Have you heard of Reg and Mentie DuVal? - Glimpses of the Past with Karen Webster

Some of the readers of this column may already be aware of a most remarkable couple who made Wingham their home for several decades. For the rest of the readers, please make your acquaintance with Reg and Mentie DuVal.

 

Formentie (Mentie) Elizabeth Reid, the daughter of John Reid and Emily Stapleton, was born on Aug. 22, 1903 in Wingham. Although it is no longer known why, Mentie, as a young child, went to live with Henry and Formentie Allen and, in census reports, is recorded as their adopted daughter, even though her parents were still living. Mentie achieved average marks at school, as reported in the local newspaper, and was a successful piano student, passing the Ontario Conservatory exams. Her chosen career was that of a doctor of chiropractic and she headed to Toronto to be among the earliest students to attend the Canadian Chiropractic College. In the Wingham Advance newspaper in March of 1923, it was reported that Dr. Mentie Reid Allen had returned from Toronto where she was engaged in further studies at the Canadian Chiropractic College.

 

At that time, chiropractic care was in an emerging stage. Anyone who wished to pursue this career line had to move to the United States for instruction. In fact, in 1907, Almeda Haldeman of Saskatchewan, is believed to be the first chiropractor to practise in Canada. Dr. Ernst Duval, originally from Quebec and Hamilton, was teaching in Davenport, Iowa, when he was selected to be the first leader of the Canadian Chiropractic College in Hamilton in 1914, and then in Toronto in 1919. Not only did Ernst’s two sons, Reg and Robert, also teach there, but his wife and nine other family members were also engaged in the field.

 

So it was here around 1920 that Mentie met her future husband, Reg DuVal. He had been born in Hamilton in 1898 and enlisted in the army there in October of 1918, listing his occupations as shipper, clerk and motorcyclist. He was one of the 4,192 soldiers in the Canadian Siberian Expeditionary Force who were sent to Vladivostok, Russia in October of 1918. Their mission was mostly to protect the Allies’ military stockpiles there, policing and drills and also to facilitate the safe removal of the Czechoslovak Army that was trapped between the Bolsheviks and the White Russian Army. 

 

Upon Reg’s return home in 1919, he undertook studies in the Chicago National College before enrolling in the Canadian Chiropractic College in Toronto, from which he graduated in 1921. 

 

Reg and Mentie were wed in December of 1923 in a lavish affair in Wingham before heading to Ashtibula, Ohio, where the groom was in practice. The following year, they settled in Wingham, where both doctors set up their chiropractic practice using several locations in downtown Wingham before Reg established an office in their home on the B Line.

 

As well as being a chiropractor, Reg was a fox and mink breeder. In 1937, he attended a veterinarian short course in Guelph and, as well, attended a meeting of the Fur Farmers of Ontario. In the Fur Farmers of Ontario Directory of 1952, he advertised Wingham Fox Pearl Platinum, Mink Royal Pastels, Breath-of-Spring Pastels and several other hues of furs. One current Wingham resident remembers that Mentie usually wore a fox fur collar, which was unusual at the time, as that was a luxury few in Wingham could afford. Both Duvals were avid hockey fans and often walked to and from their home on the B Line to the arena on Victoria Street to cheer on the home team. Reg was a golfer both at the Alps and the Wingham Golf Courses. In addition, he enjoyed bowling, curling and was an avid bridge player.

 

Mentie DuVal was a woman with many hobbies, one of which was lawn bowling. In her honour, for a number of years, the lawn bowlers held a Mentie Duval Memorial Tournament. Golf and bridge were also some of her pastimes, but the one that secured her place in history was writing poetry. 

 

By 1947, some of her sacred poems had been set to music and were broadcast over national radio. In 1952, she was feted in Ottawa by the Canadian Authors’ Association, where she gave readings of several of her poems and also was the guest of honour at a reception where many diplomatic dignitaries were present. Every year she had Christmas cards printed up that contained some of her poetry.

 

Leading up to Canada’s 100th year, there was a competition for a Centennial Hymn and Mentie’s poem, “Canadian Prayer”, was chosen. The music was composed by S. B. Hains. All throughout Canada in 1967, the stirring words of this Wingham poetess, sung by choirs such as the Carl Tapscott Singers and the St. Michaels’ Boys Choir of Toronto, helped celebrate 100 years of nationhood. The intention for the Centennial Hymn was that it would be available for any choir to use in helping celebrate Canada’s special year.

 

Canadian Prayer
“With humble hearts we thank Thee God, that Canada is free
O may we ever in Thy sight deserve our liberty.
Chorus: May we Canadians seek and find
Thy wisdom in our need
And strive for peace and not for power; the rights of all to heed, The rights of all to heed.”
And the words of Mentie’s poem are as relevant today as they were in 1967.