More Photos from Edgar Boland

Edgar Boland and staff of St. Patrick’s School

More from the Boland Collection

In our recently published newsletter, we wrote about the donation of photos and other articles related to St. Patrick’s School. This small collection belonged to Edgar Boland, who was principal from 1933 to 1943. It contains black and white photos of:

  • St Patrick’s School, staff, students, hockey team
  • The cast of The Chinaman ca 1935
  • Members of CA-BO-GI Club ca 1935

Boland was also involved with the documenting of the Parish history and played a significant role in other cultural events in the community.

  • Banquet at the Fraser Hotel
  • Handmade programs of St. Patrick’s Day Banquet, for example
  • Souvenir booklets of St. Patrick’s Church Silver Jubilee 1913 — 1938,  Jubilee 1913 – 1963, Diamond Jubilee 1913 – 1973, 75th Anniversary 1913 – 1988

We received a scrapbook as well. 

Today we’ll share the highlights of the collection. If you can help identify any of the people in the pictures, please leave a comment.

St. Patrick’s School

An un-dated class photo from St. Patrick’s school. The school crest, designed by Boland, is in the front row. Unfortunately, we have no student names.
St. Patrick’s School on Jamieson Street
The rear of St. Patrick’s School – in the background, on the right, is the Cobalt Public School
From the 1938 Jubilee of St. Patrick’s Parish – the school staff
E.J. Boland, Gladys Murphy, Marjorie Martin, Florence Murphy

Boys’ Hockey at St. Patricks

Here are a couple more of the hockey photos – unfortunately, we do not have dates or names. We don’t know Boland’s role with the team, besides that of photographer – he was possibly the coach as well.

St. Patrick’s boys’ hockey team ca 1939
St. Patrick’s boys’ hockey team ca 1939

CA – BO – GI – Club (Catholic Boys and Girls Club)

Cobalt’s Catholic Boys and Girls’ Club aka CA-BO-GI- formed in 1940
The CA-BO-GI Club members with Father John A Caufield. By way of explaining his causual dress, he wrote, “I had to overheat the house to keep the girls warm, hence my vesture.”
North Bay Nugget October 26 1945 Ca-Bo-Gi Club

Life in the Community and Cultural Events

Boland was actively involved in the community and took part in several cultural events. He wrote and directed school plays and organized a “Progressive Dinner” held at the Fraser House.

Interestingly, several of the pieces in the collection can be tied to the Fraser, so much so, I had to wonder if he lived there. For the moment, the only address we have for him is at 8 Miller Ave in 1928. He was a boarder, and the house sat opposite St. Patrick’s Church, at the corner of Cobalt Street and Miller Avenue. 

Insight into Edgar Boland

Boland’s scrapbook contains the usual clippings that one would expect – stories about his teaching career, the occasional item about the town itself when it was profiled in the media. Several pages are devoted to the plays he wrote, directed, and produced, including “The Chinaman” (see more, below.) He also followed the careers of the Royal Family as well as the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church. 

One particular item is worth sharing here, because it offers insight into his sense of humour and his creative mind. Printed on heavy card stock, and neatly folded is the menu for a “Progressive Dinner Party” that was held in assorted rooms throughout the Fraser House. To wrap up the evening, guests proceeded to the home of Mme. Downey, for coffee and cigarettes. She lived at the banque imperiale. 

Cast of the Chinaman

We can find no information about this particular production – it’s possible it was a play written and directed by Boland. Fortunately, most of the pictures were captioned. We’ve been able to determine that the cast was made up of several Cobalt people, and given the presence of the Fraser House owners Marie and Alex Fraser, we wonder if the production was mounted at the hotel. 

While studying the photos of the cast, we found it odd that most of people in the pictures were named – except for one actor – a soldier. Take a close look at the man – and compare to the photo at the head of this post – is he Edgar Boland? 

Cast of “The Chinaman” – possibly at the Fraser Hotel From the Edgar Boland collection – keep your eye on the actor in the back row, in the soldier’s costume.
Marie and Alex Fraser
Mrs. Downey, Fraser Hotel dietitian and Mr. Elliott, Public School Principal
Mrs. George, Mr. Cooke, and Mac George, an “entrance pupil”
Ms. Davidson, French teacher, Marie Fraser, Mrs. Downey and that unamed soldier
Mrs. Williams, that unnamed soldier, again, Mrs. Downey, Mr. Elliott
There he is again! The mystery solder,
then Mr. Rorke, Mr. Elliott, Mr. Cooke, and Alex Fraser

2 thoughts on “More Photos from Edgar Boland”

  1. Edgar Boland being the mystery soldier definitely has potential.

    Mrs Williams… seen in two of the pictures… could she be in her mid-30s? If so, she could be one of James Piche’s daughters… who ended up living in New York City…

    That menu card is a riot!

    1. Cobalt Historical Society

      I’m inclined to think it’s Boland, too – especially when you consider that these were his photos, of a production that was likely his – no need to caption the obvious, from the author’s POV.

      Mrs. Williams is related to Piche, you say… well, well, well… that deserves more work, for certain. There is a Williams family in Town that I mean to contact as well.

      I had you in mind when I shared the menu card – it’s so funny!

      Thanks for taking the time to write!
      Maggie

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