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Chapples Limited

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Chapples Limited (also Chapples and Chapple's Stores Limited) was a department store in Fort William (now Thunder Bay). It was founded in 1915 as a family dry goods and ladies' fashion store and grew into Fort William's leading department store, with branches in other northwestern Ontario communities.[1] It closed in about 1981. The Thunder Bay Museum's archival description says the mid-1970s, but a former employee and the museum, as cited by a reader, both give 1981.[1][2]

Santa Claus show

Chapples sponsored an annual Santa Claus show for children for most of the 20th century. The Fort William Daily Times-Journal index records the show at the Orpheum Theatre (The Orpheum) in 1930. A 1932 headline read "17th show greets throngs", and "6,000 kiddies" turned out in 1935.[3]

  • 1943: the dance teacher Grace Ensworth ran the show at the Orpheum.[4]
  • 1950: Chapples sponsored a radio version, "The Santa Claus Show", broadcast nightly in November and December. Its scripts survive in the Thunder Bay Museum.[1][2]
  • 1 December 1951: the show moved to the Fort William Gardens, with "hundreds of performers from the Sylvia Horne School of Dancing".[2]
  • Later years: the Times-Journal index lists the show annually through at least 1965, including "45th annual" in 1955 and "54th show successful" in 1964.[5][6]

People associated with the show include:

  • Sylvia Horn (1914–2005). Her obituary says she "created and put on the Chapples Santa Claus Show which was held annually at the Fort William Gardens".[7]
  • Tor Hansen (1921–2016), of the Chapples display department. He designed and decorated the show and performed in it as "Mister Chris".[8] He appears with Horn in a 22 November 1956 promotional photograph.[5]
  • Grace Ensworth (1894–1947), Horn's teacher, who ran the 1943 show.[4]

Directory listings

Year Name as listed Details Address Source
1920 CHAPPLES, LIMITED, CLEMENT E. CHAPPLE, President. DAVE REID, Secretary-Treasurer, DEPARTMENT STORE, Ground Floor GRAIN EXCHANGE BUILDING, PHONE SOUTH 2200 (Exchange) Clement E. Chapple president, Dave Reid secretary-treasurer, department store, Ground Floor Grain Exchange Building, phone South 2200 Ground Floor Grain Exchange Building p. 143[9]
1950 CHAPPLES LIMITED, JOHN B. CHAPPLE, President. ALLAN E. CHAPPLE, Gen. Mgr. FRANK P. CHAPPLE, General Merchandising Manager. H. N. BICKMORE, Finance Officer. HOWARD E. EVANS, General Sales Manager. LLOYD G. HURDON, Controller. NORMAN HINDLE, Publicity Mgr. AGNES L. JOHNSON, Personnel Manager. C. J. BOYLE, Store Superintendent. DEPARTMENT STORE. VICTORIA AVENUE (between Syndicate and Archibald Streets). PHONE 3-6401 (Private Exchange). HOME STORE: 105-117 South Syndicate Avenue. FURNITURE ANNEX: 311-313 Victoria Avenue. FUR REPAIR DEPARTMENT: 801 Victoria Avenue. Department store, Victoria Avenue (between Syndicate and Archibald Streets), Phone 3-6401. Officers: John B. Chapple (President), Allan E. Chapple (Gen. Mgr.), Frank P. Chapple (General Merchandising Manager), H. N. Bickmore (Finance Officer), Howard E. Evans (General Sales Manager), Lloyd G. Hurdon (Controller), Norman Hindle (Publicity Mgr.), Agnes L. Johnson (Personnel Manager), C. J. Boyle (Store Superintendent). p. 135[10]

1950: advertisement in Henderson's Directory of Fort William and Port Arthur, 1950 (Henderson Directories Limited), p. 135.[10]

CHAPPLES LIMITED,
JOHN B. CHAPPLE, President.
ALLAN E. CHAPPLE, Gen. Mgr.
FRANK P. CHAPPLE, General Merchandising Manager.
H. N. BICKMORE, Finance Officer.
HOWARD E. EVANS, General Sales Manager.
LLOYD G. HURDON, Controller.
NORMAN HINDLE, Publicity Mgr.
AGNES L. JOHNSON, Personnel Manager.
C. J. BOYLE, Store Superintendent.
DEPARTMENT STORE.
VICTORIA AVENUE (between Syndicate and Archibald Streets).
PHONE 3-6401 (Private Exchange).
HOME STORE: 105-117 South Syndicate Avenue.
FURNITURE ANNEX:
311-313 Victoria Avenue.
FUR REPAIR DEPARTMENT:
801 Victoria Avenue.

