Valley Tall Tales series: # 7 "SLOW-TURTLE CROSSING AHEAD"
Ever wonder why there are still many turtles in Renfrew County? Why, it is thanks to Big Joe Mufferaw’s friends of course!
As you all know, turtles instinctively follow the same routes to lay their eggs each year. Once roads were built in the backwoods of Renfrew County many turtles lost their lives crossing them. When the “SLOW- Turtle Crossing” signs did not have the desired effect, Big Joe Mufferaw was asked to assist. He gave the job of saving these turtles to his chief foreman Johnny Coulonge and his friends, Barrum the Frog, Broadaxe the Big White Moose, Fast Eagle and Bucky the Beaver. They first organized an egg laying contest to try to train the turtles to follow a new route. While the turtles were thus busily occupied, overnight the Mufferaw team placed barriers at the most hazardous crossings and built culverts that would safely allow the turtles to continue their time honoured traditions. And that is how the Mufferaw team helped to save the turtles of Renfrew County.
"The Big Joe Mufferaw Tall Tales" are based on the life of Joseph Montferrand (1802-1864), a French Canadian of outstanding strength and athletic prowess. He was well respected as a skilled foreman bringing squared timber rafts and booms down the Ottawa River to Quebec City. Details of his exploits are recorded in Joan Finnigan's book "Giants of the Ottawa Valley". The tall tales in this series are based on the story telling gifts of the shantymen who worked alongside this giant and anglicized his name to "Joe Mufferaw". Arnprior storyteller, Bernie Bedore grew up hearing these tall tales and published many tall tales of Big Joe's adventures such as "Mythical Mufferaw", "Tall Tales of Joe Mufferaw", and "The Shanty". Musician Stompin' Tom Connors has also helped to immortalize these tales in his recording of Big Joe Mufferaw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy3knGGzZr8