History, Wonder Tales, Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends The Flemish | Page 232

In 1953 Bro. Severing became president of the Diocesan Federation of Choral Groups
of Montreal, and vice-president of the National Federation, leading its national
congress as interim president on October 11, 1953 at the Aerator St-Joseph, in which
2,000 little singers participated; in 1958 president of the Diocesan Federation of "Les
Petits Chanteurs de St-Hyacinthe". It may be said in truth that Bro. Severing
Vermandere made an important contribution to the appreciation for choral singing in
all of the Quebec province.

The first child of Charles L. Cools and Amelia J. Depuydt, Camille Cools was born
April 13, 1874 in Moorslede (West Flanders). In the spring of 1889, the Cools family,
then numbering 11 members, decided to emigrate to the U.S. and settled in Detroit.
Young Camille quickly became involved in the community. He received his U.S.
citizenship Oct. 16, 1899 and on June 3, 1902 married a young native Detroiter of
Danish extraction, Margaret Nielson.
Camille, a very enterprising young man, started his own company, Cools & Co.
Furniture, in 1905. Later he acquired the Pontiac Reed Works, and included wicker
furniture.
The cultural community was always part of his life. Theater, music, sports, all attracted
Camille's interest and involvement. He was Secretary of the Wm. Tell Archery Club,
President of the "Voor Vlaamschen Recht," a group working to bring Flemish speaking
diplomats to the U.S., and was a Board Member of the Belgian-American Century
Club #1, whose goal was to enlist 100 members to help each other in case of death.
Ironically, his brother Florent was the 100th member and Camille was the firs t
member to die.
Camille had a great love for the printed word. In 1907 when the Gazette van Moline
appeared as the "only Flemish weekly in America," Camille wrote for the paper for
several years, but by 1911, he began making plans to start his own paper in Detroit.
He and a friend bought a printing press and began printing a variety of material,
including a "Vermakelijken Almanak" (humorous almanac).
On August 13, 1914, the first issue of the Gazette van Detroit was printed. It sold for 3
cents a copy. Under the name was the caption "Het Licht Voor 't Volk" - The Light for
the People. Camille was founder, editor and publisher. It contained local news and
community happenings. Entering its 75th year, the Gazette is still published today
with readership in several States, Canada and overseas. Camille's "light for the
people" still shines on.
Camille Cools died September 27, 1916 at the age of 43.

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