On September 8^th 2023, the Town of Smooth Rock Falls and Beautification Committee volunteers recognized Mr. Leo Marchand for the Putt Putt Speedster that was donated to the Mattagami 100 Project.

A big special thank you Mayor Patrick Roberts and Al Everett for your countless hours working on this special recognition project for Mr. Marchand, your dedication for this initiative is admirable.

Another special thank you to Wayne McGee on the execution of yet another beautiful sign for the plaque.

Thank you to local businesses for their contributions towards the project as well: ONR, Rolly’s Mechanical, S&R Sand Blasting, TJ & Ornamental & OPG, your generosity makes small communities like Smooth Rock Falls continue to thrive.

Thank you to NOHFC for allowing this project to be included in the Mattagami 100 funding project.

History of the putt putt speedster: 

This Putt-Putt Speedster was donated by Leo Marchand of Smooth Rock Falls. Speedsters were used for railway maintenance to carry workers back and forth to the main National Transcontinental Railroad main track. These Speedsters were mostly discontinued by the 1990s and replaced by pickup trucks with flanged wheels. Mr. Marchand was a train operator and drove the Putt-Putt Speedster while employed by Tembec Mill. The Mattagami Railroad which connected our town to the main National Transcontinental Railroad track at a length of approximatively 5.3 km.  This railway was the shortest standard gauge independent operation in North America. In the 1958 Photo you can see the steam from the Boiler above their heads. From L- R  are Hugo Mattiussi, Leo Marchand, Sam Colaiezzi, Les Shores and Rudy Bednarz.