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/ Terrace Bay-Screiber News, Wednesday, November 9, 1983, page 3 (P zofile 'TShis Week Meet Ed Cavanaugh Where does one be- gin when one is featur- ing such a well known person as Ed Cavanaugh for this week's Profile. I suppose it's only fitting to a man such as Ed, to start at the beginning - in 1895 - in North Bay. That's when and where this historic figure head of Terrace Bay was born and raised. Ed didn't elaborate on his child- hood - maybe due to his loss of memory or may- be because it was what he would class as a normal growing up per- iod where _ nothing eventful happened. One thing that is on the records however, is that he married his child- hood sweetheart and sand-box companion, Norma, on November Ti. 19%9-* Over his many years of residency in North Bay, Ed was noted as being not only a well known organizer in var- ious sports such as hockey and baseball, but he was also recognized for his war. efforts in 1943 as Chairman of the H.M.C.S. North Bay Comforts' Fund Com- mittee where he. fur- thered interest among the North Bay citizens about the ship bearing the name 'Gateway to the North" and it was due to his enthusiasm and enterprise that his 'town earned the repu- tation of being the city to take the keenest inter- est in an 'adopted ship.' Although Ed did not actively serve in the second World War, he and many others like him assisted the war effort in many... unac-. countable ways. Ed was also known around the North Bay area as the Railway Mail . Clerk; a job that he held from North Bay for over thirty years. His regu- lar run was from North "Bay to Fort William and- while passing. over the . ~Aguasabon' bridge dur- ing his run, he often wished that the Agua- sabon afea was his home - not only because of its rugged beauty and charm but also because it was a fact that this area would be indeed, a fisherman's paradise. Shortly after that wish, Ed and his family moved to the Fort Wil- liam area for a_ brief time. Brief because Ed had heard that Kimber- ly-Clark was planning a pulp mill and town site exactly where the good fishing was. Besides . he was tired of the rail- roading life and wanted to settle down with his ay the town Terrace Bay, the first post office was opened on January 17th, 1947 in the area of the present Moose Hall. At that time the only other buildings on the town- site were those of the hospital, the police sta- tion, the bank and the Hudson's Bay store. Basements were soon laid and house con- struction immediately followed. In the early parts of January, work commenced on the mill was being held at the old Hotel Terrace. family in an area that he dearly loved. So, it was then that he decided to apply for the position of Postmaster in what was then known as 'Black Siding.' He was appointed Postmaster in August of 1946 and he then made his trek to the area in September to pick a site for a temporary post office building. The site, then a railway stop- over, was dismai and barren ... but with great growth potential (as his- tory has revealed). After the Post Office depart- ment officially named Here's Ed standing outside the first Post Office at "Black Siding". This was just a temporary building and was located in the old south camp. and shortly after that, construction began on the. Aguasabon. dam. The town was starting to take shape and people were ready to call Ter- race Bay "'home."' Ed recalls everyone thinking, working, and acting as one huge fa- mily. From there different organizations were formed, associations such as hockey and rec- reation were establish- ed. The first school was opened in a_ private home with Clarence Smith as the principal, complete with approxi- mately a dozen stud- ents. Church was being held in what was then the recreation hall (which also housed the Saturday night movies). Shortly after all this was readied, Dr. Shaunessy, Terrace Bay's first den- tist moved in his prac- tice. Ed, Norma, and their family were instru- mental in all phases of the building and of the maturing of the town of Terrace Bay. Ed was an active member on the Improvement District Board of Terrace Bay as a trustee from 1955-58 and was also Reeve when it was moved from an Improvement- Dist- rict to a township. Since his move to "Black Siding" in 1946, Ed can honestly say that he has been a part of almost every Board, committee and _ or- ganization that was ever established in Terrace Bay. Not only did those include the Hydro Com- mission, the Knights of Columbus, the Kiwanis Club, the Legion and member of Council plus the Reeveship for 6 years - but he also served his civic duties on the High School Board, the Board of Health, the Public School Board, the Rec- reation Board and every committee and club in between. That's why it's very easy for the early Ed (left) stands with "female" companion during a Kiwanis Tea and Bake Sale which settlers of Terrace Bay to place Ed Cavanaugh -as part of the town's history. Ed was also the per- son responsible for having the new hospital named as the McCaus- -land Hospital. "It was to honour a great man - Dr. Mike", said Ed. "He deserved that honour. He did a_lot for the people and the town, and it was a great way for all of us to express our gratitude to him."' Ed is not only noted as being a great organizer, a post master (for which he served for a total of 48 years), family man, etc., etc., but he is alsoa well known and publish- ed author and poet. In the next few weeks, the "NEWS'"' will be pub- lishing a few of Ed's poems, and it is our hope that you the read- er, will enjoy them as we did. : The "NEWS" chose to run Ed Cavanaugh as this week's Profile, not only to pay tribute to an outstanding "Town Fa- ther", but also because Remembrance Day is fast approaching - and Ed is the last surviving resident of Terrace Bay who actively served dur- ing World War I. It was difficult for Ed to remember back to his war days. Difficult due to the fact that he cares not to remember the pain ... the suffering ... the death and the tragedy that those years held for him. **T was about 18 years / From his residence in the Chronic Care ward at McCausland Hospital, Ed was able to share with us, his memories of days gone by. old - just a kid, when I fought in that war. Those are days that I want to. forget. I> lost quite a few friends, some of them close friends.'"" Ed remem- bers the death quite clearly - just as if it were yesterday. "It was after the Armistice was an- nounced (it was announ- ced before the actual stopping of the war). We in various hospitals overseas and also when he was sent home to Toronto. One _ vivid memory that haunts Ed, is the picture of the many children running alongside of them dur- ing their many months over there. "They liked us. We used to carry candy in our pockets and give it to the children as they ran beside us. They was the end of all wars. They were all wrong. Just look back at all the wars, the suffering and the deaths that- have hit not only us at home, but everywhere in the world. And we're still hearing of war. When will it all stop? I wish that I could answer that question for you Ed, but I can't. Nobody can. But we all Helen Brooks, Mrs. Vezina, Ed and Norma Cavanaugh and Alma Marcella are seen here at the 1967 Centennial Luncheon. were advancing shortly before the ceasefire. It was then that we came across the entire Winni- peg Batallion lying dead before us in Belgium, They were dead from looked forward to receiv- _ ing that special treat."' When asked for his overall recollections of his. war years, Ed says . this; 'I desperately. try to forget them but | share your views and thoughts on that sub- ject. : I thank you Ed, for sharing with us your memories, your words of. wisdom and your. past This photo was taken around 1909 when Ed was about 15 years of age. The team he played on was called "The Rink Rats". Which one is you Ed? the mustard gas used by the enemy." Ed was stationed in England, France and Belgium during the war. He was also injured and spent over nine months can't. I guess - we'll never rid ourselves of the memories. They said that the first World War was the end of all wars. They said that World War II years of caring and shar- ing. It has shown in you . the town of Terrace Bay ... and it's people. God Bless you Ed - may you live on to tell others.