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Pat Shannon wrote:
My great grandfather Hugh Shannon bought a walking stick at auction many years ago. It has a removable cap with an area to store valuables and a sword hidden inside! My father Patrick Shannon tells us that Hugh was given free admission to the Marmora Fair each year, as long as he had his walking stick with him and was willing to show it off to the crowd!
Bill Doyle remembers "My dad was about 21 years old in 1907 when they used to race the horses and buggies. That particular year he had his horse tied to a pine tree near the track before the race and had a brand new buggy to race with. Nearly at the end of the race the horse decided to go to where he had been tied up before and ran the front part of the buggy up the tree. I remember dad telling us that it was the end of that buggy but it was nearly the end of him, too.
Lacrosse, hardball and softball were popular and there was a bandstand on the fair grounds inthe 1920's.Then, the fair grounds were the hub of the community and all church picnics, parades and field days were held there. There used to be a 'Hitch and Go' race where the horses would be unharnessed and then faced towards the buggy. The first horse to be completely harnessed and through the finish line won. There was also a 'slow race' where racers used other racers' horses. The reins were shortened so you could hardly reach them and no whips could be used. Then, the last horse to cross the finish line won, so the fun was trying to see if you could get the other guy's horse to run while you were racing it.·
Everett Barrons and Ronald Catling
Timothy Cowan writes:
This is a picture of my Grandfather, Ron Catling on the right. This picture was taken at the Marmora Senior school where he taught a woodworking class at night for adults
Ronald Frederick Catling was born in Suffolk England in 1919. As a young teenage boy, he completed an apprenticeship in carpentry. He was enlisted into the British Army at the age of 18 and entered service to his Country at the start of the Second World War. He was at Dunkirk Beach and was rescued. Upon returning to England he was then posted to duty in Northern Ireland, where he met his lifelong wife Margaret Ellen Watt.
He and Margaret made their home in Northern Ireland after the War and went on to have to two children Shirley and Russell. Unfortunately, Russell was killed in a car accident at the young age of 20. Shortly after the death of his son, Ron and his wife Margaret emigrated to Canada in 1975. Ron was 55 years of age when he took on the great move across the pond. They settled and made their home in Marmora. Ron served his surrounding community with his carpentry skills. Ron and his wife Margaret have now both passed on and are buried side by side in Zion Church Cemetery north of Marmora on the Centerline Road. (Ron was 91 at the time of his death.) They are survived by a daughter, four grandchildren, Nine great-grandchildren and one great, great-grandchild, all of whom live in Canada.
THE DEVIL IS DEAD!
by Andre Philpot
Although its founders and parishioners were Catholic, Marmora's little church of St. Matilda's and its yard played host to all ministries. Its establishment had, after all, been a community effort, organized by Manahan, supported by the Ironworks and all its workers.
The visits of Methodist preachers and exhorters were memorable public events. Henry Ryan, an Irishman, was assigned to "the Bay of Quinte circuit" in 1805, and preached there and later throughout Upper Canada until 1834.
"They would ride into town, put their horses in at an inn, lock arms, and go singing down the streets a stirring ode, beginning with 'Come let us march to Zion's Hill " What ensured was often part evangelical rally, part campground hijinks and part roadshow.
Ryan was sturdy and formidable as befits a man who was sometimes both preacher and bouncer. He was said to have strength enough to eject the unruly and wit enough to seldom need that strength.
"Some wicked fellows are said to have asked him if he had heard the news. "What news?", he asked. "Why the devil is dead!"
Then said he, looking around on the company, "He has left a great many fatherless children."
You can read more about St. Matilda's. Click Here
Wendi Wells-Lautenbach sent these photos and wrote:
The Wells brothers lumber store was located at 72 Forsyth street. Don Martin purchased the business from Russell and Ritchie Wells in the early 70's. The building itself is still there but was converted to apartments several years ago. This first picture is dated 1934. "Coming from the woods-Ritchie, Irvine and hired man." The Wells brothers did a fair amount of cutting up around the Mazinaw to stock the lumber yard in Marmora.
$12.00 per day. Well, says Glenn, you have to start somewhere!
