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July 22, 2005Mattawa Matters
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If you are visiting the
Mattawa Voyageur Days July 21-24 there is lots to see of an historical nature,
if you are so inclined. Explorer’s Point, where the old Hudson’s Bay Post was
located overlooking both the Ottawa and Mattawa Rivers, is one of my favorite
historical sites.
Mattawa Museum
The beautiful log museum on
the Point not only touches on the Voyageur’s history, recognized in the title of
the big event, but also explores lumbering, farming, interesting personalities,
etc. There is an interesting exhibit on Mattawa’s Gertrude Bernard who as
“Anahareo” became Grey Owl’s wife and mentor. She won the Order of Canada for
her own conservation work and her books. An interesting new addition is an
embroidered Grey Owl deerskin jacket and some of Anahareo’s clothes donated by
her children.
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One of the Mattawa carvings – Doug Mackey photo. |
Speaking of Voyageurs, for the
second time in 2 years a crew traveling the 2500km Voyageur route stopped in
Mattawa recently. The large Destination Nor’ Ouest canoe stopped on Explorer’s
Point to meet some native people, local high school students and others before
traveling on. A film of the trip is being made and will be shown later.
Dr. S.F. Monestine
The revered Dr. S.F. Monestine,
Canada’ s first black mayor and respected family doctor whose family still runs
Algonquin Nursing Home, the town’s old folks home has a new display at the
museum.
Joe Mufferaw
Joe Montferand (1803-1864),
the giant real life lumberman became an exaggerated legend in stories, verse and
song. Stompin’ Tom Connors recalls him in song when he says: “Big Joe Mufferaw
paddled down to Mattawa – all the way from Ottawa in just one day, eh!” A new 16
foot statue of Joe is located at the museum to recognize the gentleman.
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The Destination Nor’ Ouest canoeists on their recent trip
through Mattawa. R. Lamarche photo. |
Paradis Paintings
As Bruce Hodgins said in his
book “Paradis in Temagami,” Father Charles Paradis, “quarrelsome priest, artist,
prospector, linguist, his sanctuary across fifty years of old Ontario and Quebec
North was always ‘where he happened to be’”. I wrote about Paradis here
recently and mentioned his training as an artist and his remarkable paintings of
his travels.
Jack Whalen the chair of the
Mattawa Museum Board acquired mint copies of six of Paradis’ paintings at the
National Archives in Ottawa. Copies are now on sale as a fundraiser for the
Museum at $40 ($75 framed). They are an excellent acquisition, especially if
you are from the area he painted them in.
Paradis got stuck in Mattawa
one winter in the 1880’s and made a beautiful painting of the town from a height
of land. He later helped guide and drag the Mattawan steamship up the Mattawa
to Temiskaming where the boat provided local service. A drawing of this
exercise is very evocative of that particular time and place. The other
paintings are similarly connected with an era when photographs of locations and
events were not available. Drop in to the museum and have a look at the
remarkable paintings.
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Joe Mufferaw waiting to take his place on Explorer’s Point
in Mattawa. Rene Lamarche photo. |
The Mattawa Carvings
The last of 22 9 foot carvings
of famous Mattawa personalities has just been completed. This remarkable
project carved by Garry Johnston with the help of Clermont Duval can be seen in
various locations. Grey Owl and Anahareo are there, as is well known Mattawa
painter Gordon Dufoe. Some of Dufoe’s paintings are on sale at the Clermont
Duval Gallery on Main St., along with Clermont’s beautiful paintings and
prints. The Algonquin Nursing Home, mentioned above, recently opened their
doors as a part of Ontario’s Doors Open event. With June also Seniors’ Month it
was appropriate that one of the statues “Joseph,” a pioneer man with an axe, was
unveiled at the Home. (More on the statue project in a future article).
Mattawa History Book
A great souvenir of Mattawa is
Gerard Therrien’s Millennium history book “Mattawa, Our Timeless Town”,
available at the Museum and at the Information Centre. The cover features a
painting of the famous three crosses that can be seen on the Quebec side of the
Ottawa River. There are excellent photographs and stories galore on Mattawa and
its people.
When it comes to history,
music, art, and hospitality, Mattawa Matters.
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