Georgetown and Parkton were parishes on the outskirts of Moncton New Brunswick in Canada.Georgetown consisted of what is Cedar Street,Spruce Street, one side of Killam Drive, McSweeney,McBeth,LeFurgey Avenue were also in Georgetown. The side on Killam Drive towards the Notre Dame de Grace Church was Georgetown, and the opposite side of the street was Parkside, later changed to Parkton.Purdy Avenue ,Waverley , First Avenue ,Second Ave were in Parkside also then later Parkton. Some streets were only built later such as Churchill Street, Atkinson etc.
My mother was telling me today, that when my sister was five months old, they lived on Bostford Street, this was in 1935 and at that time the railway was tearing down old boxcars, and if the men helped they could keep the lumber. And there was land for sale on Cedar Street,at $15.00 a lot, so my father bought two lots side by side, my grandfather bought two lots and my uncle bought two lots, and at that time there were not many houses on Cedar Street. So the three of them each built their homes out of old boxcar lumber. Now at the beginning Cedar Street was built but Spruce Street and Churchill Street was all fields belonging to the McBetts.Then Spruce Street was built and later Churchill. I remember when I was little walking down the end of Churchill Street, and crossing the first brook to get to the second brook where we used to go swimming in an old brook. We also used to go there to pick blueberries ,and sell them ten cents a quart. Back then milk was sold in bottles, and we used to use the bottles for berry picking.
Then my parents sold their home and moved to the country. In 1940 they returned and lived (en bas du ruisseau) at the end of Cedar Street, and the only families living there at the time were Sylvain Leger, Antoine LeBlanc, and Joseph Hebert. Hector Hache lived up the road from them. One of my brothers was born there. This is where my Mom lived when they had some little baby pigs, and one day Mom was all dressed up in her Sunday clothes and the little pigs decided to take a little run up the hill, they had gotten out of their pen. So up the hill they ran, with Mom running after them. She said when she got up to the top of the hill all out of breath, these little pigs ran down the hill and right back into their pen.
The following was an exhert from History of Moncton.
"On January 1 1956, the City of Moncton added Parkton and a large area to the west which took in that part of NATURAL PARK that was not already in the city."
Now how many of you remember the Natural Park? Today it is known as Centennial Park, but when I was growing up, it was known as Natural Park. I remember walking from Georgetown ,up Killam Drive to Pacific Avenue, then crossing the 31 tracks, over or under the boxcars, little did we know the danger of doing such a thing, they used to shunt the cars, we could have been seriously hurt. Anyway after crossing the tracks, we would take this path into the woods that came out right behind the grand stand and water tower. I remember walking through the woods and letting my imagination run wild,such as meeting a prince in the woods, or some friendly little deer etc.I remember one time, I had a crush on this young boy, I was maybe 12 or so and I did not know he liked me, so this paticular day we were a bunch of young kids going to Natural Park, and at one point we had to cross a log that was laid over a brook, now this guy I will always remember had a pair of light Karqui pants, and crossing the log, he was trying to impress me, he said give me your hand and I will help you across, well I was shy and I did not want to go, so he started showing off on the log, and he lost his balance, he fell into the brook, and came out of the water all wet. Did we ever laugh. But he didn't .I also remember taking swimming lessons at the pool, it was fun,but the water had so much chlorine in it, that when we would come out of the water ,our eyes would be burning.
Another exhert from The History of Moncton;
" The first race track was in Georgetown, opening about 1880. The present McSweeney Avenue was the back stretch of the track.The speedway was opened in October 1903. Horse racing was booming at the beginning of the century. A grandstand was built at the Speedway to hold 1200 and later enlarged. " Imagine way back in 1880 having a race track.
