In this episode we look at the life and times of John Rutherford Creelman, Chief Constable of Collingwood from 1874 to 1876. A man trapped in a tough job (and some ridiculous situations) made even more difficult because of his personal failings. We'll cover his run-in with a church camp and how a local businesswoman escaped his clutches on the train to Barrie. We also dig a little deeper into early policing in the Town of Collingwood and encourage our listeners to explore more of this same history through a couple of wonderful resources available in our gift shop.

Episode Picture:

“Billy Club and Police Badge” [from the Collingwood Museum Collection items 2010.22.1 and 999.52.1]

Research:

Cotton, Larry. Whiskey and Wickedness, vol. 4, Town of Collingwood, Angus, Stayner, Creemore, Wasaga Beach and Clearview Township, Ontario 1830 to 1900. (Deep River: Larry D. Cotton Associates Limited, 2005), 106-110.