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a # ' s 7 ‘ 12 . ~os KIPLING "THE LITTLE SCANDINAVIA OF ONTARIO ‘ The small community known as "Kipling" is located in (and around ) Hugel Township, District of Nipissing. The first settlers, Rosene‘s and Westine‘s came in 1893 from Europe and settled on the shores of Deer Lake. Within two years fifteen scandinavian families migrated from Sweden and Norway and located in Kipling. In the early 1890‘s the Canadian Government hired agents to go to Europe to encourage people to come to Canada. The offers of free land, abundant food, water and money grew on trees was the lure. The expression "skara guld med kniver" which literally meant "gold could be cut off with a knife" lured the immigrants. When the settlers arrived and found a total wilderness, and no golid they realized how they had been fooled by the silver tongued . agents. The agents had been paid but were not looked on with favour with the pioneers. HOW KIPLING GOT ITS NAME The community was growing and they wanted a Post Office and since Olaf Englund could read and speak English he was responsible for contacting the Government in Ottawa. Three names had to be submitted and they were Deer Lake, Hugel and Kipling. Kipling named for the famous writer\poet Rudyard Kipling popular at the . time and was known by the settlers. He even visited a family here so it was an appropriate entry. The Gove¥nment in Ottawa chose Kipling and the archive records show KIPLING POST OFFICE was established May 1, 1899 and closed on November 13, 1959. The first Postmaster was John Whelan and Amund Johnson at Johnson‘s General Store was the longest serving Postmaster from 1931 to 1957. He received his 25 year pin for faithful service. Father Charles Alfred Paradis was responsible about 1910 for getting the first road up from near Kirk and Verner to Bowmans corner and past Selins to the Sturgeon River. This was a great help to the people on the west side of the Hugel\Badgerow townships. The french settlers became a part of this scandinavian community and led to happy marriages. Father Paradis by all reports was well liked by the people of Kipling . and he enjoyed their hospitality on different occasions. (plaque at Vermer says Reverend Charles Alfred Paradis)?? The role of the Church in Kipling was a major uniting factor and was a meeting place that helped the pioneers endure the hardships and loneliness suffered since leaving their families and loved ‘ ones back in Sweden and Norway. Since there was no church building the early settles met in the, homes of the faithful for services in Scandinavian. After five years they decided to join in with other baptists across Ontario and Quebec and form an official church. In November of 1901 they ‘ appointed Albin Anderson as Pastor and minutes were recorded.