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Rosetta (McKinnon) Kirkwood

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Rosetta (McKinnon) Kirkwood (sister of Wilma McKinnon's paternal grandfather)

Wilma Bush sent this information written by Kirk Tierney:

Rose Kirkwood was born a McKinnon, a successful Marmora clan of lumber, farming and mining men, originally from Prince Edward Island. She met Thomas M Kirkwood when he was working on the building of a railway between Kingston and Marmora, carrying ore and lumber. At the time, huge amounts of lumber were used in smelting ore, so the two went hand in hand.
Thomas M Kirkwood became a fast friend and business partner of Daniel Laughlin McKinnon, who later married Kirkwood's sister. In fact there were broad dealings between the Kirkwoods and the McKinnons, and multi-generation intermarriage. TMK and DLM worked in Sudbury, where they both carried out an ore-roasting contract, and stayed for nearly 30 years starting in the 1890's. There are Kirkwoods and McKinnons there still. They co-owned many businesses, including railways, mines, smelters, stores, ships, boarding houses and even a resort in the Sault.
Rose was a beautiful, strong-willed, wiley, and a woman of the emerging lands. She had a lot of real world knowledge compared the norm, but she was not a "finished" lady.

Anecdote from "Babs" Kirkwood, Rose's granddaughter:
Rose lived with us in Montreal, after the death of her husband. I remember that she had the devil in her at times. For example she really had Tom as her favourite, and he could do no wrong. Every meal, the girls cooked her food and set it on a tray for her, and brought it to her and propped her up and served her. But only Tom could take the tray away. Only Tom. And she almost always left him a dime for his efforts. That's just the way she was.

Anecdote from Diane Holmes Kirkwood, Rose's' granddaughter-in-law:
I hardly ever spoke with her, because she would never talk to me. About the only time I did was the first time we met. I was over at the Kirkwoods' place at Christmas in Montreal, well before Tom and I were even engaged. Rose looked at me, raised her finger to me and said "You'll never be allowed to marry my Tom, because you are a black Protestant !". And that was the last time we ever spoke.
(This is interesting, since half the Kirkwood family is Protestant and half Catholic. Rose's father-in-law was in fact educated to be a Presbyterian minister, while her mother-in-law was a Quebecois Catholic.)

Note from Ida Kirkwood Tierney, Rose's granddaughter:
Grandma was much loved, but sometimes very crusty. She loved plain truth. She had a lot of influence over her children and her husband.

Anecdote from J. K. Hollinghurst, RAF, Rose's granddaughter Kaye's boyfriend, in a letter to Kaye.
Tell Grandma that I think she's cute too, and be sure to say "How the hell are ya!?" to her for me.
She died at home, probably in Montreal West; she moved with the family into the Norgate flats in the same year as Ida and Bab's wedding.

Allan Stacey of Chelmsford added:  Kirkwood and McKinnon had a summer resort five miles west of  Sault Ste. Marie at Pointe aux Pins from early 1894 until sometime later when the main hotel burnt.
Alexander Kirkwood (b. 1822 d. 1901), Thomas's father, was responsible for advocating for preservation of forestland, resulting in Algonquin Park (ca. 1886). He was head clerk in the Ontario Crown Lands Department, retiring in 1900 after 47 years of service.
 

Note from Ida Kirkwood Tierney, Rose's granddaughter:
Grandma was much loved, but sometimes very crusty. She loved plain truth. She had a lot of influence over her children and her husband.

Anecdote from J. K. Hollinghurst, RAF, Rose's granddaughter Kaye's boyfriend, in a letter to Kaye.
Tell Grandma that I think she's cute too, and be sure to say "How the hell are ya!?" to her for me.
She died at home, probably in Montreal West; she moved with the family into the Norgate flats in the same year as Ida and Bab's wedding.

Allan Stacey of Chelmsford added:  Kirkwood and McKinnon had a summer resort five miles west of  Sault Ste. Marie at Pointe aux Pins from early 1894 until sometime later when the main hotel burnt.
Alexander Kirkwood (b. 1822 d. 1901), Thomas's father, was responsible for advocating for preservation of forestland, resulting in Algonquin Park (ca. 1886). He was head clerk in the Ontario Crown Lands Department, retiring in 1900 after 47 years of service.
 


 

Annette Taylor writes about Leo and Roger Provost

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Attached is a 1918 photo of my Uncle, Roger Provost, on the left and my Dad, Leo Provost, on the right. It was taken in Montreal at their first communion.
The beautiful clothing was made by their mother, Rose, who was also a great seamstress. Their boots were made by their grandfather, Etienne Grenier, who was a cobbler in Montreal.
Our father was born in 1910, and the boys were ages 7 and 8 when the photo was taken.
 