People named in the ad: John B. Chapple (president); Allan E. Chapple (gen. mgr); Frank P. Chapple (general merchandising manager); H. N. Bickmore (finance officer); Howard E. Evans (general sales manager); Lloyd G. Hurdon (controller); Norman Hindle (publicity mgr); Agnes L. Johnson (personnel manager); C. J. Boyle (store superintendent).

1920: advertisement in Henderson's Directory of Fort William and Port Arthur, 1920 (Henderson Directories Limited), p. 143.[9]

CHAPPLES, LIMITED,
CLEMENT E. CHAPPLE, President.
DAVE REID, Secretary-Treasurer.
DEPARTMENT STORE,
Ground Floor GRAIN EXCHANGE
BUILDING, PHONE SOUTH 2200
(Exchange)

People named in the ad: Clement E. Chapple (president); Dave Reid (secretary-treasurer).

1963, Lion's Roar

Printed in the yearbook as Chapples. Advertised in the Lion's Roar (1963), p. 184, with the address printed as Port Arthur. Department store featuring young fashion ideas.[11]

Advertisement, 1963

1965, Lakehead Teachers' College Yearbook

Printed in the yearbook as Chapples. Advertised in the Lakehead Teachers' College Yearbook (1965), scan page 29, with the address printed as Serving Northwestern Ontario. A department store specializing in fashion and clothing, featuring a large building and a shopping illustration.[12]

Advertisement, 1965

1967, Lakehead Teachers' College Yearbook

Printed in the yearbook as Chapples. Advertised in the Lakehead Teachers' College Yearbook (1967), scan page 92, with the address printed as Fort William. A clothing store specializing in fashionably right and reasonably priced apparel.[13]

Advertisement, 1967

1968, The Key

Printed in the yearbook as Chapples. Advertised in The Key (1968), scan page 86, with the address printed as Fort William. A clothing store specializing in fashionable and reasonably priced apparel.[14]

Advertisement, 1968

1969, Reflections

Printed in the yearbook as Chapples. Advertised in the Reflections (1969), scan page 98, with the address printed as Thunder Bay. A department store advertising blouses described as soft as a summer day, available in various styles, colours, and sizes.[15]

Advertisement, 1969

Advertisements

1961, Giant '61

Advertised in the Giant '61 (1961), scan page 66, with the address printed as Port Arthur. A department store advertising sport coats for young men who demand style and quality.[16]

Advertisement, 1961

1964, Lion's Roar

Advertised in the Lion's Roar (1964), p. 150. A department store promoting young fashion ideas.[17]

Advertisement, 1964

1951, Nor'Wester

Advertised in the Nor'Wester (1951), p. 59. A clothing store offering a complete selection of apparel for teenagers for school or leisure.[18]

1952, Year Book

Advertised in the Year Book (1952), scan page 99, with the address printed as Thunder Bay. A department store featuring a 'Fashion Age Set' for school-goers, offering clothes for boys and girls.[19]

1953, Year Book

Advertised in the Year Book (1953), scan page 119, with the address printed as The Lakehead. A department store advertising smart Easter suits and spring fashions, describing itself as the leading shopping center.[20]

1955, Nor'Wester

Advertised in the Nor'Wester (1955), p. 88, with the address printed as Main Store. A men's clothing shop selling suits and better fabrics in various styles and patterns for all body types.[21]

1956, Nor'Wester

Advertised in the Nor'Wester (1956), p. 88, with the address printed as Main Store. Men's clothing shop offering suits and sports uniforms for all body types, including tall, stubby, stout, or wiry builds.[22]

1957, Yearbook

Advertised in the Yearbook (1957), p. 88. A style store for young men selling handsome new clothing styles at budget-friendly prices.[23]

Advertised in the Yearbook (1957), scan page 92. Department store.[24]

