Séguin asked the company for an additional room. A third bedroom was added by borrowing space from the waiting room. This new room allowed girls to be placed in one room and boys in the other.

When Mr. Séguin left Saint-Lazare, his family numbered eight people! The Saint-Lazare station was a beautiful place to raise a family. Another station manager, Mr. Besner, had two children in addition to his wife. Mr. Chagnon, for his part, raised four children in the station, including two little girls, during the period he was stationed there from 1949 to 1956. There were no changes to the building after 1956. The shed is now used to store mower and gardening tools. There is so much space that maintenance crews sometimes leave their equipment there overnight.

The 6060 with Gilles Chevrier - Source collection Gilles Chevrier

allowed me to see engine 1201 which pulled train 29 (Smiths Falls) westward. This thing had such a perfect sound and whistle that I can't find words to describe it. As I grew older, my enthusiasm and fascination for the Canadian Pacific did not diminish. And this, even though I could hear the CN trains passing two miles south of my house. So, the reader will not be surprised by the next chapter of this story.

On cold winter days, the section supervisor and his men would take their meals in the waiting room. On rainy days, it’s a nice place for a break. Sometimes I use the office to work, but I always keep the derailment of train 906 in mind, and I am more comfortable elsewhere in the station. I lost track of my story again...Three years after our arrival in Saint-Lazare, my parents bought a farm about a mile and a half from the village and the station. They probably thought that this distance would keep me away from the trains. My enthusiasm for the station meant that almost every day, after school, I made the 3-mile round trip to the station. This

On April 30, 1956, 23 days after my 18th birthday and a week after my graduation from business school, I was hired by the Canadian Pacific as acting station manager at Saint-Lazare for a period of two and a half months.

What luck, my dream was coming true. I was a real railway employee, and what's more, I worked for the best company in Canada. After a short training on rates, accounting, and ticket sales, and after having heard all the warnings: never leave the office without locking the door,

22

treal. It was on time and pulled by the finally 1201. The cargo was heavy steel equipment.

When the driver blew his whistle, I shouted the traditional "All aboard for Montreal – En voiture pour Montreal" with an uncertain voice as the 1201 left the station gaining speed towards Vaudreuil-Dorion and Montreal.

The thousand-pound freight car then had to be dragged over the tracks to the west, and then to the shed for unloading. It was loaded, among other things, with 10 boxes of chicks, furniture, and strawberry plants. Express accounts were very important for a small station, as they meant additional income for the station never leave the cash drawer open, never

manager who also worked on commissions.

smoke in the hangar, etc. my good friend Mr.

One day, while I was eagerly unloading the car-

Chagnon signed the transfer papers, gave me

go of milk coming from Green Valley, a small-

the keys, and said to me: Good luck, you are

town west of Smiths Falls, the brakeman told

now in charge. My God, what a responsibility,

me to slow down and said: "Don't hurry so

but also what a joy. I was finally station manag-

much, I still have 31 years left to work before

er at Saint-Lazare, even if was only temporarily.

retiring!". On November 17, 1956, I was pro-

What a joy to become the Canadian Pacific rep-

moted to permanent station manager at Saint-

resentative in your own village.

Lazare after spending the summer as a replacement on the Winchester line. On my return, I was able to occupy the station with my mother,

My first client was a beautiful young blonde

who was a widow, and a cousin.

woman who wanted a one-way ticket to Montreal. The price, $1.00. I was so flustered that I gave her change for $5.00 even though she had

My varied experiences as a station manager are

paid me with a $2.00 bill. Needless to say, that

so numerous that I could write another 500

from then on, I was careful about giving

pages about it. For me, my new position was a

change. The first passenger train to stop at my

dream. It was not very demanding work. I could

station was train 30 from Smiths Falls to Mon

flirt with the beautiful girls from the village who 23

ment constantly played in my head. But after a few weeks, I noticed that our sleep was getting used to the noise. On the other hand, the picture frames still had to be adjusted every morning and occasionally a piece of plaster had to be picked up as it had fallen from the ceiling during the night.

came to the station. I could even sleep until 30 minutes before my shift started. Plus, I didn’t have to travel to work. There was no electricity bill, no water bill, no heating bill, no telephone bill, and no tax bill. The rent? $5.00 per month!