In the 1932 Evangeline paper was this little article." Union Street changed its name to Mountain Road .In 1932 it was proposed at a city meeting of Public works by Ruston. Park Road from Union Street (Mountain Road) to Berry Mills changed its name to Robertson in honor of George Robertson (prominent man in Moncton) , later Roberston was changed to Killam Drive.
iN 1928 Park Road (Killam Drive) was only inhabited on the North side where we find the following families; Welwhit and Martela Horseman, Edward and Alberta McDermott, Autin Coates, james * Ina Strayhorn, C.G & Adelaide Willneff, Edward and Myrtle Little, Irvine & Jeanne Horseman, Oliver & Marie Wilson, Abel and Ida Horseman, Adam and May Kierstad, Edd Davison, Philip and Louise LEBLANC,John and Philome Snow, Joseph and Bertha Green, Charles and Naomi Geldart, William and Mary Soucoup, Hartford McMullen, Napoleon and Margaret GOULD, J.B. Cudmore, Cecil Mullins, Truman Walker, then the Municipal Home (Alms House). In 1930 we have Leo S ARSENAULT, Arthur ARSENAULT (Barber)on the north side. On the south side we have Henry and Alice ARSENAULT, Alfred and Alice Nickels. In 1938 we have on the north side of Killam Drive, Neil McQuarrie, William Peterson, Eloi J THIBODEAU, Archie Terris, Angus DRISDELLE, Herbert Wilson, Kenneth Cudmore, Frank Beaman, Ovide GAUDET, Philip WHITE,Mrs Sam ALLAIN, Ernest S LEBLANC, Arthur Morisson, Joseph CASEY, Eric ALLAIN, Philip MELANSON, Samuel BELLIVEAU, Frank Melvin, Edward Chappel, Nobal Snodgrass, and the Municipal Home.On the south side in 1930 were, Henry Arsenault, William Nicolle, John Bovard, among others. In 1946 many french families settled on Killam Drive . There was Robichaud's grocery store run by Elmire T Robichaud wife of Thaddee, Maxime Arsenault, Walter Burke, Annie Esteno, Antoine Bastarache, Edwin Briggs, Mark Gallant, Ben Arsenault, Gerald Gallant, harry Smellett, Mrs Mary Bailey, Andrew Lirette, EE Arsenault, Louis Boudreau, Henry Arsenault, William Nickel,Lerin Como, Mry Criger, Fred J Cormier, Rudolphe Dupuis, and Albert Cormier.
In the Evangeline Paper April 30 1955 was the following article translated by me." The first Acadian who settled in Georgetown was Simon CORMIER who came in May 1913.Originally from Sainte Marie in Kent County,son of Beloni Cormier and Henriette Collette both born in Bouctouche and Simon's wife Evangeline LeBlanc daughter of Cyril LeBlanc and Collestie Goguen.Simon and his wife lived in Moncton for a while and worked for Canadian National Railways and then came and settled on McSweeney Avenue in Georgetown with his three oldest children, father of a big family , Simon received the title "Mayor of Georgetown".
Four years later four other Acadian families (in 1917) built solid homes in Parkside (later Parkton) on Mountain Road and Cedar Street.FRANCOIS ROY husband of Annee LeBlanc both of Robertville in Gloucester County son of Jean Roy and Roseanne Arsenault,Annee daughter of William LeBlanc of Bathurst and Helene Frenette. They arrived in the village of Georgetown August 14 1917.
EDOUARD LIRETTE born in St Andre (Cap Pele) his wife Elizabeth Pellerin of Scoudouc and aunt to our priest Guillaume Pellerin arrived December 21 1917. Edouard was the son of Mathias Lirette of Tignish and Marie Oak (english origin) of Shediac. Elizabeth was the daughter of Sylvain Pellerin and Sylvie Melanson of Scoudouc , their five children all settled in this region.Alexandre, Stanley,,Bertha and Philias (cannot make out the other name).
