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Our Story

Origins & Retrospective 
By David Atkins
1960-1985

 In the 1950’s, only a handful of Brownsburg people had curling experience.  Lachute Curling Club, already old and comfortably established, had an adequate roster of members to occupy its two sheets of curling ice and the occasional openings for new members were easily filled.

 From time to time there was talk of possible expansion or replacement of the Lachute facilities. However, there also existed a long-standing tradition of friendly rivalry between «Brownsburgers» and «Lachuters». There is little doubt that this contributed significantly to the initiative, which surfaced during the winter of 1958-59, for a completely separate Club.

 The momentum which developed was a characteristic of the closely-knit community which was Brownsburg at that time, Everyone knew everyone else through association with the two major employers, Canadian Industries Limited and Canadian Safety Fuse Company Limited. Inflation and unemployment were things that academics and economists talked about but they usually involved other people other places or other times. The idea of taking up curling as part of a large group of beginners and learning together rather than hoping to join an existing Club as openings might arise, was appealing.

Community projects were already a way of life in Brownsburg in the years before governments refined the art of giving away tax-payers’ money. The concept of financing a curling club without any real prospect of outside help was not as formidable as it might have been had not the same community already built two Legion halls (the first one burned down shortly after its completion) and an arena. It is worthy of note that while the «company-town» environment did not provide any assurance of direct financial support, it did mean that there was available a pool of technical accounting and administrative skills on which to draw for volunteers as well as for advice.

It was a particular conversation involving Tom Hall, Omer Carrière, Andrew Hardie and Syl Hall that provided the trigger. As an outcome of their discussion, a number of invitations, signed by Tom and delivered to a few representative people, resulted in an informal meeting on April 29, 1959. Rumors began to spread, particularly among those who had not been invited but whose curiosity was aroused! No one had long to wait. During the month which followed, a preliminary survey established that there were at least 150 people prepared to subscribe $100 to share in a curling club for Brownsburg. Another meeting of interested individuals was called for June 3rd, 1959, on a notice signed by Omer Carrière; the purpose was to discuss possible building plans and additional fund raising. Temporary committees were set up.

 On July 2, 1959, the first formal meeting of subscribers was called on a notice signed by Hec Steele. This meeting was chaired by Sam Rose who presented a tentative slate of officers as proposed by a nominating committee. Following several additional nominations from the floor, and balloting, a slate of interim officers was elected and empowered to proceed with procurement of a charter and with actual collection of funds.

 The Board’s first formal progress report to prospective shareholders and members was made at a public meeting on September 2, 1959. A recommendation to purchase the property on which to locate the Club was accepted following a motion by Norm Somers and John Duncan. It was proposed to build a two-sheet rink and the ordering of two sets of curling stones was authorized on a motion by Keith Rutherford, seconded by Jim Dixon-Smith. (16 pairs of Kay’s Trevor Red Hone stones were imported from Andrew Kay & Company in Scotland; they were delivered in 1960 at a cost of $60 per pair).

 By April 20, 1960, the date of the next general meeting, the Board had decided to recommend construction of a three-sheet rink, since the extra cost of the third sheet (approximately (15,000) would be very substantially less than if added to any two-sheet plan at a later date. This recommendation was accepted at the Annual General Meeting on June 8, 1960. This was the first Annual Meeting following receipt of the Club Charter, dated November 19, 1959, issued under Part 1 of the Quebec Companies Act, in the name of «The Brownsburg Curling Club Limited». (The original shareholders whose names appear on the charter are Kenneth MacGibbon, J. Dorius Lepine, Sam E. Rose, John R. Golphin and Dudley R. Boal.) It was at this meeting that the first official Board of Directors of The Brownsburg Curling Club Limited was elected as follows:

 President: Ken MacGibboon
Vice-President: Tom Hall
Secretary: Jack Golphin
Treasurer: Dudley Boal
Directors: Sam Rose
                : Dave Atkins
                : Bill Dimock
                : Bill Morrow
                : Hec Steele
                : John Duncan

 (This Board was subsequently re-elected intact for the first curling season 1961-1962.)

