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That time the Sault partied so hard, it left the mayor bedridden

This edition of Remember This looks back on the trials and tribulations of hosting Wolf Week. Also, we find out what happens when you transport a moose calf in the back of your car
2001.8-P37
Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archive photo

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

In a previous Remember This column, Wolf Week was profiled — the brainchild of James W. Curran that saw approximately 10,000 people attend a festival dedicated to the animal in July of 1932. But Wolf Week was also a source of great stress for its organizers.

Running an event of that size was no small feat. The festivities included a performance of the play Hiawatha, a barbecue, a five-mile swim, a “Sweet Adeline” singing competition, and more. There was even a mock invasion of Canada by United States troops for the purposes of replacing a stolen British flag by order of Franklin D. Roosevelt, then-governor of New York and presidential candidate.

With an event of that size, there were plenty of things that could go wrong — and go wrong they did. In fact, a Globe article from 1932 described the organizing committee as being “on the verge of nervous prostration” leading up to Wolf Week.

For starters, the presence of moose at the event proved to be a challenge. While James Curran managed to drive a young bull moose to the city in the back seat of his car, this was no easy task. According to the newspapers, the moose weighed only 100 pounds and had become attached to humans after it had been abandoned by its mother. However, while it may have enjoyed domesticated life, it certainly did not enjoy the ride into town: at one point, around Blind River, the car nearly nose-dived right off of the roadway due to the moose’s escape attempts.

Unfortunately, there were also reports that one of the Wolf Week moose, feeling the worse for wear, passed out. Another moose, set to be shipped into town, simply wandered away in advance of his travel arrangements!

Another unexpected headache came in the form of beavers. The beaver colony that organizers hoped to bring in became unexpectedly unavailable, leaving organizers in a jam.

Even the wolves, the stars of the event, caused some trouble. Despite the best efforts of the committee, several of the captive wolves died in advance of the event.  And just days before Wolf Week began, a large timber wolf was seen in the Pine Street area, sparking a hunt — perhaps not the most encouraging sight before a festival meant to celebrate the animal.

Some attendees also proved to be a problem —  especially as they rehearsed for the singing competition, which consisted of groups of five performing “Sweet Adeline” under prescribed lamp posts. A tongue-in-cheek article in the Globe suggested that the singing was “ominous” and “[seemed] to be developing into a matter for the police.” In Hamilton, in particular, one team preparing to travel to the Sault for the competition caused a stir: listeners were so unimpressed with the practicing that the authorities were notified, and late-night rehearsals were banned.

Even the aftermath of the event was not without its challenges. Mayor James Lyons, one of the organizers, found himself bedridden and unable to take visitors for a period immediately following Wolf Week. He attributed the illness to the strain of political life as well as the demands placed on him during the celebration.

Despite the stress, however, the event was heralded as a large success. The Globe declared that James Curran should be congratulated — “if he has survived.”

Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here


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