Wayne VanVolkenburg adds: Many years ago, my father mentioned that he spent a winter working in a lumber camp. Since he is in the photo of the Well's brothers crew, I assume that he was employed by them. They must have had a good cook at the camp, as he commented that he weighed more then, than at any other time in his life. He talked of being able to lay a block of wood on the ground and fell a tree on that spot. That task would be difficult enough with a chainsaw, but they were working with a cross-cut saw, making it far more difficult. Unfortunately for him, he lost most of his sight in one eye because of an accident while limbing a tree. His poor vision caused him to be rejected when he tried to enlist during WW2. He spent the war years working at the Oshawa GM plant building army trucks. Not caring for the city, he returned to Marmora after the war.
Ronald Barrons added - When my father purchased his Beaver Creek property, it was adjacent to where the Well's Brothers had a saw mill. This would have been in the 1950s.
Glenn Mawer worked at that saw mill while in public school, loading slabs onto a horse drawn wagon .Wells Bros built a fork lift out of a army truck. He also remembers them installing a diesel motor to run the mill, replacing a steam engine.
Lew Barker also worked for them periodically in his early teens.
Wayne VanVolkenburg sent this photo
John VanVolkenburg in middle row. Russell Wells is on the left bottom row and Bill Bishop next to him.
Gary Martin sent the following: l worked in that saw mill north of Marmora with my Dad, Jim Martin, who was the sawyer for Wells Bros lumber. He also worked as a sawyer at their mill south of Cyclone Ont l remember when Dad took me to the mill near Cyclone. l loved it!! l was sixteen years of age when l worked at the mill . l loved that job and the smell of fresh cut lumber. l remember at the shop and store on Forsythe Street that l pumped gas into the trucks. You had to pump the gas up into the glass cylinder and then take the hose to fill the tank and squeeze the trigger and the gravity flow did the rest.
Regarding the comment by Glenn Mawer, the fork lift was built by my brother, Ralph Martin. l watched him put on the hydraulic cylinders, hoses and the steering mechanism which was on backwards. l watched him try it out and was amazed to watch it work for the first time. He was very smart when it came to things like that. He went on to make a living at a plant near Ritson Rd Oshawa. (Don Martin, is my younger brother by three years.)
This summer is the 40th anniversary since Dan and I purchased Glen Allan from Vern Caverly and it has gone by quickly. Our daughter Michele still runs it as Dan passed in 2010. I still occupy wee cabin 20 and it has been a joy to see my grandchildren grow up at the lake like their mother and make Marmora their home. We had a Joseph Fitchett on my mother's side live there in the early 1800s so we feel a deep connection.
When I first came to Crowe Lake with Michele, Bill Lavender didn't like the fact that I was out there alone with a toddler so would often come in the evenings to play card games he taught me. Sometimes Hazel would come as well. He taught me how to tap trees for maple syrup and told stories about how he used to ride the logs down Beaver Creek into the Crowe River and how Marmora used to be. His death was such a loss for the village. Ivan, his son, held or holds, a high office in government in Ottawa.
Looking at the flood photos...how well I remember the 1976 flood. We just moved into the cottage beside Caine's Creek on the lake the fall of 1975. I was living alone with my daughter Michele and woke up to water on my door sill. We often said that if a boat went by and created a wake, the water would be inside the cottage. We tied a canoe to on of the posts at the front of the house and went back and forth to the park (Glen Allan Park) and finally moved into the little white lodge in the park just in case.
Since there was no heat or hot water there, my three year old and I spent our days gathering firewood and sticks to keep warm, most of it very damp. I was in my 20s so it wasn't any hardship, just a wonderful adventure. On one of our stick gathering outings, we crossed the path of two huge wolves. Michele was small even for a three-year old so not to frighten her, I talked softly and hummed a little as we walked in the direction of the lodge. I knew not to run though we walked faster as we got closer. The wolves stood watching us all the way to the house then when we were safely inside, went on their way.
Recalling the good times at the town hall, Pearl McCaw Franko writes:
I remember going to movies in the town hall. We had to pay 25 cents. When Bob Maynes opened the 'real' theatre and only charged 15 cents, we couldn't believe how lucky we now were to have 10 cents to spend! Shannon's sold red rock cola for 5 cents. Pop in the theatre was 10 cents. Real dilemma. McIntosh toffee was 5 cents. Those were the days.
