[FIRST ELECTION]
The business men of the community were becoming annoyed with
the Provincial Government[. In] 1937, any requests for financial
assistance to the community were ignored. Community leaders
decided to form a Chamber of Commerce. They wanted some
recognized organization to pressure the Province at least to
recognize that Geraldton was a thriving community and could not
be ignored forever.
They formed the Geraldton Chamber of Commerce, March 11,
1937, with [George] Garner as the first President. The Chamber
began an earnest effort to have the town formally incorporated. There
were 100 business firms in the community[. A] Mr. Middleton, solicitor
for Geraldton Lands Limited, acted as petitioner for incorporation
and took the draft form to the Municipal Board of Ontario. Granting
of the town status was pronounced September 1, 1937, barely 6
months later.
Tentative dates were set for the first election. Nomination
September 14, Election September 21, results to be announced
September 22 ,first Council meeting September 29. There were 2
nominations for Mayor and 17 nominated for the 6 Council seats.
There was no tax roll and no time for enumeration.
The first election for Municipal Officers in the Town of Geraldton
[was] held September 15, 1937. There had been but two weeks
for campaigning[. Most] candidates advertised in all three Geraldton
newspapers. Northern Engineering made the 2 ballot boxes for that
very important occasion for $27.51.
Eugene Ricard, who had lived in Geraldton for 3 years, was
appointed Returning Officer, and Mrs. Ricard was Poll Clerk. They
cast the first two ballots.
The election took place in a building [referred] to as the
Recreation Hall. All people wishing to vote had to be sworn in
by the Ricards. They had to prove that they were over 21 and
a British Subject. Of the 700 ballots printed[,] 673 were used.
[Anyone] who has worked at an election will know what a [mammoth]
job it would be to swear in that many people at the one polling
station. At the close of the polling station, and as the ballots
were being counted, grand things began to happen outside the
hall.
A local orchestra[,] “The Highstrutters”, had borrowed a truck
from Geraldton Transport and a piano from Gordon Rice, the
friendly undertaker . The orchestra entertained the people who
gathered outside the polling station to await the results. Al-
though they did not have electric amplifiers, the sweet
music could be heard all around town.
Leonard Dreany, Town Clerk, ex-officio, announced the results.
Foster Draper, Mayor[,] with 428 votes; Major [MacConnell][, runner up,]
245 votes. Elected to Council were Fred Burn, Ernie [Correll], Gordon
Kemp, Leon Scher, Gerry [Reeves], and Dan Wells. All the successful
candidates , and some of the unsuccessful[,] thanked the voters
and all fell in behind the truck and orchestra to proceed
along Mine Road to the dance at Dreamland Dance Hall (where
the Royal Bank is now)[.]
Leonard Dreany (Town Clerk ex-officio) was taking the ballot
boxes to an office for [safekeeping][. He] was handed a copy of
Geraldton Daily Times with a full report of the election results.
The paper was for sale on the street only 4 minutes after the
announcement of the results. It is doubtful if this record has
ever been equalled, and there is still a mystery as to how
this was accomplished.
0ne unsuccessful candidate, who thought he was running in the
election, but, had not been nominated, wanted to have the election
declared nul and void. J. Gladstone Feathersby, called a
special conference, which was attended by 3 spectators and 3
reporters[, one] from each daily newspaper.
His reasons for complaining were, his name was not on the
ballot, he had written his own name on the ballot issued to him
and it was declared spoiled[, he] had not [received] written notice
from the returning officer that he had not been elected[, his]agent
was not permitted to attend the ballot counting in the
polling station[, the] constable on duty had accepted a cigar ,
which could be [interpreted] as bribery[, he] had been misinformed
as to the time of the election, which he had thought would be in
October[and this] did not allow him to get his election campaign in
full gear[, The] Geraldton Daily Times had cut off his free publicity
on Election Day[, the] CNR had moved his election headquarters,
namely box car number 0034569, the night before the election and
interrupted his last minute campaign plans. All these complaints were
taken with a grain of salt, and tongue in cheek, and then ignored.
Most candidates conducted clean campaigns, John Blozievsky
was an exception. He did not hesitate to call upon modesty and
religion to support his campaign; nor did he hesitate to
insult his opponents and made [references] to The Good Book to
cast [aspersions] on them. ” If I say I am a good and honest man,
I am the biggest liar,” he said. Then quoting the Bible he
pronounced ” My Bible says there are none do it good , no, not
one”. (Psalms 53-3) This sent the folks home to read the Bible[.]
Barber John was not elected.
The early town records of Council meetings reveal that John
Blozievsky was a thorn in the side of Council. He attended many
Council meetings and tried to embarrass members of Council.
There have been many elections held in Geraldton for Municipal],]
Provincial and Federal Office, but none so colourful as the
first Election in September 1937[,] which really started the
saying “The Geraldton Way.”
The first meeting of the First Geraldton Town Council was
held on September 28,1937, in the Recreation Hall. Mayor Foster
Draper in his inaugural address mentioned as priorities By-Laws
to control traffic, parking, policing, and employment policies
necessary to govern the community.
A Key to the town was presented to Mayor Draper by Robert Bell
on behalf of the mine officials of the district. The Key was placed
in [safekeeping] by Mayor Draper. It is thought that the
Key later turned up as part of the [handcrafted] Mayor’s Chain of
Office , and is now in the possession of the Draper Family.
Citizens of Geraldton speaking to Council that eventful evening
were A.C. Swartz[sic], lawyer; Mac Hurtig[sic], hotel operator; Harry Fisher,
reporter. The group presented a bouquet of flowers to Mayor
Draper for Mrs. Draper[,] who was confined to the maternity ward
of the hospital.
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