WILFRED GAUVIN originally from Grand Digue NB married Rosanna Roy from Cocagne arrived October 15 1917 son of Thaddee Gauvin of Shediac and Lucie Marcelline Cormier of Cocagne.Their children were Sarah, Alma,Arthur,Amedee,Leda,Elise,Alyre,Aubin and Wilfred. The stage was set and many other french families from Moncton came to buy vacant land that was abandoned by the english thus the new village was created and of course nicknamed "French Village".
The first families who settled in what was known as French Village were not rich,the roads were not paved and not in good shape. They had to walk in mud and snow to get to the closest schools which at that time were the Assomption and the Academie until the year 1932 when a school and a chapel were built on Cedar Street.
The name Georgetown was givin in honor of George McBeth where his farm consisted of a lot of the land which he subdivided more land later to other english families except the land of Simon Cormier. Georgetown began on the outskirts of Moncton including where the Moncton City Hospital (at that time it said General Hospital) as far as the post office in Parkton which later became Parkside. Further up Mountain Road we found Rabbit Brook, how many of you remember taking the bus and it would go as far as Rabbit Brook then turn around. Rabbit Brook was around where the Moncton Mall (Northwest Mall)is today. Further up Mountain Road was and is still there our Magnetic Hill,it was four miles from Parkton and brought many visitors to the area amazed at being able to coast UP a hill.(This is an optic illusion,but amazing.)
Let's talk about the schools in Georgetown and Parkton. Again in the history of Moncton. " The area of Moncton was nearly doubled in 1912 with the addition to Georgetown to the city. The addition of Georgetown called for the addition of a new school to the city school system. A large block of land was bought consisting of 13 lots, entirely surrounded by streets on Mountain Road ,between Winnipeg and Brandon. The annual report for 1912 says " A new commodius up to date school building was erected containing two school rooms." It opened on October 1 1912 with Miss Annie Steeves a superior class teacher in charge. Only one room was used the first year. This was one of those two storey wooden schools that fast became outdated. It was not needed when new schools were built in the area and the property was sold .Sobeys erected their store on this site, now there is the Bank of Nova Scotia and Lawtons Drug Store instead of Sobeys.
Sep 11, 2007: Georgetown School Reunion
The students of the now-demolished Georgetown School had a reunion over the summer. The completion of Georgetown School in 1912 brought the total number of schools in Moncton to five. The other four were Aberdeen, Victoria, Wesley Street, and Mary's Home. After the first World War in 1920, Edith Cavell School was built on Park and Cameron Street beside Victoria School. By 1951, Georgetown School was bulging at the seams so decisions were made to send students to Victoria and Edith Cavell Schools. The school was demolished in 1961.
A book has been written about the history of Georgetown School by Claudia Richard. Claudia lives in Sussex and can be reached at 506-433-1201. Copies of the book can be found at the Moncton Museum, in the Heritage Room at the Moncton Library, and in the lobby at the School District 2 office.
I found this info at http://www.district2.nbed.nb.ca/news_0708.asp along with the following photo of the old Georgetown school
There was also a school in Parkside, I do not know anything about it ,but I do know there were some students who went to the Parkside school.
The following was found in the school returns film # 4805.
Parkside School
Second term ending June 30 1935,grades one and two, teacher was Sara Poirier of 260 Lutes Street.
Students
Alcide Arsenault age 7, Laurida Ansenault 7, Nellie Arsenault 6, Adelaide Bastarache 8, Francois Bastarache 6, Eva Gallant 7, Francis Gaudet 8, Jeannette Gaudet 6, Alyre Gauvin 8, Aubin Gauvin 8, Adelard Hache 10, Emerie Hache 6, Lauza Hache 8, Sylvio Hache 12, Florida Hebert 8, Jeanne Hebert 13, Lionel Hebert 9, Ernest Landry 6, Leo Landry 9, Aurele LeBlanc 7, Edouard LeBlanc 7, Lionel LeBlanc 11, Raymond LeBlanc 8, Therese LeBlanc 7, Abel Leger 14, Florine Leger 11, Irene Leger 10, Alfred Lirette 14, Philias Lirette 10, Therese Lirette 8, Alphonse Maillet 8, Antoine Maillet 11, Dora Maillet 9, Laurie Maillet (Myers) 8, Leandre Maillet (Myers) 10, Lorette Maillet(Myers) 13, Vincent Maillet (Myers) 6, Laurie Melanson 8, Rita Melanson 6, Lorainne Pellerin 8, Joseph Poirier 9, Rita Surette 8, Therese Surette 7, Therese Vautour 7, Eloi Williams 9, Normand Williams 6, Yvon Williams 13, Ernest LeBlanc 10, Eva Leblanc 7.