1922 Tornado in Cordova

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John VanVolkenburgh and Sarah Reid wedding day April 19 1893 Photo by Cunningham studio, Norwood & Hastings.

John and Sarah decided to abandon the property and move into half of a house in Cordova, owned by their daughter Alice and son-in-law Lewis Briggs.  Lew was a blacksmith by trade, having previously worked at a lumber camp at the Airhart ranch, north of Twin Sister Lakes.  Alice had previously worked there as well, as a cook.  John and Sarah lived the remainder of their lives at that location.

Back row, L to R.- Bill Magee, Charles Holland, Jack Hele, Bill Norton. C.R.- Theda Magee, Nora Norton. F.R.- Harry VanVolkenburg, Gladys Holland, Sarah VanVolkenburg, John VanVolkenburg, Vera Hele, Maude VanVolkenburg.

Wayne Van Volkenburg writes:       My grandfather John Wesley VanVolkenburg lived on a farm north of Cordova, at Lot 27 Con.1, Belmont. The lot was previously owned by his father Nathan, an early settler in that area.

In June 1922 a tornado and hailstorm blew the roof off their home and flattened the barn.  Hailstones the size of hen’s eggs were still evident a week later.  John junior (my father)  and his mother Sarah were travelling home from Marmora, by horse and buggy, when the storm forced them to seek refuge at the Maloney farm.

1901 John, Sarah VanVolkenburg, with children, Theda, Alice, May, and Harry (front)

All children  of John and Sarah  included :    Alice and John (twins who died at birth in 1893), Alice b. 1894, May b.1896, Theda b.1898, Harry b.1900, Gladys b.1902, Nora b.1904, Alexander b.1907, John b.1910 and Vera b.1912.

A Lewis Briggs story
On one trip from the Airhart ranch to his home, Lew came upon a man walking towards town. He stopped his buggy and asked the gentleman if he was tired of walking. He replied that he was indeed. Lew then said " Well then why don't you run for a while." He then drove away.
Lew purchased a new 1951 four door ford car. After purchasing some supplies at the Cordova store, he entered his vehicle, only to find that same man in the back seat. The locals sitting in front of the store found this quite amusing. Needless to say, Lew did not!

The VanVolkenburg family in Oshawa, Christmas 1947, John and Sarah in the centre

Bill & Jim Andrews and Darlene Newton, 1960

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Darlene Newton sent us this story:

This is Bill and Jim Andrews with Darlene Newton in 1960 taken at Bill's apt in Toronto......They all attended Marmora High School 1955-1956. Bill graduated in 1956 went on to be the Professor at the Conservatory of Music in Toronto (pianist). Has toured Europe and apparently wrote books on Music (he is on my right). Jim finished school in 1956 in Stirling and later moved to Toronto after taking a business course. He worked at the same company and is now retired and still resides in Toronto. Me, I also took business but, in Tweed. I have resided in Toronto, Nassau, Bahamas, Ottawa and California. I have been married twice..one child, a girl deceased at 26 (car accident).

Memoirs of a rink rat

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Wayne Vanvolkenburg writes:

I had little to do with the old “rink” until we moved to our new home on Pearce Street, c.1956.  It was hard to ignore the roof-raising noise that emanated from that location during a Trent Valley League game.  During the playoffs the volume was cranked up to a higher level still.  Some of the players that I remember from that era were: Ray Darrah, Earl & Gus Leonard, Bill Jones, Tom Parnuick, “Baldy” Brown, Bert Gray, Gord Holland, Al Killian and Bob Borland.

Unfortunately for me and my friends, we could not cover the admission charge. To overcome this obstacle, we devised a plan to help us gain entry.  One of our gang would enter the arena before the ticket booth was open.  He would then go to one of the back doors, unhook it and let us in.  We would then enter the area under the seats through the access door and wait for the game to begin.  After a quick check, we would emerge from our hiding spot and find a seat to watch the game.  This worked for a while until we found a guard in place when we tried to emerge from our hiding spot.  We decided to make our way, under the seats, to the other end of the arena and make our exit there.  After a somewhat difficult trip through all of the seat bracing, we arrived at the other end, only to find a guard there as well.  There was nothing left to do but endure an uncomfortable wait till the middle of the game when the guards were finally removed.  Needless to say, we abandoned this method.

Not to be defeated so easily, we devised a new plan.  We would simply wait at the door until the players arrived and then offer to carry in some of their equipment.  With a bundle of sticks on your shoulder and your head down, it was often possible get inside.  The success rate was largely dependent on who was at the ticket booth.  Tom Bedore and Leo Auger knew us too well and were not easily fooled!