During high school we lived for Friday night Teenagers at the Town Hall. I think it was Tommy Brooks who played the records we danced to. The girls lined up in seats on the right and the boys on the left side of the hall. They had to make that long walk across the floor to ask you to dance. Sometimes you were hoping the boy was headed for you and other times hoping he wasn't. After the dance we trekked to The Heights to dance some more to the jukebox tunes and have a coke and hamburger. Loved every minute.
The story of Margaret VanVolkenburg
It was not uncommon for early settlers in Upper Canada (Ontario) to move on to the Prairie Provinces. This article, sent by Wayne Vanvolkenburg, is the story of Margaret Vanvolkenburg, the daughter of Nathan Vanvolkenburg, who was one of the first settlers in Vansickle and Wayne's great grandfather.
" Margaret VanVolkenburg, daughter of Nathan, was born on March 10, 1858, in Seymour Township. She married Franklin Chadsey, on March 19, 1878, at the home of his aunt and uncle, Loren and Harriet Chadsey, at Hamilton Ontario. They moved to Alexander Manitoba, near Rivers, in September 1879. They lived in the upstairs of a log house owned by Mr. Hubbs. Life at first was plagued by prairie fires and bands of threatening Indians. Their daughter Lillian Elizabeth was the first white child to be born there on Dec. 28, 1879. Their other children were: Ethel May, born 20 Nov. 1881, Thomas Roy, born 4 Oct. 1886, Beatrice, born 26 June 1893, and Berson Allen, born 2 July, 1895. They moved to a farm near Rivers and again to Oak River in Blanshard municipality, where he bought a homestead.
With the outbreak of the Riel Rebellion and fearing for his families safety, he sent his wife and daughters Ethel May and Lillian back to Ontario. Unfortunately, there was an outbreak of diphtheria at the time and Ethel May died on July 28, 1885, at Hilton. Margaret's brother James also died of diphtheria that same year. Margaret sent tearful letters back home seeking assistance to deal with this situation.
Grandson Dale Chadsey has a scrim-shawed power horn (1995) that belonged to Franklin. The powder horn now has a string attached to it, which wasn't always the case. It originally had a brass cap and chain. Apparently, Margaret, while there alone with her children, was confronted by some Indians at the doorway of their home. The natives seemed to be fascinated by the blond haired children. Margaret, fearing for their safety, tossed the brass chain to them. Seemingly satisfied with this, they left.
Roy was born while they were still in the Rivers area. He homesteaded near Kenville, Manitoba in the northern bush country. He later moved to a farm near Butte, where he later retired in 1961. Beatrice, her husband and his father moved to B.C., where he worked as a carpenter. Berson was trained as a barber, but had to abandon that trade after having a thumb shot off during the 1st. World War. He ran the family farm for a while but later moved to Kenville Manitoba and then on to B.C.
Most of this information is taken from letters from Margaret's granddaughter, Alma Warren, to Wayne VanVolkenburg."
1950s
1990
This is a photo of where I was born - A 300 acre dairy farm in Southern Ontario Canada, the last of 5 farms over a 7 mile long dirt road. The nearest neighbor was a mile away and the road ended in front of our house. Forty head of dairy cattle were milked by hand twice a day by my parents. The back yard was very large it stretched to Hudson Bay hundreds of miles north very sparsely populated with a few roads.The land was settled in the early 1800's by John Plane father of Christmas Plane. John immigrated from England bought land for 50 cents an acre from the British crown and walked into the bush with his axe a bag of flour and and his wife Martha at his side (so the story goes.) I guess that makes them pioneers. My son Jonah and daughter Maryam were the first in the family to be born in a hospital setting and to go home to a house that had electricity. Every other Saturday we would all as a family go into town 10 miles away for some food and goods shopping and I would watch the TV in the store window (No Sound). Photo 1950's
(Lou Walter Wilson, born on this O'Hara farm, later moved to Matthew Street, Marmora, and now resides in Philadelphia, Penn.)