Another school was the Guy du Fongallant in Georgetown. It was built in July 1932 to open in the fall of the same year. It measured 66 feet long by 30 ft in width. It was built on Cedar Street. Later the name was changed to St Henri School. I attended the school under the name St Henri. I remember it had a set of outhouses on one side for the girls and a set of outhouses on the other side for the boys. I remember the nuns who taught me . Sister Jacqueline, Sister Solange, Sister Benigna, my teachers were Rita (Gaudet) Drisdelle.Now these were my teachers at St Henri.
The following is my late husband's class at Guy du Fongallant school taken around 1939 or 1940
THE NAMES ABOVE WERE NOT WRITTEN BY ME ,THE SPELLING OF SOM NAMES ARE WRONG SUCH AS STANISLAS, AND MELANSON ETC.
Next came the New Verdun School, it was built on Gross Avenue, if you look at the photo further on taken in the 1960s you will see the New Verdun school (as I knew it). I attended that school also. I had for teachers, Mrs Roy, Sister Elise Marie.Sister Elise Marie taught me in grade eight.
Later after the New Verdun school, a new St Henri was built on the same property as the New Verdun School.
The parish of Notre Dame de Grace in Georgetown received its school before its church. Between 1913 and 1932 the first settlers had to go to Moncton through the terrible roads to attend church services and receive their education in their maternal language. Father Cormier of Moncton who later became Monseigneur Henri D Cormier first parish priest of the Assomption Cathedral had the courage and perseverance to push for a church in Georgetown. Land was bought on Cedar Street from a loan from the Assomption Society and the Guy du Fongallant school consisting of a chapel was erected. Various priests from the Moncton Cathedral would come to the chapel to say Mass. Fathers Camille Vautour in 1932, Father Fred Cormier 1937, Father Caliexte Richard at the beginning of 1938,Father Alyre Daigle in 1938, Father Guillaume Pellerin in 1940, Father Oscar Bourque in 1942 and finally Father Guillaume Pellerin returned as the parish priest in 1943.
In 1939 a wooden church (above) was erected on Mountain Road but caught fire in September 1947, nothing was salvaged,the damage was estimated at $50,000. but this did not discourage the parish.The parish needed a temporary place for their religious services. The generosity of Colonel R.A. Gaudy commanding officer of # 31 offered Father Pellerin one of his large halls to be used as a temporary church, in which Father Pellerin accepted. You can see the hall behind the church. This hall which I shall talk about later , was later used as a Jamboree Hall.
The plans were set in motion for another new church ,to be built out of stone,stainless steel and Abbey Landry would be the contractor.The new church was built on the same location as the old one and was opened in July 1951.The inside of the church was beautiful and they had a hall in the basement with a kitchen and stage at each end. A rectory was built . And the temporary hall became a jamboree hall and a skating rink.
But before we talk about the Hall and Rink, and still on the subject of the church, how many of you remember doing your first communion or confirmation at either one of the churches? Back then it was mandatory for all the little girls to wear white dresses and veils , and the little boys dressed up also. The boys wore a white ribbon on the arm. I did my first communion and confirmation in the new church. It was so nice, all the girls marched two by two down the aisle to the front , the boys followed. Now all that has changed, the girls and boys wear their ordinary outfits.
