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Relief carving of Mallard Drake by Doug Austin of Deep River Ontario. Carved in 1983

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Relief carving of Mallard Drake by Doug Austin
1983
Deep River, Ontario

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Relief carving of Mallard hen by Doug Austin of Deep River Ontario. Carved in 1984

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Relief carving of Mallard hen by Doug Austin
1984
Deep River, Ontario

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Evening Grossbeak carved by Doug Austin of Deep River Ontario inthe 1980's

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Evening Grossbeak carved by Doug Austin
1980's
Deep River, Ontario

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"The World's Smallest Orchestra" carved by Sam Gauthier of Pembroke Ontario in 1930. Photo courtesy of Champlain Trail Museum, Pembroke Ontario

By EVA JANSEN
Staff Writer - Pembroke Observer
After touring several cities in Ontario for a half a century, the world's smallest orchestra is finally back in Pembroke and offering what is surely the most wooden and unmusical performance ever given by a six-piece band. But it may not be long before people flock to see, if not exactly hear, the famous sextet that now lounges in the salon of the Champlain Trail Museum.
Strumming, tapping, and swaying away are two dancers, an emcee, a banjo player, drummer, and pianist-all fashioned out of wood and operated through the turning of a hand crank.
"I think the proper terminology for it is a really unique piece of folk-art," museum curator Barbara Otty said. "We've seen two sets of kids today who were mesmerized."
Until Saturday, the contraption belonged to Lionel Gauthier and his siblings, formerly of Pembroke. Mr. Gauthier, who now lives in Timmins, said his father's 1930 creation should no longer rest with him or his relatives.
"Our family has all seen it, and it was sitting in storage in the garage," he said. "What better than to see people who lived in that era to come and see it? People will be able to reminisce."
Mr. Gauthier's father, Sam. Took four years to finish the toy orchestra, which he began when he couldn't find work as a carpenter. Using scrap wood, shoelaces, and haywire, he was able to build at no expense.
The orchestra became a show-piece at local fairs and picnics, where adults paid a quarter and children a nickel each to turn the wheel and watch the figurines jiggle. Lionel, who was eight when the piece was completed, said he enjoyed touting his father's accomplishment. He too was talented at woodwork, but, fearing another economic depression, chose a more stable job as a letter carrier. In1936, the orchestra moved with the family to Timmins, where Lionel still lives, and later to Windsor with other family members where it survived a fire. Lionel said his father, who eventually found other types of work in several communities, continued carpentry as a hobby, but never produced another masterpiece. Although Pembroke is no longer his home, Lionel explained that the orchestra originated here and ultimately belongs in the city museum. And although most of his 10 grandchildren haven't yet seen the piece, Lionel pointed out, "If they want to see it, they can come to Pembroke."

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World's smallest Orchestra carved by Sam Gauthier
1930
Pembroke, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Champlain Trail Museum, Pembroke, Ont.
Pembroke Observer

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Janet Ryan (nee Proulx) was born and brought up in Timmins, Ontario. She attended North Bay Teachers College (Normal School) in the early 1950's, married Jack Ryan and subsequently moved to Chalk River. While Janet carried on her teaching career mainly at Lady of Sorrows School in Petawawa she & Jack raised two daughters and built Ryan's Campsite at Point Alexander where
they made their home.

After retirement from teaching in the late 1980's, Janet, always a very creative person, embarked on an artistic career. She created stained glass works of art and took up Chain Saw carving. She sold some carvings at The Octagon Gallery in Calabogie and gifted many pieces to her family and friends.

Janet's career was prematurely cut short due to cancer in 1994.

Submitted by

Erma Wesanko
R.R#1
Deep River, Ontario

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Business card of Janet Ryan
1984
Deep River, Ontario

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4 foot "Tiki" garden decoration carved by Janet Ryan of Deep River Ontario in 1990

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4 foot "Tiki" garden decoration carved by Janet Ryan
1990
Deep River, Ontario

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Indoor display of "Tiki" carving by Janet Ryan of Deep River Ontario in the late 1980's.

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Indoor display of "Tiki" carving by Janet Ryan
1980's
Deep River, Ontario