 The view of financing problems which were being encountered during the summer of 1960, the recommendation for a three-sheet rink was seriously questioned at a general meeting on October 6, 1960. The Board persisted in its earlier proposal, urging extension of a campaign to sell debentures to outside investors in addition to prospective members, and pointing out that construction during the winter was not recommended in any case. The Board was given a vote of confidence and in due course, in April 1961, the construction contract was let, Curling ice was available late in December 1961.

 At the Annual General Meeting held on May 31, 1961, Club by-laws had been adopted. These provided for the formation of a Ladies’ Branch which subsequently elected its first Board of Directors as follows:

 President: Doris MacGibbon
Vice-President: Eunice Low
Secretary: Mary Hicks
Treasurer: Arlene Tomalty
Directors: Eileen Rutherford
                : Audrey Bourne
                : Dorothy Humphrys
               : Gwen Hamilton

 Unfortunately, a complete list of the founding members – i.e. the active curling members for the 1961-62 season – has yet to be located. There is a record of the original shareholders but not all of these were active curlers in Brownsburg. It is also on record that the committee chairmen for the first season of the men’s club were:

 Keith Rutherford
Bill Hamilton
Syl Hall
Berry Bourne
Andrew Hardie
Jim Humphrys

 Most of these men had previous curling experience. It may be of interest to note that no less than 25 of the founding members (men and women) were still curling regularly in Brownsburg in the 1984-85 season.

 The insignia which appears on the Club crest and curling pins was designed locally by Jean-Claude Lecorre. It features a water-powered mill in recognition of the importance of the rivers in the early history and development of the community. Brownsburg derives its name from George Brown, who came with his family from Northumberland, England, settled on the Lachute area and in 1818 received a grant of land which included the future site of Brownsburg. Brown built the first mills on the West River; subsequently other mills were operated on the Dalesville River where it passes through the village. George Brown’s great, great grandson, incidentally, was the Club’s Charter President – K.W. MacGibbon. A large oils-on-canvass reproduction of the crest was painted and donated to the Club in 1970 by Diane Laurin, daughter of charter members Yvonne Alarie and her late husband Angelbert (Joe) Alarie. A smaller reproduction, done in needlepoint by another charter member, Eunice Lowe, has been used since the 1968-69 season as the trophy for the annual invitation bonspiel of the afternoon curlers of the Ladies’ Branch.

 Looking back over the years there are few regrets and ample reason to be thankful for the 1959 initiative. Construction and start-up costs which were barely affordable in 1961 seem unbelievably low by 1985 standards and in hindsight one might question things like lack of insulation and clubroom floorspace. However, it was by keeping the total debt load at a manageable level that the Club has been able to handle drastic increases in operating costs and can still look ahead with reasonable financial confidence. Unfortunately, membership has not been as great as could be accommodated by the three ice surfaces (except perhaps on Friday nights) so there are few legitimate complaints of insufficient curling opportunity. The third sheet has also permitted staging and hosting many events that would have been difficult otherwise. In spite of occasional ice problems which, hopefully will be less evident in future, the Club has usually managed to provide top quality ice when it was really important to do so.

 For its entire 25 years of existence Brownsburg Curling Club has provided an important social centre for the immediate community and a contact with curlers and families from far and near. Its doors have regularly been opened to welcome visitors and occasional curlers of all ages and to provide encouragement and instruction as well as opportunity. Brownsburg curlers enjoy a fine reputation as willing participants strong competitors, good organizers and capable, friendly hosts. Notwithstanding a constantly changing membership the Club has tried to retain the original concept of responsible involvement as well as enjoyment. When every member accepts a share of the work load there are few problems. May the same spirit continue to prevail for the next 25 years!

 Footnote – Shareholders who are no longer interested in active membership are reminded of the standing offer of Life Social Membership in exchange for shares which are donated back to the Club treasury. The real purpose of this offer is to keep share ownership as much as possible in the responded favourably, the Club is most grateful.

 


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241 rue des Érables Nord
Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec, Canada
J8G 3C4

E-Mail: [email protected] 
Phone: 450-407-0608

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