IF YOU RECOGNIZE ANY OF THE CHILDREN PLEASE LET ME KNOW?
Next we will talk about the old Hall, and the skating rink. I remember attending movies at the hall behind the church, for ten cents we would go and watch serials, such as Flash Gordon.Can you imagine ? Only a dime? And I also remember going to see a french canadian singer named Roger Miron. The famous Bunkhouse boys made their debut there. The Bunkhouse Boys consisted of four Meyers brothers, Len ,Gerry, Laurie and Vince sons of Thomas Myers (Maillet) and Ida Williams. Ida was my grandfather's sister.
Len Myers played the bass and sang, one of his familiar songs was Walk on By, Vincent played the Banjo and Mandolin, Gerry was a singer, his famous song was Quand le Soleil, (When the sun says hello to the mountains),he is the father of the singers of today ,Shirley and Debbie Myers, Laurie was the comedian of the group, he would come out dressed like granpa jones, (suspenders and all) he would sing Y'all Come, then he would get serious and sing a song I loved called Little Rosa. Others in the band were Curly, Pat, Shiley LeBlanc that I can remember, and for a while one or two of the sisters of the Myers were guests on the show. The Bunkhouse Boys werea familiar site in Parkton and Georgetown.
Next we will talk about the skating rink ,that was behind the hall. I remember going skating there many times. I was never a good skater, my left foot did not know it was left sometimes it thought it was right. grin. The skating rink was very popular, they held costume parties there. The villages got dressed up and they had judges who awarded prizes for best costumes, best skaters, best couples, and worst skaters. I remember winning ,it was either a box of chocolates or a can opener, one of the two, and you will never guess what I won it for . Yes you guessed it, it was for the worst skater. smile.
Now Georgetown and Parkton had hockey teams also.
FRONT ROW LEFT TO RIGHT ,BUTCH, FRANK DONNELLE, YVON ROBICHAUD, MAURICE ARSENAULT, RAY GOGUEN AND ROGER MELANSON
BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT, ZOEL ROBICHAUD, RAY LEBLANC, TIM DRISDELLE, RON SNIDER, HERMAN ALLEN, LARRY MELANSON, AND LAURIE MELANSON
I also have to mention our picnic, that was held on the church grounds at the corner of Mountain Road and Killam Drive. This was done by the parish priest every year. It was a way to raise money for the church. They had bingos, games such as the duck pond. They sold hot dogs, cotton candy, acadian dishes such as poutine rappee and chicken fricot. The had entertainment, and the Bunkhouse Boys were usually featured.
Do you remember Casey's Lunch on Mountain Road? it was situated next to Aurele Boudreau's radio shop.Many teens went there,everyone met at Casey's lunch. But during my teen years we went to Zoel's on the corner of Cedar Street and Mountain Road, boy their hamburgers were good. Zoel Cormier had married my father's cousin Dora (Dodo) Williams. I remember they had booths , a counter and a jukebox, and I seen many young people jiving there. There was Junior Arsenault who could really jive. Zoel's was really well known in my time.
THE ABOVE PHOTO IS THE SAME BUILDING THAT ZOEL OF ZOEL'S RESTAURANT HAD
The following is a photo of Casey's lunch with its owner Eli Casey standing in front. I believe the man standing behind him was Aurele Boudreau.