On occasion even such a beautiful life also has its drawbacks. Have you ever tried to sleep in a room that is located 30 feet from a double train track? With a public road crossing the railroad tracks less than 250 feet to the west?

With up to 13 trains passing each night, including night trains 21 and 22 passing at over 70 miles per hour with 4-8-4 engines (3100 and 3101 engines) pulling. I can tell you that all the noise can wake up anyone, including my grand

New Year’s Day was a special occasion for the residents of Saint-Lazare and the number of passengers on the train in 1957 was proof of this. The Montreal-Toronto train being 31 minutes late, with more than 100 passengers, the conductor had to proceed a few hundred feet further than normal to drop off all the passengers on the small platform. But this crowd was small in comparison to that of train 36 at 6:13 p.m. on January 2, 1958, when a train strike was predicted. The waiting room was so crowded that several people had to wait outside in the cold. It was the last train to pass through Saint-Lazare before the strike. The strike lasts 9 days which seems like 9 years to me. My mother and I had difficulty sleeping in this silence.

father who is partially deaf. The station was shaking so much that I was convinced the roof would fall on my head. Additionally, my grandfather's story about train 9061 and its derail-

Later, the same evening around 11:30 p.m., a man knocked on the station door. He was a driver for a bus company saying that his bus has broken down neat the station. He was looking for a place to keep his 28 passengers warm until the bus was fixed. Even though he was considered the competition at the time, I can’t resist and gladly open the station for them so that he and his passengers can spend the night 24

night in the station.

train service is provided..

In early March 1967, passenger services took a big hit as passenger rail service was canceled, except for the Sunday trains from Montreal to Smiths Falls. This news took effect at 12:01 p.m. on April 28, 1957. It was the beginning of the end. After that day, we lost 50% of our passenger and freight customers. A year later, the position of caretaker-agent in Saint-Lazare was abolished to be replaced by just a caretaker. This position was granted to my mother after a last-minute agreement. On April 23, 1960, at 6:13 p.m., the last Sunday train passed and that was the end of passenger service in Saint-Lazare.

Even though there is no longer an official station manager in Saint-Lazare, freight trains are still visually inspected, and I always wave to the crews when I am on site. In all my years of inspecting passing trains, I can report only one incident on a passenger train and a few on freight trains which demonstrates the professionalism of the CPR maintenance teams.

The cargo service continued to operate at the Saint-Lazare station until 1969 via CPR trucks, but the service was not very popular. As the customers were not there, the Saint-Lazare station was closed permanently on August 31, 1969.

For me, the Saint-Lazare station represented a comfortable home, and the idea of moving did not appeal to me. So, I applied to the CPR to be a tenant of the station. After much negotiation, the contract or lease was signed between me and the CPR detailing everyone's obligations. This arrangement is still to my satisfaction today.

Someone once asked me what the opening hours of Saint-Lazare station were. There was no formal timetable except for the trains. People came at all hours and found someone to serve them until 8 p.m., whether for a shipment or for a train ticket as a passenger. The tradition of providing a service to the citizens of Saint-Lazare has changed little, even in 1971. The station is still the place to come for a tax consultation or to settle accounts while having a good cup of coffee even though no

Now that I work in accounting and revenue services at Windsor Station in Montreal, you must think that rail operations no longer interest me?

Nothing could be further from the truth. Recently, V.E. Everett, Superintendent of the Winchester Subdivision of Smiths Falls, said I was still part of the Winchester Subdivision family. I am proud of this honor, and I intend to remain deserving of it.

During my career as a station manager, I experienced small victories, such as in 1958 when I was able to persuade a customer to travel between London and Saint-Lazare by rail. This added $1,500.00 in annual income to the CPR. Every year I also tried to obtain customers from Plywood BC, which sometimes proved beneficial.

Staying in the station is very pleasant most of the time and I must say that the winters are even better now that I have been able to convince the rail snow removal men that someone lives in the station. Previously, they would rush past and throw snow and ice onto the station. Now they are careful and there are no more broken windows or anything else. Now that it's 1971, I'd like to make this interesting building my forever home. I would like to get married, raise a family here and stay here as long as God allows me.

25