Tom Bedore and Leo Auger with a Snofest Sales rep between them

When we were a little older there was finally a legal avenue open to us. You could become an official “rink rat” and clean the ice between periods and after the game.  Tom “pung” and Leo would sweep next to the boards while we used scrapers to push the snow in rows. A larger scoop was then used to pick up the snow in the rows.  Only the most senior person was elevated to the “scoop” position.  During my time it was Norm “snee” McFarlane.  Tom and Leo then applied a layer of hot water with the hand drawn flooder.

 Another fringe benefit from this job was the leftover hot dogs at the food booth.  Tom and Leo magically seemed to have enough left over for all of us.  Thinking back, their names were synonymous with the old arena.  Being painters by trade, they could lay down the lines with speed and accuracy.  Their skill was even more evident when they applied the curling circles. 

Eventually school work became more important and the “rink rat” ceased to be.

Logans in Marmora

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 From Chris Logan from Sudbury:

My father was Don Logan who passed away in November 2012. He was born and raised in Marmora. His father was Redmond Logan who lived where the nursery school is located on Forsythe St. In November of 1972 Don bought 66 Forsythe St. and renovated it bringing running water, plumbing and central heat to the house. I was born in 1973 and went to Sacred Heart school as did my father. We both had Verna Hughes as a teacher. Don worked at the Marmora Mine until it closed and was a member of the Lions club in the early 1980s.   Our family moved to Sudbury in 1984 to be closer to work for Don. The whole family always felt Marmora was home more than Sudbury.   Unfortunately for me, many of the properties in Marmora that had a lot of memories are now gone.  Redmond Logan's home burned down in the 1980s  (73 Forsythe) and was replaced with the Nursery School. In 2010 our old home at 66 Forsythe burned down, and my school Sacred Heart has been replaced.  but replaced with far better buildings. I miss dad mostly when it comes to finding things about Marmora and not being able to share them with him. He would have loved your facebook page and website.

Redmond Logan and Clementine Sept 14, 1931.jpg

Marmoraton Mining 1949-50 Joe Young and Don Logan diamond drilling

Digging Roman Catholic Church, 1950, Red Logan, Father O'Neill, Char. Clemens Sr., Arnie Vesterfelt,

Benjamin Logan Jr. writes: My gramma was Marie Logan and my grandfather was Dennis Logan. I remember going to uncle Redmans house and having ice cream. Thank you for the history.

"A Rough Ride"

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Wayne Vanvolkenburg writes:


My grandfather, John VanVolkenburg, worked for several of the logging companies that operated in the Vansickle area. People who knew him said that he was a hard man to keep up to in the woods. One spring, while moving logs over the Deer Lake dam, he lost his footing and was swept over the dam. Though he thought his lungs might burst, he managed to hold his breath long enough to make it to calmer water.
He claimed that he was the only person to survive this experience. Anyone that has seen what the water flow is like at this location in the spring, would have a hard time believing that this was possible.

John VanVolkenburg 1943

1930's The John Bonter Marble Quarries, north Marmora

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Arlene McKee  sent this photo and added "This picture was taken by Uncle Albert Campion,  showing a  shuttle car for rock or ore and track.     Art & Bev Meyer home just to left of tall lattice post.   To the right,  the old Archie Jones homestead across road.  (My home now is sitting just to left of Meyers',  next to the old Jones home!)"

The MHF added  that we also know that the Bonter Marble and Calcium Company was granted a Provincial charter in June of 1934, with J.W. Bonter as president and H.M. Bonter Sec-Treasurer. The new cocmpany manufactured and sold wholesale “White Stucco Dash, White Terazzo Chips, White PoultryGrit, White Marbl Dust an White Marble Blocks.

Arthur Meehan  and Percy Cooper were employees of this mine,  as was Frank Frederick Dayton.  In a 1931 reference to the Silica Rock Quarry,   we find that Mr. Dayton was accidentally killed by a dynamite explosion.

Aerial view of Marmora

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Ronald Barrons sends a postcard.

Marmora – H.R.Oakman – Peterborough Post Card Company – Looking at this photograph my thoughts are drawn to the chopping mill and the trips made there with my father as a young lad. I might go along the alley and peek along ‘main street’ of the big city. Hey I came from a farm near the village of Cordova. Also I remember the fine garden on that property opposite the mill facing the highway.

The Beaver Creek

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Ronald Barrons wrote this:

Harry Barrons took this  picture. George Roche who had plane at his cottage on 'Deer' Lake flew my father over the property.  This photo (circa 1960) shows Beaver Creek where it flows into the Crowe River. Left of centre can be seen the old abandoned rail line that led to Cordova Mines and now supports the ‘new’ road to Cordova. My father Harry Barrons purchased the land along the west of this road from Gordon Derry and eventually built a home there. The Wells brothers operated a sawmill in the area upper (white patch) centre.

Scott Wilson added that George Roche was his grandfather.  "He flew his plane for the last time at age 84.  He sure is a wonderful guy, awesome grandfather and one hell of a pilot."

