NORTH BAY'S OLD HOME WEEK, 1925 and 1935

by Françoise Noël, Nipissing University

© 2008

Organization

1925

Old Home in 1925 emerged out of plans for an Old Boy Reunion. When word came that city status would be granted around the same time, the celebration planned became more elaborate and over a period of several months was transformed from an Old Boy Reunion to an Old Home Week. The town of North Bay was involved in the organization and provided funds for the celebration. The work, however, was done by the many OHW committees which oversaw every aspect of the operation.

The overall organization was in the hands of the Executive which consisted of a President, four vice-presidents, a secretary, treasurer and an executive committee of eleven persons. They were all male. The president was John Ferguson, the "founder" of North Bay. Dr. J.B. MacDougall, who was probably the author of much of the souvenir book, is well known as the first principal of the North Bay high school. He was later appointed superintendant of schools for a vast area of the north and has left a fascinating account of his work called, Building the North. The other members were also prominent members of North Bay's business and professional community including J.W. Richardson, who was mayor for several years and the founder the Richardson hardware store. A.C. Rorabeck was the first pharmacist and he also ran the Bell exchange. More information on some of these men is available in Anson Gard's study of North Bay, The Gateway to Silverland. Larger Image

As well as the executive there were numerous working committees which supervised all aspects of the organization from sending invitations to the Old Timers to arranging billeting for them and well as all aspects of the program. A list of all the committees follows. Most of the members of these committes were well known members of the English elite of North Bay. Several of them had been or would become mayors or were on city council at some point in this period. Women were placed only on a few committees, particularly those dealing with the Old Timers. The wife of Harry Marceau (who was the local M.L.A. in 1935) sat on the the Ladies' Old Timers Committee; she was one of the few French Canadians involved.

Link to List of Members

1935

In 1935, the city of North Bay decided that it could not afford to spend money on an OHW celebration after initial plans had already been made to hold a second OHW the first week of August. The promoters turned to local groups and organizations to see if any of them might be able to sponsor a day. In the end, enough groups came forward that OHW went ahead. The organizers were aware from the beginning that the Dionne quintuplets would be generating tourism to the area and they hoped to capitalize on this.

The central committee of OHW in 1935 was chaired by Dan Barker and the secretary was Alderman G.E. Palmer. The remainder of the committee was made up of two or three representatives from each of the community groups sponsoring a day. The Central Committee coordinated their efforts and dealth with the city on general matters relating to the event while the individual groups focussed on their parades and program.

Executive Officers		Central Committee 1935
159th Battalion Sunday & Monday
North Bay Motor Club Tuesday
Cercle Canadien Français Wednesday French Canadian Day
Knights of Columbus Thursday Children's Day
Rorab Shrine Club Friday Shriner's Day
Associated Canadian Travellers Saturday

More information on the work of the committees can be found in many articles of the Nugget for 1925 and 1935. For a list and summary of these articles look under the subject heading "Organization" in the excel files provided below.