Jerome: the caretaker

Inside the Caretaker’s Cabin
The Kitchen (Photo by Jack1962 Copyright 2013)

Jerome Cascanette was the caretaker of WILLEBEJOBE. He was French Canadian. He lived in the caretaker’s cabin northeast of the main cabin.

I went to visit Jerome at his cabin one evening and sat in the kitchen. It may have been at this very table shown in the picture. It looks like one of those metal framed Formica tables from the 50s. Like the one in the picture it wasn’t very big. It didn’t need to be as he lived by himself and I don’t think entertained much.

That evening Jerome told me some jokes like, “How do you cook an egg in Coldwater? I answered, ” You can’t.” He replied, “You cook it the same way as in Wabaushene and MacTier; in hot water.” I laughed at his cornball joke/riddle; I was a kid, it was easy to do. As an adult, I would probably just groan. He appeared to like having kids and people around and was always talking, smiling and laughing about something.

I asked and he told me what happened to my brother, Jeff, on the boathouse dock earlier that day. He cracked up and I think it took every fiber of his being to get the story out without laughing hysterically…

Jerome Cascanette
Undated Photo
Photo courtesy of Tabitha Stapleton

Jerome was down at the boathouse doing some maintenance work. He was talking with Billy and Jeff. Jeff was talking, in an animated way (arms flying about according to Jerome) and at the same time walking backwards. Jerome told me he could see the whole thing unfolding and chose not to say anything or give any warning of what was about to happen. I don’t know if Billy was a witting or an unwitting co-conspirator or what but Jeff continued to talk and walk backwards until he took that last fateful step backwards off the dock and into the water. Laughing, Jerome said it was the funniest thing he’d ever seen. He just had to let it happen.

I wonder if it would have happened had I been on the dock that morning instead of in bed. Would I have warned Jeff? Would have Jerome winked at me signaling me to be quiet and let this happen? Maybe that’s what he did with Billy. We’ll never really know. In my mind’s eye and what I knew of Jerome’s jocular nature, he was going to let it play out and get a good laugh.

I asked Jerome what it was like to live there in the winter with no one around. He seemed to shrug it off and indicated he’d go to MacTier if he’d need anything. I couldn’t fathom just taking a walk in a snowy wood since I thought MacTier was way farther than it actually was and he had no vehicle. He said he just put on snowshoes and away he’d go. I wasn’t aware, at the time, he had a cabin at Conger Lake (he very well could have spent weeks there during the winter). Also, when I examined recent maps, I could see he could possibly hitch a ride along Healey Road. When looking at the maps, MacTier appears to be only 18 Kilometers (not insurmountable distance for a hike). Since there were logging operations in the area in the early 20th century, perhaps there were still roads he could use to travel. In retrospect, I guess going to MacTier on foot in the 50s and 60s was doable especially for someone who was a guide and knew the area. Perhaps he knew people in the area where he could stay on his journey to and from MacTier. Maybe he didn’t want to tell me everything just to add to his mystique. Let’s face it, I was 10 years old at the time and I wasn’t wise enough to ask the right questions.

The Workshop
This where the tools and tractor were kept.
It was where Jo found Jerome deceased on the first spring trip to WILLEBEJOBE in 1968.
(Photo by Jack1962 Copyright 2013)

You couldn’t help but like Jerome. He was good-natured, smiled and laughed. Although he kept to himself, when he was around people, he was quite affable. Usually, when Jo and Betty came home from Canada, I asked how Jerome was doing. Their usual response was that he was well but I was saddened and shocked when Jo told me that he’d found Jerome dead when they arrived to open up the cabin for the season in the spring of 1968…

They arrived at the dock. As usual, Jo sounded the cabin cruiser’s horn to let Jerome know they were there and that he should come down with the tractor and trailer to get the provisions. When Jerome hadn’t arrived after repeated attempts, Jo docked the JAHOMA and went in search of Jerome. He found Jerome in the workshop lying on the workbench having taken his own life. Jo said it was too late and proceeded to Pete’s Place to get help.

Jo did not indicate whether Jerome left a note but I could detect some anger in Jo’s voice. Looking back on this, I now understand those close to the suicide victim often show some anger.

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Edited and Updated November 11, September 9, 2013