Archie H. McCuaig,
Missing since May 1908
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From The Glengarry News, Thursday February 7th, 1957, pg. 1, col.1,2 with photo MAN'S DISAPPEARANCE IN ALEXANDRIA 48 YEARS AGO STILL A MYSTERY
The mysterious disappearance of Maxville's reeve, W. A. MacEwen , at Cornwall, January 21st, recalls a like occurrence of nearly 50 years ago that occurred here in Alexandria.
copied Jan 31.98 AWF
Hello;
You may contact Mr. McCuaig directly at his Dalhousie Station
Address as above or through me with any information you might be willing to
pass on.
If you have any questions I will try to answer them.
The above letter was sent by e-mail to the Val d'or public Library;
Rouyn Noranda Public Library; The Quebec Family History Society, Pointe Clair, Quebec; with no results.
There was a rumor that This Archie McCuaig worked for Siscoe Mines which I found out in October '97 from the Kirkland Lake Museum, that, that mine operated in the Kirkland Lake, Ontario area prior to 1950.
Mr. Ian McCuaig of Cote St. Patrick, Quebec is a grand nephew of this Archie H. McCuaig and if possible wishes to learn more about the whereabout of this Archibald H. McCuaig, whose whereabouts is a total mystery.
MAY JESUS AND MARY ALWAYS BE PRAISED
Any Comments to Alex W. Fraser
created January 31, 1998
A prominent resident of Peveril, Que., in the Ste. Justine area, A. H. McCuaig, 29, drove to Ste. Justine on Saturday, May 2nd, 1908, boarded the train for Alexandria, spent the balance of the day in town and was never seen again, According to our local historian, Clarence Ostrom, the mystery of Mr. McCuaig's disappearance was never solved.
News' fliers of 1908 recall that his brother, J. H. McCuaig, of Peveril, became alarmed when he failed to return home and started a search for the missing man. Police at Montreal and Ottawa were asked to be on the lookout for him; the help of local agents along the railroad line was enlisted. Fearing the man might have fallen off the train while en route home, friends followed the railway tracks from Ste. Justine to Alexandria.
Later in the week a group of his friends came to town, had an interview with Police Chief A. P. McDonald and then proceeded to make a thorough but vain search of the town and surrounding district.
Rumors were prevalent in those days, too, and one that gained currency was to the effect Mr. McCuaig had been knocked over the head and dumped into the town standpipe. It was not made clear how the murderer could have carried the body up the steep side of the 100 foot water tank, but so persistent was the story that town officials emptied the standpipe.
That was not he solution, and Mr. McCuaig's disappearance 48 years ago still remains a mystery, as far as we know.
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Jun 9, 1997
I have just had a request from an Ian McCuaig, Dalhousie Station
Quebec J0P 1GO -1-514-764-3464 who is looking for an Archibald McCuaig
born 1870 April 13, at Newton Quebec, baptised Cote St. George Quebec
son of Ewen and Christina McCuaig. This baptism is from my work on
Cote St. George 1990. In 1908 Archie disappeared while on a trip to
Alexandria, Ontario from his home in Pervil, Quebec and was never
heard from again.
In the 1930's a John McLeod from the 8th of Lancaster township
Glengarry County was working in the mines in the Val D'or Rouyn area
of Quebec and met this Archie on the street, recognize him, asked
where he was from and was told Pervil, ask to meet him later but
Archie never showed up and that is the last known spot where Archie
was seen.
On checking out for historical and genealogical groups in
Quebec on the Internet I find no reference that I recognize dealing
with the Val D'or/Rouyn/Noranda Quebec area. Neither did I notice
anything in the Canadian Genealogy Resources page.
My question is are you aware of the names and address of Any
newspapers in this area that a letter can be written to ask for
information on this Archie McCuaig. It is believed that this Archie
could have lived into the 1950's, thus if he lived in the Val
D'or/Rouyn/Noranda area some people may still remember him. Can you
provide Mr. McCuaig with any suggestions on how to proceed. Likewise
the names and address for Historical or Genealogical Societies in this
area that he may contact.
Ian McCuaig is updating his family history and wishes to find out
more about this lost Archie.
Thank you for your help in this matter.
Yours Truly
Alex. W. Fraser
Pray The Rosary For Peace!
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