1958, Giant

Advertised in the Giant (1958), p. 50. A department store featuring a Men's Shop with fine sportswear, class and date clothes, and both trendy and conservative fashions.[25]

1959, Nor'Wester

Advertised in the Nor'Wester (1959), p. 58. A department store advertising sports coats and slacks for college men.[26]

1960, Metamorphoses

Advertised in the Metamorphoses (1960), p. 122. Department store.[27]

Advertised in the Metamorphoses (1960), p. 137. A department store offering men's fashions for campus and social life, emphasizing style and quality at a minimum cost for students on a budget.[28]

People listed in the 1950 Henderson's directory

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Chapple's Stores Limited fonds" (CA ON00318 B 18). Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, via Archeion.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cano, Dave. "Christmas...the best days of our lives in the '50's and '60's". Hot Rods and Jalopies (blog), 4 December 2009, including reader comments of 2013 giving the 1981 closing date.
  3. ↑ "Index of social notices, news and photos, Fort William Daily Times-Journal 1930–1939" (compiled by David Nicholson). Thunder Bay Public Library.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Index of social news and notices, Port Arthur News-Chronicle 1943–1951". Thunder Bay Public Library. Entry: "Chapples Santa Claus show NEWS 4 Dec 1943 6 Dec 1943 p.5 At Orpheum/Grace Ensworth".
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Index of social notices, news and photos, Fort William Daily Times-Journal 1955–1959" (compiled by David Nicholson). Thunder Bay Public Library.
  6. ↑ "Index of social notices, news and photos, Fort William Daily Times-Journal 1960–1965" (compiled by David Nicholson). Thunder Bay Public Library.
  7. ↑ "Sylvia Young" (obituary). Sargent & Son Funeral Directors, January 2005 (also in The Chronicle-Journal via Legacy.com).
  8. ↑ "Tor Hansen" (obituary). TBNewsWatch / The Chronicle-Journal, 26–27 July 2016 (also at Legacy.com and Everest of Thunder Bay).
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Henderson's Directory of Fort William and Port Arthur, 1920 (Henderson Directories Limited), p. 143.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Henderson's Directory of Fort William and Port Arthur, 1950 (Henderson Directories Limited), p. 135.
  11. ↑ Lakeview High School Lion's Roar (1963), p. 184. Internet Archive.
  12. ↑ Lakehead Teachers' College Yearbook (1965), scan page 29. Internet Archive.
  13. ↑ Lakehead Teachers' College Yearbook (1967), scan page 92. Internet Archive.
  14. ↑ The Key (1968), scan page 86. Internet Archive.
  15. ↑ Reflections (1969), scan page 98. Internet Archive.
  16. ↑ Giant '61 (1961), scan page 66. Internet Archive.
  17. ↑ Lakeview High School Lion's Roar (1964), p. 150. Internet Archive.
  18. ↑ Lakehead Technical Institute Year Book (1951), p. 59. Internet Archive.
  19. ↑ Lakehead Technical Institute Year Book (1952), scan page 99. Internet Archive.
  20. ↑ Lakehead Technical Institute Year Book (1953), scan page 119. Internet Archive.
  21. ↑ Lakehead Technical Institute Nor'Wester (1955), p. 88. Internet Archive.
  22. ↑ Lakehead Technical Institute Nor'Wester (1956), p. 88. Internet Archive.
  23. ↑ Lakehead Technical Institute Yearbook (1957), p. 88. Internet Archive.
  24. ↑ Lakehead Technical Institute Yearbook (1957), scan page 92. Internet Archive.
  25. ↑ Lakehead College Giant (1958), p. 50. Internet Archive.
  26. ↑ Lakehead College Nor'Wester (1959), p. 58. Internet Archive.
  27. ↑ Lakehead College Metamorphoses (1960), p. 122. Internet Archive.
  28. ↑ Lakehead College Metamorphoses (1960), p. 137. Internet Archive.
  29. ↑ Henderson's Directory of Fort William and Port Arthur, 1950 (Henderson Directories Limited), p. 110.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 Henderson's Directory of Fort William and Port Arthur, 1950 (Henderson Directories Limited), p. 142.
  31. ↑ Henderson's Directory of Fort William and Port Arthur, 1950 (Henderson Directories Limited), p. 153.
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