Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 48 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
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Municipal Secretary-Treasurer
The first Secretary-Treasurer of the Municipal Council of the West Part of the Township of Hull in the County and District of Ottawa, in the old days simply called West Hull Municipality, known now, even more simply at the Chelsea Municipality; was D. Tréau de Coeli, who served in that capacity from 1 March 1875 to 16 January 1900, just short of 25 years.`
Désiré Louis Gustave Tréau de Coeli (1843-1914) is shown in a photo, about 1870, with his three brothers, Edmond, Louis Marie Jules and Emile emigrated to Canada from Belgium.
Another photo, taken in 1905, shows the former Secretary-Treasurer with added years and weight. He is wearing a dark hat and a dark overcoat, into the pockets of which his hands are thrust. Behind him there appears to be a pair of doors each clad with iron grillwork. Upon one of the doors is a white placard with the words CANADA GOVERNMENT CANADIEN. At the bottom is D. Tréau de Coeli. Does this imply that the gentleman had switched his employment to that of diplomacy?
Oh yes, the municipal council of 1894 (the years shown on a copy of the minutes accompanying the photographs) was then meeting in their town (municipal) hall at Upper Chelsea - not then known as Old Chelsea.