Back in the 60"s you'd snow mobile all day and nite . Meet about 100 machines, no trail permits, no license ,no insurance,no trails - tons of fun. Could buy a new machine from 500.00. Average day outing ,about 100 miles,plus Cherry Brandy..............And Imagine that , kids having fun! .... not a cell phone in sight.
Jeannette Campbell's story began when her expectant mother, Lillian Greenwood, was crossing the Atlantic at the beginning of the First World War, following a holiday in England. Because of the German naval presence on the Atlantic, the passengers had to endure blackout conditions at night as well as the constant fear of attack. The safe return of Lillian and her husband, Dr. William Greenwood, to Saint Catharines, Ontario was followed some time later by the birth of Lillian Jeannette on April 26, 1915.
Jeannette and her older siblings, Carolyn and Bill, lived for much of their childhood in St. Catharines, When Jeannette was a young teenager, her widowed mother married James Parker, who was originally from Stirling. At this point, Lillian and her children moved to Toronto where Mr. Parker then resided. Mr. Parker had previously purchased his cottage (later named Ardrossan) on Marble Point Road from local banker, A.W. Carscallen, his former father-in-law. Thus began Jeannette's connection with Marmora and Crowe Lake.
For most of the year, the family lived in Toronto, but once summer arrived, they embarked on the long journey to Marmora, travelling by train to Bonarlaw, and from there by car to Ardrossan.
At that time, the Parkers had two employees, Jessie and her brother, who helped with the arduous running of the household. For indoor washing, water had to be carried up from the lake. Laundry was done on a scrub board in a tub at the back door, then lugged to the lake to be rinsed. Everyone bathed (with soap!) in the lake. Drinking water was hand pumped from the Bleeckers' well two doors away, then carried in buckets to the cottage kitchen. Meals were prepared on a wood stove.
The "young people" passed the long summer days swimming, playing croquet, and going for picnics by boat across the lake or far up Crowe River. Twice a week, they attended dances at the "pavilion" at Marble Point Lodge. Jeannette recalls, "One time, the Judge and Mother came up to see what we were doing. We were dancing to music supplied by live bands. It was fun! I danced with Sally Jones who was a good dancer. Everybody liked to dance with him."
After completing school, Jeannette became a secretary in an investment firm, and in 1940, married the dashing Irving Campbell. As a married woman, Jeannette was given special permission to continue working, and was responsible for selling Victory Bonds throughout WW 11.
After the war, Jeannette and Irv became the quintessential host and hostess, and the cottage was filled with the joy and laughter of their extended family and many friends.
When their daughters, Judy and Carolyn, were born, summer life at the cottage continued, and, as the girls grew, Jeannette and Irv witnessed the next generation immerse themselves in the glorious summers at Crowe Lake. With the advent of high-powered motors, the activities became faster and noisier.
in 1964, Jeannette and Irv purchased Ardrossan from Judge James Parker's grandson, Ronald, at a cost of $10,000. At this point they "modernized" the cottage by adding running hot water, an updated kitchen, and a new bathroom. Guests no longer had to venture outside to use the old three-holer outhouse.
Over the ensuing years, much has changed. Jeannette now watches her great grandchildren swimming and boating on Crowe Lake; but, much remains the same. Jeannette, at almost one hundred years of age, still spends summers at Crowe Lake and continues to delight in her family and the many other families along the shore.
On recent weekend spent at Crowe Lake, Jeannette said with her usual gusto, "Let's stay here!!"
James Dalton writes: George Mantle lived in Deloro, and as a Kid Mr. Mantle would take us to the theater in Madoc, as he was the projectionist for the theater. I will always remeber the first time i went with him. Showing that night was "Song of the South" Uncle Remus, Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox and Bear. Those images have stayed with me all these years, and for that I am ever grateful to George.
RJ Barnes added: I am his granddaughter. I remember going to the Marmora theatre to watch Mary Poppins! My favorite movie at that time. I would help him clean the theatre after the show and he would dance across the stage singing the songs from the movie.
