Arthur Schmon fonds, 1909-1973
A majority of the fonds includes hundreds of letters written by Arthur Schmon's fiancée, Celeste Reynolds, to Arthur while he was serving in France during the War. Many other records relate to the efforts of the United States Army during the War.
Arthur Albert Schmon was born in 1895 in Newark, New Jersey. He studied English literature at Princeton and graduated with honours in 1917. That same year, Mr. Schmon joined the United States Army where he served under Colonel McCormick as an adjutant in field artillery in World War I. In 1919, he was discharged as a captain. Colonel McCormick (editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune) offered Schmon a job in his Shelter Bay pulpwood operations. Mr. Schmon accepted the challenge of working at this lonely outpost on the lower St. Lawrence River. Schmon was promoted to Woodlands Manager in 1923. In 1930, he became the General Manager. This was expected to be a seasonal operation, but the construction of the mill led to the building of a town (Baie Comeau) and its power development. All of this was accomplished under Schmon’s leadership.
In 1933, he was elected the President and General Manager of the Ontario Paper Company. He later became the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Arthur Schmon made his home in St. Catharines, where he played an active role in the community. Schmon was a member of the Founders’ Committee at Brock University and he was a primary force behind the establishment of a University in the Niagara Region. The Brock University Tower is named after him. He also served as Chairman of the St. Catharines Hospital Board of Governors for over 15 years and was responsible for guiding the hospital through a $ 3 million expansion program. He was a Governor of Ridley College and an Honorary Governor of McMaster University in Hamilton. Mr. Schmon died of lung cancer on March 18, 1964. Arthur Schmon made his home in St. Catharines where he played an active role in the community.
Some of the material from the collection has been digitized and is available in the Digital Repository.
Letter from E.C. Schmon to Arthur A. Schmon, 29 April 1919
Arthur's fiancé Celeste tries to lift his spirits with this letter. She writes that she knows it is difficult to see so many others coming home when he must remain, but she is certain he will be home shortly. She signs it "Wifie to be".
General Orders, 28 February 1919
A letter from General John J. Pershing to his "fellow soldiers" as service comes to an end. He thanks the soldiers for their "splendid service to the army and to the nation".
First Field Artillery Brigade Observer, 1 July 1918
The report mentions that General Pershing presented Distinguished Service Crosses to soldiers in the First Field Artillery Brigade. It also describes a Sergeant and 3 men finding an enemy soldier asleep with a machine gun. They brought him back to the American lines.
