Friends of The OPP Museum –
Heroes of OPP History
The OPP Museum was thrilled to receive an exciting donation
this October; a collection of journals and a photograph donated
by Friends of The OPP Museum. The journals were written by
an officer working in Muskoka and date to our earliest years –
between 1910 and 1921. Museum staff were made aware of
the journals when they appeared on the ebay auction website.
Thanks to quick action on the part of the Friends’ Executive
Assistant and Board members, a negotiated best offer was
accepted by the seller, and the items quickly made their way
to the Museum.
The seller had little background to go on, having purchased
the journals himself at a public sale. The challenge next was
to figure out who the original owner was of these rare early
documents, and by association, the most likely subject of the
portrait that was tucked inside one of the volumes.
Upon arrival, Karin, Chris and Jenn poured over the journals
looking for clues and confirming their authenticity. Most
entries are not very detailed – not surprising as the daily
journal’s primary purpose was to record the basic elements
of the officer’s day. Weather and wind patterns, travel times,
meal amounts and reports of “all quiet” are predominant, so
staff were excited to find familiar references throughout to
early members like Caldbick and Mains. The Superintendent,
Joseph Rogers, is noted when correspondence is exchanged,
and there is also a reference to an invitation from the
Commissioner to attend a meeting at Headquarters in
Toronto – a meeting that would have been very significant to
the journal owner as it appears in his 1921 volume, the first
year the rank of Commissioner was created; thus the meeting
would have been with Major General Cawthra-Elliot, the first
man to serve in the role. Geographically, Bala, Severn Falls
and trips to Parry Sound are all mentioned.
But who was this officer? No name could be found scribbled
inside the cover and nothing was written on the portrait.