In 1946 and 1950 I found these businesses
Arts Barber Shop run by Arthur Arsenault
Georgetown Service Station corner of Killam Dr. run by Ed McDermott
Arsenault's Grocery on Waverly Avenue
Angus Belliveau Grocery on Winnipeg
Gallant's Groceries on Waverley Avenue
D.A. McBeth & sons at 811 Mountain Road
Myers Meat & Groceries Mountain Road in Parkside
Mrs Thaddee Robichaud on Killam Drive
Elmer Steeves grocer in Georgetown
Mrs Beatrice Vincent grocer in Parkside
Hebert 's Lumber
M.E.Collette grocer on Churchill Street
Parkton Shoe Store
Kay Gallant groceries off of Churchill Street
Ed McDermott Service Station
Mrs Cyrille Arsenault grocery on Killam Drive
Lionel Cormier Grocer
Thaddee Landry grocer
Emile Roy shoemaker
Landry shoemaker
Gildas LeBlanc painter on Mountain Road
Amedee Vautour contractor
Fred Goguen grocers on Mountain Road
J.A.Lirette hardware
A.J.Savoie grocer
Casey's Lunch
Noel et LeBlanc contractor
Philippe Arsenault grocer
Tony's taxi
G.R.Steeves Mountain Road
Now I do know that Thomas Myers (Tom) had a blacksmith shop earlier ,it was situated where McDonald's is now on Mountain Road.There was Leaman's ladies wear on Mountain Road also.Here are some photos of Georgetown and Parkton in the early 1960s. The first was on Mountain Road across from the Notre Dame de Grace Church. That is where there was Steeve's Meat Market,a barber shop and Carl's drugstore
Another photo taken in the early 1960s, these photos were taken from the church steeple.
The photo was the corner of Killam Drive and Mountain Road, where the Ultramar is now situated. I remember after Mass on Sundays that a lot of the locals stopped in. I remember they sold comic books and I bought many of them .Ed McDermott ran the service station, and Stanley Lirette worked there, the service station was later sold to different owners before it being torn down and replaced with the new Ultramar .
The above photo was taken from the church, in the photo if you look you will see the New Verdun School, situated on Gross Avenue. You are looking towards the Moncton City Hospital on McBeth Avenue.
The photo above is looking towards the coliseum from Mountain Road, the little store on the right side was originally the store of Mrs Elmire Robichaud, they lived in the same building, the Myers lived next door to the Robichauds, across the street from the Myers were Fred and Laura Cormier, next to them were Lirettes, and next to them towards the coliseum was Sam Allain.
What about sports in the Parkton ,Georgetown area? Well Louis Burk used to train boxers in his basement. My late husband trained there along with his friend Arice Robichaud among others. This is around the time that my husband was in his teens, and apparently the boys would train at Lou Burks or at Alyre Gauvin's and they would go from village to village to have boxing matches, my husband was a small man and his eyesight was very poor, so this paticular time , they went to Bouctouche for a match, (this was told to me by his opponent Emery), anyway arriving there my husband Gerry took off his glasses and entered the ring.The bell rang, so Gerry felt with his glove and as soon as he felt something,Wham he punched, Emery said he nearly broke my nose and knocked me out cold. grin.
There was the Moncton Boys Club also that came later, my brother used to weightlift at Louis Boudreau's on Churchill Street, and he was in a contest at the Boys Club and he broke a record for weightlifting.
Parkton Club wins Fathom Trophy , May 4 1959 Evangeline
John Williams won first place in his division, 185 pound lift, 210 throw, Oscar LeBlanc won lightweight division, Alcide Arsenault won Bantham, Rodrigue Caissie won the featherweight division
Now we had some famous athletes, we had Gerald Melanson (Patate) former Quebec Star who played in the Parkton Hockey Team in 1954, we had Phil Doiron who was a great hockey player (I went to school with him),there was a Red Mullins also.My brother John taught Karate for many years.
Some of our musicians were Birdie Arsenault who lived on Killam Drive, could he ever play the fiddle, there was his cousin Paul Arsenault (Rocket) who played the guitar, and he used to sing Il est nee le divin enfant (when he got feeling good), Yvon Leblanc played the guitar, Charlie Poirier played the piano,,there was J.P.Cormier of the Reivers, of course the Bunkhouse Boys, there were Caissies who played, T.John Hebert, Debbie Myers, Ron Surette and many many more.
On Killam Drive there was also the old Annex Hospital situated on the corner of Collishaw and Killam Drive. Many patients suffering from Tuberculosis (TB) were admitted there.
