December 4, 2009 Field of Dreams Becomes Reality

Some heritage buffs in the community of Field and area have a passion for local history and after a decade of hard work have a new local history book - Field, Ontario 1850-2009. A sample story was featured in last week’s Community Voices.  The book is written by well known regional historian Wayne LeBelle, who lives in Field, north of Sturgeon Falls on  Hwy 64 on the Sturgeon River .  He carried out many interviews and was  helped by  Field historian Roger Lafond and others.  The book is bilingual with English/French text and was helped with  many of the 500 photographs coming from La Societe Historique de Field.

Wayne LeBelle photo by David Lewis

The 240 page book is for sale now at Gullivers Books in North Bay and in libraries in Sturgeon Falls and Cache Bay, etc.- or directly by phone from Wayne at 705-758-9669 or by email  at wayne_lebelle@xplornet.com. There  will be a website in early 2010.

The book is in five sections starting with the important logging operations and profiles five men of note including his father. The book is dedicated to Wayne’s father  C. J. LeBelle. Chapter two profiles several typical families including some in Crystal Falls and Desaulniers and area and significant events in the area.  Chapter three looks at the floods and the tornado Field had to deal with. The recent fire in the town’s general store did not make it into the book because the book  was at the printers.

The devastating  Field Mill Fire – Wayne LeBelle Photo

Chapter four looks at the schools, churches and key personalities involved.  The final chapter provides  a Chronology going back to 1872.  The book is a real keepsake for anyone interested in the area and is a nice compliment to Wayne’s other books on Sturgeon Falls and West Nipissing

Wayne worked as a newspaper reporter for years and had a  long career with the MNR until his recent retirement.  This is his 9th book, four of which are bilingual and thousands of copies have been sold.  He is also a publisher and has published a book on Smooth Rock Falls.  His next book is a coffee table type book on Iroquois Falls and is due out a year from now.  Profits will help their local museum.

The West Nipissing Calendar

I wrote recently about a 2010 calendar published by the Society Historique de Nipissing Ouest (where Wayne LeBelle is President) in cooperation with the Sturgeon River House Museum.  It is available at local libraries and the Museum.