1917 McAlpine Gazetteer
Charles Samuel Chesley, the founder of the Chesley Artificial Limb Company was born at Granville, Annapolis County, on August 18, 1871. He was the only son of Phineas Lovett Chesley and Helen Theresa Croscup.
In January, 1911, C. S. Chesley established an Artificial Limb Business at Mount Denson, Hants County. As a young man, he had lost one of his own legs while working as a brakeman for the C.P.R. in Western Canada. He secured an American-made artificial limb, became interested in the limb business and for some years travelled for The True Artificial Co., Niagara Falls, N.Y. and later for The Boston Artificial Limb Co., Boston, Mass.
The practice of these companies was to have the agent take the customer’s measurements and send them to the factory, at the same time making a large down payment. On completion, the leg or arm was mailed to the buyer C.O.D. so he was buying “a pig in a poke“. Like artificial teeth, artificial limbs often need slight adjustments before a good fit is obtained. In many cases a customer paid good money for something that was too uncomfortable to wear. Since Mr. Chesley wore an artificial limb himself, he well understood the difficulties. As he had worked in a limb factory for awhile and was naturally creative, he thought that he could build a better limb and one that would give more satisfaction. By using wood instead of metal he could lighten the weight and could also make other improvements.
With little money and while living in a rented house in Mount Denson he started to build his own make of limb. It was an uphill struggle but the venture succeeded. Mr. Chesley would not ship limbs to people. He travelled and took orders and measurements but insisted that the patients come for proper fitting when the limb was almost completed. This resulted in Mrs. Chesley boarding the customers as there was no hotel or boarding house in the village. Often the board was thrown in as part of the price of the limb. Most patients learned to walk normally with no limp.
Because railroad and post office facilities were not convenient in Mount Denson, it was decided to move to Hantsport. In 1913, a store at the corner of Prince and Main Streets was purchased. The limb factory was established on the ground floor while Mr. Chesley and family lived in the apartment above.
According to an advertisement in McAlpine’s Nova Scotia Directory 1914 ” My guarantee of satisfaction absolutely insures your Limb for five Years. Best of reference from financial institutions, leading physicians and wearers. Repairs on all makes of legs promptly and efficiently done. I build the most improved and up-to-date appliances to be found in the world. My limbs are modelled on the Anatomical Lines of the patient. All kinds of elastic and non-elastic webbing stump socks and supplies of all kinds in stock. Expert fitters and makers of all kinds of deformity appliances, Splints, and Orthopedic Appliances, Obesity Belts, Abdominal Supports and Trusses. Artificial Arms and Hands a Speciality.”
In 1915, the large house next door was put up for sale. It was an excellent opportunity to secure a boarding house near the factory so it was purchased. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Burgess rented the house and agreed to board the patients. This went on for some years but Mrs. Burgess found the boarding house too much to cope with. Mr. Burgess bought the adjoining property and ran a livery stable and trucking business. After that the Chesleys moved into the house and Mrs. Chesley, with help, boarded the patients and factory help for many years.
Charles Chesley was married in 1907 to Nancy Charters of Fredericton, New Brunswick and they had one daughter, Eleanor Moore Lovett Chesley. The family can be found in the 1921 Census of Canada living on Main Street in Hantsport together with four “lodgers”. Two of the four are identified as limb makers and thus employees; Robert Paoli Veino age 28 and Bernice Grace Bennett age 26.
At one time in the twenties, three men and two women were employed. The women ran the knitting machines to make woollen stump socks to wear under the limbs. The men who were employed were always ones who had lost either one or both legs. Robert Veino, Walter Shanks, Steve MacLean, Jack Morrisey each wore one artificial leg while Roy Hudson wore two.
As the years passed, many people came on crutches and went away walking. They ranged in age from four to over seventy or even eighty. Many were cheered to know of so many other people with a similar affliction. It is seldom that there is more than one person in a community who has lost a leg or an arm and it seems that such a calamity is the end of everything for the victim. Seeing others get around well gave them great hope.
There were many interesting cases. One little boy of four, Vernon Marsh of Economy, had his leg taken off by a mowing machine. A little girl, Ruby Oxner, lost both of hers in the same way. As the children grew, pieces were set in the little legs to lengthen them and when this no longer worked a new limb had to be made. Children do not have trouble adjusting to an artificial leg as they are not as afraid of falling as an adult. Also it is in their nature to be as active as possible.
One remarkable case was that of Fred Porter who was born with deformities in both legs below the knee. This prevented him from walking upright and he had to go around on his knees which he protected with heavy pads. When he was well over thirty years old he wished to marry and the lady accepted on condition that he would be able to walk upright like other people. He had his own tiny lower limbs amputated and came to Hantsport to be fitted with artificial limbs. It was a wonderful thing for him when he stood up for the first time. It took a great deal of courage but he persevered and walked on two artificial limbs for the rest of his life. For some years he ran a grocery store in the building now owned by Mr. Dougue.
Another strange case was that of Venie Casey. She had both legs frozen while trying to walk home in a blizzard. She was brought to Hantsport by two nuns. Their black and white habits created quite a stir in the little town. This girl was well fitted, could walk anywhere and later married and raised a family.
One of the first patients was deaf and dumb. She had been run over by a tram car while on her way to work in a clothing factory in Halifax. She lost both legs and the company for which she worked paid for artificial limbs for her.
One of the victims of the Halifax Explosion was Roy Hudson who was working in the Dockyard at the time. He was blown up into the air and as a result of injuries lost both legs. He was only nineteen and he soon learned to walk and run and even skate.
These are only a few cases of the many. Demand for artificial arms was not as great but quite a number were made. Some people wanted them mostly for looks but others made good use of the tools with which they could be fitted. Splints or metal supports were made for a number of Polio victims. One of these, a little boy from Halifax, Henry Murphy, boarded with the Chesleys for several years. His expenses were paid by Mr. Wm. Dennis owner of the Halifax Herald after he found Henry selling papers on the street.
George Chornier, a boy from Sydney, who had lost both legs was also boarded at the same time. Both boys went to school in town and were always well treated by the local boys.
Some of the materials used in building the Chesley Limb were willow-wood which is light and tough, leather for the top corset of below-the-knee legs steel for the joints which were made in the factory at first, webbing for the harness used to hold the leg on and in place, also buckles, eyelets, knee cords, felt for the toes of the feet and rawhide which was used to cover and protect the wood.
The depression of thirties dealt a severe blow to the limb business. The factory was moved upstairs and Mr. Veino, who had been with the business for twenty years, found other employment. Mr. Chesley continued his business until 1949 when illness made it impossible to continue. He suffered a number of strokes and after an illness of seven years died in 1956 at the age of 83.
He had never been able to find a successor so the business died with him. His services were missed by many who were friends as well as patients and customers.
Sources:
HHS Collection, typed manuscript, “The Chesley Artificial Limb Company”
History of Nova Scotia Vol. 3 p.633
1917 McAlpine Gazetteer of Nova Scotia
Tide & Timber, Hantsport, Nova Scotia 1795-1995 by Allen B. Robertson
1921 Census of Canada, Polling District No 16, Hants, Nova Scotia; Page Number: 2