The Tunis area was also known as Holland and Devonshire. The name Tunis was given to the area to Honour Lord Alexander Governor General of Canada for his victories in North Africa during the second world War. Many trips were made by this location on the train and highway but I never had the opportunity to vist St. Christopher's as it was known. Father Vezina was the Redemptorist priest from Quebec who had the monastery and church built between 1943 and 1945. A bell was obtained for the church steeple and rang out on October 13, 1946. It was a unique bell as it was solid bronze and across the hip was inscribed LEROYER FONDEUR a PARIS 1855. How did it happen to end up in Canada ? The bell stopped ringing in July 1970. Maybe on a still night echoes from the past may heard across the black spuce tress in the area.

I have pictures of the church if you want to post them.

I have visited Tunis on many occasions since my Grandparents Eugene and Alberta Cloutier owned and operated a small general store and post-office located next to the Church on Highway 11. The Church which was named L'Eglise due Christe le Roi and was built on a large track of land which was donated by my grandparents for the purpose of building a church for the community which was largely francophone at that time. My grandfather Eugene Cloutier was a jober who had camps and employed as many as 100 men to cut wood and sell it to the paper mill in Iroquois Falls. Next to the Church, a Grotto was built and housed the Virgin Mary where mass was said in the summer months. Cottagers came from all over the district to attend Sunday mass. The Church was known for its weekly bingo and a bus of players would come from Iroquois Falls. I recall seeing the church bell when it was taken down after the sale of the church. I also believe the bell had a slight crack in it. I was later told that it might have gone to the local Catholic Church in Iroquois Falls (Ansonville) although I have not confirmed this fact. There were numerous homes and farms in the area covering Tunis, Devonshire, Holland and Potter. Family names such as Bertrand, Gervais, Cloutier, Rondeau, Morrissette, St. Jacques only to name a few, were common names in the area. The train tracks followed Highway 11 and would drop off the mail on a daily basis. The outgoing mail was sacked and hung on a big hook by the tracks, the train worker would use a long pick and would sweep it into the train while the train was moving at full speed. The incoming mail was then thrown off the train in a large sac. I recall helping my grandfather on countless occasions to find the mail sacks by the side of the tracks and sometimes in the ditch. My family has a substantial collection of photographs from that area if anyone is interested in posting them.

Hi Collette Grant of Barrie Would appreciate seeing your collection of photos.If possible to use in future stories of the area. I am willing to cover reasonable costs of copying and mailing. You will notice my first story on this page Lorne. PS PLease provide any information on the photos also.