Allan Stacey of Chelmsford, ON writes:
For some time I have been researching Middleton Crawford, an inventor with a varied focus. His earliest invention was a cockle machine (US patent #285,344 patented Sept. 18, 1883 for a grain cleaning machine) while he was a resident of Wiarton, Ontario. Other inventions followed until July of 1891 when he patented a grinding and amalgamation mill for the processing of gold bearing ore. (US Patent #11,180 July 28, 1891) This first mill employed heavy steel balls circulating over a round trough, while a subsequent variation replaced the steel balls with rollers (Great Britain Patent #16,219 Aug. 25, 1894). In my research of the Belmont mine (Cordova) I note that the South African General Exploring and Mining Company of London England took up an option on the mine circa December 1891 and installed four Crawford mills in a mill plant in the village of Marmora. The company purchased the patents for $500,000.
Another note dated winter 1892 says the four small ball mills (3 tons per day per mill) were set up in a sawmill that was idle during the winter. Ore was teamed by sleighs from the mines to the mill during the winter months.
Photo of Pearce Mills constructed on what is now the dam location. Visible is the west shore of Crowe River.
Gramma Robena Ellis and I out on Cordova lake Snow mobiling on an old snow cruiser in March 1971.
Kevin Hulsmans wrote to us with a request:
"My great grandfather Joseph Hulsmans worked at the Deloro Stellite mine as a tool and dye (machinist) from about 1920 - 1940 unfortunately I don't have any pictures of him. If someone could help me out that would be great. You can email me at cocoa_43@hotmail.com"
We found him one photo: 1939 Deloro Smelting & Refining Co display, Joseph Hulsman Sr. Does anyone know of any others?
Jim Chard wrote: In 1983-84, and the few years following that, some friends and I followed the road from Twin Sister Lakes to the intersection with the Whetstone Lake - Armstrong Lumber Camp road. We would then travel to Carson Lake and marvel at the old steam saw mill beside the lake. The slab wood and mill cuttings boiler still stood. The timber frame mill still stood with the saw carriage still on tracks, the log conveyor still in place, coming from the lake. The lake would have never frozen in the winter because of the steam operations. The table chain conveyors used to move the lumber and slab wood away from the mill carriage was still in place. The lumber trim saws were still there. It was a wonderful site to be seen in the middle of nowhere.
My Grandfather worked at the Armstrong Lumber Camp. Went out to the Hastings Road, every weekend to retrieve the mail for the camp. That was axe, cross cut saw, and horse, days.
Thomas Gaffney, Bart's brother, the little boy is John Clifford Thomas Gaffney, father of Mike Gaffney
I am not from Marmora, although I have been many times. I live in Belleville, originally from Bancroft. It seems as though I have relatives here. My grandfather was Thomas Gaffney, Brother of Bart Gaffney, who married Elizabeth Shields. I hope to visit Marmora again soon. If there are any of Bart and Elizabeth's relatives who would care to contact me in the mean time, I can be reached at mgaffney51@hotmail.com
Mike Gaffney
Margie Royle writes: That's the home I lived in until it was destroyed by fire on Feb 2nd,1961. It was built by my great grandfather Michael O'Connor and his wife, Elizabeth Wolfe. It was originally called The White Bear Hotel. It was situated right across the road from the train station. My grandfather, Ed O'Connor, ran it as a hotel, The O'Connor House, until, I think, 1912. ( The 'O' in the name wasn't caught in the picture so it looks like "Connor House') . Grampa married Maude Hogan in 1915 and they lived there until moving to McGill Street in town in the early 50s. Mom & Dad ( Breen & Lillian O'Connor) lived there after that until the fire.
Ronld Barrons writes: Irish through and through, Charles Barrons and Delilah Mumby with their children circa 1910. The children of Charles and Dililah are Ross, Demin, Effie, Joe, Jim, Harry, Murray, Milda, Stewart, Olive and Clifford. Only nine are shown and I do know if the list is by age or random.
(MHF note: What a great photo! Delilah's even wearing green!)
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They are borrowed from a sketch by Susanna Moodie called "The First Mine in Ontario at Marmora"
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Town Hall Pictures
Marmora Historical Foundation, Above the Library, Marmora, Ontario, K0K 2M0. Copyright © 2014 Marmora Historical Foundation. See Terms of Use Here.
