Vol. 17 No. 10
October, 1987
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Stay Safe in 87
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Sad Postscript, New Book Revives
Past
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Omer Lavallee
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Omer Lavallee's newly released book 15 years after his death.
The following article by Omer Lavallee appeared in CP Rail News during October 1987 and adds some information
concerning the preparation of his book.
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As a postscript to our summary history of the building of the "Short
Line", which occupied my last three columns, I regret to have to record the death, in May, of my good and
long-time friend G.B. (Gerry) Hagarty, at the age of 90.
Gerry was one of the first people I met when I was assigned to the State of Maine paycar in the summer of 1945. He
was a dispatcher then, later becoming general agent at Brownville Junction prior to his retirement in 1959.
GERRY HAGARTY FONDLY REMEMBERED
About five years ago, when I started to write my book on the International of Maine, I re-established
contact with Gerry, by correspondence. In his last years, due to infirmity, he resided in a senior citizens' home in
Bangor, Maine. When I heard from him last, late in 1986, Gerry was as intellectually alert as ever; I have pages and
pages of letters from him containing reminiscences and information, which will form an important part of the text of
the book.
To the staff on the paycar, Gerry was known for his interest in collecting United States silver dollars, which formed
a regular component of the Bank of Montreal's currency shipment for the weekly payroll.
Allegedly, Gerry kept the coins in a hollow, large-sized curtain pole. It would surely have been
"curtains" if the pole had broken under the weight of the coins and hit a visitor on the head! In a future
column, I'll record some recollections of life on board what was, when it closed in July 1960, the last paycar on a
common-carrier railway in North America.
NEW CPAL PUBLICATION RELEASED
An interesting book came in the mail a few weeks ago. It is "Canadian Pacific Air Lines - Its History and
Aircraft", written by editor/publisher Donald M. Bain of Calgary. Don's name is better known in the railway
literature field for his editing of a number of series of railway picture books, of which the best known is
"Canadian Pacific in the Rockies".
Don's interest in CPAL was honed by extensive overseas travel for a Canadian bank, in connection with its
international oil and gas interests. The 126-page soft-cover CPAL book, with a preface by
N.R. (Buck) Crump, retired Canadian Pacific chairman and CEO, contains a fund of organizational and operating
information, including an aircraft fleet list.
The illustrations are well-chosen, depicting operations and aircraft of the constituent
(pre-1942) companies as well as those of the parent company. It sells for $15.00 postpaid and can be
obtained from Kishorn Publications, 5124 - 33 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2L 1V4.
BOOK AWAKENS PERSONAL MEMORIES
The arrival of this book awakened a host of personal memories. when I started with the company in August, 1942 at the
tender age of 16, it was with the newly-organized Canadian Pacific Air Lines, whose office was located
at room 115 in Montreal's Windsor Station.
I was hired as junior clerk in CPAL vice-president C.H. (Punch) Dickins' office by Harry Hollins, later
assistant to the vice-president, finance of the parent company. Despite my junior position, my
"arrival on board" earned a mention in "The Honker", CPAL's offset publication, then edited by
A.G. (Graeme) Macdonald of Winnipeg.
"The Honker", whose name reflected the use of a Canada goose as its logo by CPAL from the beginning until
1968, continued publication for several years, ceasing about 1945.
The airline was then in the course of integrating ten local carriers into what would become, eventually, a global
system. These components carried on their operation in all provinces from Quebec westward, as well as the Yukon and
in the Northwest Territories. Many had started as remote operations.
PLEASANT RECOLLECTION OF FIRST JOB
The two senior officers, Punch Dickens and his assistant, the late G.W.G. (Grant) McConachie, who was initially
general manager of western lines in Edmonton, had both launched their careers as bush pilots.
A pleasant recollection during those few months was making the acquaintance of F.V. (Fred) Stone, retired president
of Canadian Pacific Enterprises Limited. Mr. Stone had joined CPAL as personnel manager, but the limited space in
room 115 forced him on a temporary basis, to share a two-sided desk with me. A few weeks later, the
office moved to room 620 in the Dominion Square Building, at which time Mr. Stone was given an office of his own.
After working at CPAL for about three months, I obtained a transfer to the paymaster's office of the parent company.
This ensured that I would eventually obtain a permanent railway pass, a privilege which I would not have received if
I had stayed with CPAL. In fact, the pass was the chief object of going to work for Canadian Pacific in the first
place! Now 45 years older, wiser, and minus the coveted pass, I wonder if I did the right thing?
This CP Rail News article is copyright
1987 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here with
their permission. All photographs, logos, and trademarks are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Company.
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