Rosalies Lunch and Texaco

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When Keith Ellis sent us this photo, 

here is what Margie Royle had to say:  Oh my goodness! Elgin Ellis' place! NOW I remember! Can't tell you how many huge 6 cent ice cream cones I got there after church on Sunday! We'd often walk there too,from our place on Deloro Road, when we wanted to buy treats.

Tom O'Neill added:  In the sixties I can count 14 gas stations between the Ellis station to the east and Russ Pitmans to the west and Beckers to the south and Tom Smith' s to the north. Now there are 3 !!

Mystery Solved!

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Thomas Tompkins asked:

Anyone recognize these folks? Photo by T. Stewart, Marmora, ON. Found it on e-Bay and thought I would hang on to it in case I found a family member.

Here's the answer!

Wilma Bush wrote:  I have this photo. Not sure who 2nd gentleman is, but the first one is my great Uncle Pete Connors (brother of my maternal Grandmother Maggie (Connors) Gallagher. Pete married Gertie Cook - they moved to Saskatchewan where they farmed & raised their family! I met him a few times when he returned to Marmora to visit relatives.  The Connors family were raised north of Marmora past 'Long Swamp'.

Breen O'Connor

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Margie Royle writes: 

(1998)  This picture was taken at our house on Dad's 80th birthday! Thus the reason for that fancy necklace Dad's wearing, the creativity of one of his grandchildren. Dad died just two years later at 82, We just lost Aunt Margaret last November at the age of 96. Uncle Mike just turned 90 in February and Aunt Joan 93 earlier this month. Love these people!

Flea Phillips

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This is a photo of my grandparents, Ila Nobes and Don Phillips. (Flea) They lived at 29 Pearce street from the day they were married right up until they passed away very recently. This was taken back by Twin Sisters at my Great Grandpa Nobes' property, shortly after they were married in the mid 1940's. Funny thing about my grandpa, you'll be hard pressed to find a photograph of him without having a burning cigarette in his hand.

  Derek Meiklejohn wrote:  I've always adored this photograph. On the left is my Great-Grandfather Sam Nobes, in the middle my Grandfather Don Phillips (Everyone knew him as Flea) and on the left is my Great-Grandmother Jane Jenny Nobes (Briggs). The little boy is my dad, Brian Phillips and the little girl is Barbara Quinn, my dad's first cousin. July, 1957 at Twin Sisters.

Don (Flea)  & Ila Phillips (Nobes) with their children Larry and Sharon. This was taken in the 1950's at my Great-Grandfather Sam Nobes' in Twin Sisters.

Brenda Powell added:   Sam nobes is my great grandfather. My grandfather is his son Samuel Nobes. Glad I found these pictures. Thanks for posting

Marlene Taylor:   Oh my gosh.  I am so excited to see these pictures.   I loved your grandmother so much. She made great pies and cookies...I was raised by Sam and Jennie Nobes,  my grandparents,  but were my mom and dad. I remember your uncle, Larry,  gone way too soon.  I see your gramma,  Sharon,  whenever I can.   I grew up north of Marmora,  back where your grandparents are standing in the picture.   I' ve seen that picture many times. Always good to see. 

Wayne VanVolkenburg:  Seeing the photos of "flea" Phillips, I remembered the rink that they usually had in their back yard. However, the crowd usually became too large and we had to move our hockey game to the street. Some of the participants that I remember were: Larry Phillips, Bill Phillips, Larry Neal, Glenn McCaw, Gary Warren, Dave Carswell, myself (Wayne VanVolkenburg), ocassionally Reg Brown & Mike Reynolds, some of the Falls boys, Doug Nicholson and Brian Gray. Almost a full hockey team!

William Street

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Derek Meiklejohn wrote:   This photo is of Larry Phillips and Glen Acorn, on the corner of Pearce Street and William Street. At one point in time all of the property between Pearce Street and North Hastings Avenue all along William Street was entirely owned by my family. I am told that it used to be referred to as Phillips' Corner. On the corner of North Hastings Street and William Street lived my great grandparents Charles Leslie Phillips and Myrtle Phillips (Burns), directly beside them heading east on William Street lived their son Mel Phillips and his wife Hilda Phillips (Nobes) and right around the corner on Pearce Street lived my grandparents, Don Phillips & Ila Phillips (Nobes).

December 1885 Letter to the Editor

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1985 Marmora Herald:
Dear Editor: I am a 10 year old boy and I am writing about the one float I did not like in the Marmora Parade this year. It was the dune buggy with the dead deer on top. I think it was a disgrace to the meaning of Christmas. I'm making this stand because it was simply disgusting. To make matters even worse, there was a boy sitting on top hitting and jumping on the deer. I'm not holding the Parade Committee responsible for this inhumane float. I think the town will agree with my letter. Yours truly, Ernie Chrysler