Not many things last for 100 years, but a historical plaque recently installed on St. Paul’s main street will help commemorate a local business for even more years to come.
Edmond Mailloux started the St. Paul Foundry in 1909, originally as a blacksmith shop. The business grew as the town grew, meeting the changing demands of the community.
Cecile Bielech, daughter to Edmond, celebrated her 89th birthday on Thursday morning but cutting a ceremonial ribbon in front of the plaque that recalls her family’s history in St. Paul.
When speaking to the Journal, she recalled many memories of growing up around the family business.
“It was a dirty job. My father always came home pretty dirty,” says Bielech, as she speaks about her father.
The business was originally established as a blacksmith shop, later becoming a welding and machine shop, and later yet adding plumbing, steam fitting, sheet metal work and gas fitting to its services.
Residents can thank the long-running business for a few modern comforts that are often taken for granted today. According to historical information, “The Foundry was instrumental in developing and piping natural gas into the area and laid most of the private lines for the modern water system.”
As the original shop grew older, a fire completely destroyed the building in 1945. Bielech says the issue of rebuilding in St. Paul did become political at times, but in the end, insurance and loans were accessed, and the business was rebuilt.
After the fire, Bielech recalls people running into the burning building, which housed a liquor store next to it, and taking liquor out of the building before it was completely destroyed.
“For days we could hear bottles pop,” says Bielech, who grew up just behind the Foundry site with her family. Over the years, the business would also go through the Great Depression, and even had contracts for war-related items during the Second World War.
Only six years after the fire ravaged the business, Bielech’s brother, who was known as Mac Mailloux, along with two other people from the community, died in a plane crash. Mac had been managing the business at the time.
Bielech described her brother as an “entrepreneur,” and said his loss was very hard on the Mailloux family.
“When he left, my father’s heart broke,” she says.
Gathered on the front sidewalk of the current Foundry last Thursday morning, stood a number of Mailloux family members, many wishing Bielech a happy birthday. Not far away stood those involved in making the historical plaque a reality.
“This is part of history,” says Town of St. Paul Mayor Glenn Andersen, as he stands near Bielech.
The plaque unveiled on Thursday is one of hopefully “many more,” says Champions for Change Chair Penny Fox. Work is already being done on the second planned plaque for downtown, which will stand in front of the original brick Legion building, in honour of the Legion’s long-standing involvement in the community.
“We’re telling the story of (the community),” says Fox, adding, it’s important to capture the history before it’s lost.
The idea for the plaques came from a trip fellow Champions for Change member Amil Shapka took to Campbell River, B.C. He brought the idea back to Alberta, and a partnership between the Town of St. Paul, Champions for Change, the local French Association (ACFA), and the museum allowed for the vision to become a reality.
Artist Herman Poulin, who is also involved with Champions for Change, designed the historical plaque. Fox says Poulin was able to bring his “artistic spirit” into the design. Future plaques will include the same back plate, which represents the lake and surrounding vegetation, but a special piece on the right hand side will be unique to each plaque.
The piece on the plaque in front of the Foundry features a blacksmith. The picture Poulin used for inspiration came from the St. Paul Museum, says Bielech. In the middle of the plaque is a story about the Foundry, along with a photo of Edmond Mailloux.
The metal work for the plaques has all been done locally, says Fox.
“It’s amazing to see the first one done,” she adds. “It’s heartwarming.”
