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Mayme Pritchard: A Lifetime of Music Flows from her Fingers

The Post, December 23, 1992

Mayme Pritchard of Alcove, Quebec, has played about 9,000 hymns for various church congregations during her 75-year career. And that number keeps growing as Mayme, now 90, continues to pump out the music as organist at the Alcove United Church's Sunday services. Her music career spans nine decades, and has taken her into three different churches throughout the Gatineau Valley, and from the days of pump organs to the age of the electric keyboard.

Mayme was christened Mary Rebecca Woods in 1903. But her father said Mary was far too serious a name for a little baby, so she became Mayme, a name that stuck.

Mayme Pritchard
Mayme Pritchard with husband Bob and children, Lois and Ronnie, 1935. Photo: GVHS-IB 02373-005

Strange as it sounds, Mayme's early interest in music was awakened because her father chewed tobacco. He would send her to Hamilton's store, down the road from the family farm, to pick up a plug for him. The happy, little seven-year old would accept the storeowner's invitation to drop into the parlor to play at playing the old pump organ. "I did enjoy making noise," she quipped.

In 1915, at the age of 12, her father bought her a piano and arranged for music lessons with a neighbour, Luella Mitchell. Two years of lessons were enough to encourage her parents to send her, once a week, to the Conservatory of Music in Ottawa.

Mayme well remembers going to the city by train, and for the first few times being met by an aunt who would take her to the Conservatory at the corner of Bay and Albert streets.

"After I got to know the way, I could get there by myself. The fee was $10 a term, and the student train pass cost $10, too. It must have been a great effort for my parents. But I think that there was a special rate at the Conservatory for students from the country," Mayme said during our delightful chat.

At the tender age of 14, during the height of the First World War, Mayme accepted her first job, playing the organ at Holy Trinity Church in Lascelles, and she never looked back.

At 17, the enterprising young woman started her own music school in Kazabazua, travelling weekly by train for three years, to teach her 14 students. She also recalls holding classes for a year at Kirk's Ferry. In 1960 she would again return to Kazabazua to teach classes in the village.

Mayme Pritchard
Mayme Pritchard, 1992. Photo: Ernie Mahoney

In 1925, church union brought together Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists, and also had a significant impact on Mayme's life. She became the organist for the Rupert United Church, but only after the Anglican and Presbyterian ministers got together to change the time of their respective services so their two churches could share her playing.

"I played at the Anglican church in Lascelles in the afternoon, after playing at the Presbyterian church in the morning. This went on from 1925 until I was married in 1927," she said.

The ever-smiling Mayme was herself quite ecumenical. "I was brought up a Methodist, played in the Anglican church, married Robert Pritchard, a Presbyterian, and became United," she joked.

In the 1930s and 1940s Mayme raised a family. She recalls with fondness those early days in the Gatineau Hills.

"we went about in a horse and buggy, or a cutter. We always had a driving horse. It wasn't until later that we bought a car from my cousin, Ira Woods, who had a garage in Alcove, where Ryan's is today. The dances at the Alcove Community Hall, right over the river, were fun, too. You know, it's sometimes easier to remember things back many years ago, than what happened yesterday," she added, laughing. Mayme sat back at the organ bench after she and her husband moved from the farm to Alcove in 1952. She remembers sharing duties with Mrs. Chillcott, then organist at the Alcove United church. "She would play the hymns and I would play the anthems. This went on until she died and I became the organist," Mayme said.

In 1976 Mayme returned, once again, to play the organ at Rupert. She retired in 1990, some 65 years after her first appointment as organist at that church. But she still carries on her duties at the Alcove church, almost next door to her cosy riverside home.

Although she can't remember just how many ministers she has served with. "They come and they go," she said.

Mayme Pritchard
Alcove United Church was built in 1888 as a Methodist church. Photo: Ernie Mahoney

Mayme does remember three different hymn books during her lifetime. "I started with the Methodist's, then it changed during Union, and it changed again three years ago. But the changes are mostly for the better. The hymns are now in a lower key to make it easier to sing. Some of the older people find the hymn book too heavy to hold," she added.

Mayme noted that she didn't have too much trouble switching from the old pump-organ to the modern electric organs in the churches at Rupert and Alcove. "The pedals took a bit of getting used to. There aren't many on the small organs we have now. But the sound was better on the old pumporgans," she said. Of course, Mayme still plays her beloved piano every day, and her grandchildren are her pupils.

While a reporter took photographs, Mayme played the grand, old tune "Shadow Time" on her beautiful Nordheimer upright. "You know, this was my father's favourite piece. He would always ask me to play it for him when he came in the house and had a little time to sit," she said.

Becoming reflective, Mayme noted that her entire life has been devoted to her church and her music. Even an implant to cure a cataract condition hasn't slowed her down too much. Although she recalls missing a couple of notes during the Easter service, which vexed her greatly, she has little trouble playing.

"Some people say that I should retire, but you know, I may be a little shaky when I get up in the morning, but when I get over to the organ I'm just fine," she said, with her charming smile.

"It's something to look forward to when you are old. I so look forward to Sunday. I suspect it grows on you over the years. Of course, you get more sure of yourself, too.

"I am certainly glad that I have been told that I should continue to play as long as I am able," she confided.


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