There was also the Poor House (Alms House) situated next to where the coliseum is now.Here is an article from the Moncton Times June 19 1923.
Moncton's New Municipal Home on Western Outskirts of the city opened today
The new Municipal Home situated at the western extremity of the old Park Road near Georgetown which replaces the old Almshouse ,destroyed by fire at Leger's Corner three years ago will be opened today. The new building is a splendid structure and a credit to the city. The new building was erected at a cost of $30,000 but will only cost the city an additional outlay of about $12,000 owing to the insurance carried on the old building, and the estimated value of the land at Leger's Corner. Mr Huntinford who has been superintendent of the Almshouse for a number of years will also act in a similar capacity at the new institution.During the time which has elasped since the destruction by fire in the summer of 1920 of the old building until the present time, the Isolation Hospital on Albert Street has been used as an Almshouse. It is understand that this building in the future will be used as an Almshouse hospital.
The property upon which the new Municipal Home is situated consists of 100 acres of which 12 acres have been cleared and is considered excellent arabel soil.
The new home is a two story stucture built of red brick with an 8 foot concrete foundation and is plendily fitted in the interior. A number of rooms are finished in Douglas fir with middle oak finish and others present a beautiful effect with a light brown wainscoating of burlap, the dining room in paticular being finished in this style.
There was also the old Ice Pond,my mother told me that back then they did not have fridges they had Ice Boxes , and they used to put large blocks of ice in the top of the ice box to keep the food cool. So the ice came from the Georgetown Ice Pond located behind Cedar Street. Mom said she remembers my grandmother Williams going down to the pond in the spring to get some water to do her washing, which she would do in the back yard with an old fashion scrub board. Mom said my grandmother used to whistle while she washed. I can just picture my grandmother doing this.
Fast food restaurants, ah later came Deluxe , their french fries were so good, it is still situated on the corner of Churchill Street and Connaught Avenue. At one time, Deluxe had a trailer set up at the Parlee or Belliveau Beach where they sold their fries.
A&W was located around the corner of Mountain Road and Brandon, it was a drive through, and a great meeting place for the teens . These restaurants came later and very both very popular places to go.At A&W you would see old cars, convertibles and many others.you would see girls in pony tails, boys in duck tails and more.This was the era of Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin,Paul Anka,
In 1956 Georgetown had a lucky resident, Clarence E LeBlanc a kitchen porter with a big family won $56,000 in the Grand National steeplechase at Aintree when his horse Gentle Moya came in second. They resided on Taylor Avenue off of Churchill Street.He had decided to keep his job as maintening the kitchen at the hospital.The article was in the Moncton times March 26 1956.
The above photo was the inauguration of the new Notre Dame de Grace church on July 8 1951. If you recognize anyone in the photo please contact me? The following are the names we have so far; Archibishop Norbert Robichaud, Ernest Arsenault, Evangeline Arsenault and her mother,Marie Arsenault, Marie's mother,Mrs Ernest Arsenault, Roger Arsenault, Therese Arsenault, Lorenzo Babineau, Annette Belliveau, Rev Oscar Bourque, Eddie Caissie, Irene Caissie, John Collette, Simone Collette, Paul Cormier, Bertha Devarenne, Eva Doiron, John Doiron, Bernice Gallant, Roger Gallant, Marie Gaudet, Paul Gaudet, Alde Goguen, Dorice Goguen, Fred Goguen, Eddy Henri, Rev Camille Johnson, Ligouri Leblanc, Rev Leonard Leger, Philip Lirette, Emma Mills, Bernard Poirier, Charlie Poirier, Armand Richard, Armand Roy, Cleophas Roy, Willie Roy, Irene Roy, Rita Roy,Yvonne Roy, Leona Savoie, Edgar Thebeau, Florida Thebeau, Therese Vautour, Rita Vautour.
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