Ernest Belleau

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

Happenings Columns

​

Ernest "Ernie" Belleau began working on and and eventually founded Belleau Lake in the 1960s. 

 

Years ago - well into his retirement - Ernie wrote the "Happenings" column for a free weekly newspaper that was distributed in many local area shops and restaraunts. The newspaper is no longer in circulation; but we are fortunate to have copies of all of Ernie's columns thanks to BLPOA Members Carole Doughty (who had the forsight to save them) and to John Shaffer who digitized them so that we might be able to enjoy them in PDF format for years to come. 

 

Thank you Carole & John!

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

​"Happenings" 

​

​​​​​​

​

​

Obituary for Ernest Belleau - Foster's Daily Democrat

​

SALEM, Mass. —Salem lost one of its own Tuesday. Ernest R. Belleau, Jr. passed away at Grosvenor Park in Salem, Tuesday morning, Oct. 9, 2007, the day after his 92nd birthday.

​

Ernest "Ernie" was born and raised in Salem, Mass. He started his first business at 17, Belleau Metal Works, which specialized in steeple and church work throughout New England. When the times were not so good, there was always a job at Belleau Metal Works for family, friends and the community. He was a true entrepreneur. While running Belleau Metal Works, he also built many homes in Salem and the surrounding communities including Belleau Road, Desmond Terrace, Berube Road, and Bay View Circle, just to name a few.

He had a wonderful lodge on Great East Lake in Sanbornville, N.H., where family and friends would gather during the summer. It was at this time he found one of his greatest challenges. He pieced together over several years land which later became Belleau Lake in East Wakefield, N.H. He continued to develop the area the rest of his life. His great love of hunting and fishing took him all over the world; to the plains of Africa, the frigid Arctic Circle, the Amazon in South America to the shores of Australia filming and photographing his many expeditions along the way.

​

Ernest was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club, Richelieu Club of Salem, and the Masons. He was chairman of the Carroll County Republican Committee and wrote articles and stories for the weekly newspaper in Wakefield, where he made his home. He was also Ambassador to Quebec for the state of New Hampshire appointed by Gov. Melvin Thompson.

​

He is survived by his sons, George D. Belleau and wife, Veronica, of Gloucester, Mass., Ernest R. Belleau III and companion, June Dunleavy of Salem; a dear friend of many years, Barbara Harrison of Rochester, N.H.; his grandchildren, Ernest R. Belleau IV and wife, Jennifer, of Salem, Joseph Belleau and wife, Carolann, of North Carolina, Kimberly Belleau of Amesbury, Mass., Jennifer Miller and husband, James, of Peabody, Mass., Eric Belleau and wife, Deborah, and great-grandchildren, Riley and Aiden Belleau of New Boston, N.H. He also leaves behind his sister, Laurencia "Margie" Foley of Salem; a sister-in-law, Dolores Vachon of New Jersey and a brother-in-law, George Desmond of Salem, and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

He was predeceased by his wife, Catherine Marion Belleau of 48 years and his sister, Gloria Michaud of Salem; a brother, George Belleau of Wolfeboro, N.H. and parents, Ernest and Lydia Belleau of Salem.

His funeral will be held at the Berube and Sons Funeral Home, 191 Lafayette St., Salem, Routes 1A/114, Saturday at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in Ste. Anne's Church, Jefferson Avenue, Salem, at 10 a.m. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem.

​

Visiting hours in the funeral home are Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For information, directions, or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.BerubeFuneralHome.com.

​

​