YESTERDAY'S MEWS TODAY

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YEARS LATER……..A SURPRISE FROM DR. PARKIN

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A local contractor was recently renovating the former home and office of the well known and loved Dr. Herbert Parkin at 5 Forsyth Street. To his surprise, on opening a wall, the contractor pulled out the above pictured  non-functional .22 rifle. As if this wasn’t fascinating in itself, on digging further, he came across the ultimate historical Bingo! - a full explanation written by Dr, Parkin himself.

It seems in 1931, Dr, Parkin and Milton Parkin had wagered a $5.00 bet that Dr, Parkin could not carry Doug Richardson on his back for 2.5 miles without resting. At the time, Dr. Parkin weighed in at 124 lbs, while his passenger was 114 lbs.

It turns out Milton was wrong and paid off the debt with this rifle. Why it was plastered into the wall at the front door, remains a mystery, but  we know from daughter, Mary Jane that Mrs. Parkin did not want the rifle in the house.

WELLMAN'S CORNER IN SHOCK - 1940

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victims, Arnold and Nancy Wellman

It was January 31, 1940. One newspaper reported “it was between three and four o’clock Wednesday afternoon, according to police reconstruction, Arnold Wellman, 77, was killed with his own shot gun as he was milking a cow on his farm near Harold. A few minutes later the murderer entered the house and shot Mrs. Wellman, 74, as she sat in bed writing a letter to her daughter. “

Edwin Faulkner, the postman, was the man to discover the heinous crime. A coroner’s jury was immediately set up to look into matters, which included the neighbour, Frederick Thain. The following day, Thain was arrested for the double murder.

At the trial on Oct. 28, 1940, the jury took only three hours to find Thain guilty, and on January 14, 1941, he was led to the gallows behind the Belleville courthouse. It is believed that Thain was the last to be hanged there.

Arnold ( 1861-1940) and Nancy (woodward) Wellman (1866-19400 with their three children, all doctors, Arnold, Iona and Marvin

The Wellmans were farmers living at Pt Lot 20, Concession 10 (a.k.a. Wellman’s Corners) , Rawdon Township, and were proud of their three children who had all become doctors. They were about to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary days before their death.

Their children, Iona and Marvin both had medical practices in Marmora while Arnold went on to practise in Waterloo.

(See DOCTORS)

Arnold and Nancy Wellman did enjoy the company of eight grandchildren, but did suffer the loss of two of their own children. In another family tragedy which they did not live to see, their son Marvin was murdered by a patient in Florida on May 22, 1970 at the age of 65.

FIDLAR NEWS FROM MAURITIUS, INDIAN OCEAN

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Post mark reveals the letter took 5 months to arrive

FOR MORE ON THE PARKER CONNECTION CLICK HERE

John Fidlar and Elizabeth Harvey

In Marmora, Fidlar’s Glen is well known to have been the homestead of seaman, John Fidlar and his wife, Elizabeth Harvey. He and all his siblings were born in Stromness, Orkney, Scotland and some emigrated to Upper Canada, settling in our area. But this story is about John’s brother, David. He too was a sailor, but he never made it here to join his family.

We were lucky to receive from Janet Miller of Sidney, B.C., a letter written by David to his sister, Marjory, who was still in Scotland at the time, 1839. David writes from Port Louis, Ile de France, now known as Mauritius. where it seems he had just finished working for a Mr. Dickson, and was about to board a schooner, the Mezeppa , with Captain John Tait headed for the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. With a foreboding sign off, he writes “But remaining yours ‘till death “

David drowned in Capetown , South Africa, sometime after 1841.

With such bad news, Marjory made her mind up to join the family in the new world at the age of 38 By age 47 she was married to widower Robert Parker, whose son Francis was married to her niece, Sarah Fidlar, daughter of John Fidlar! (Interestingly, Robert Parker’s father was an ironmaster at the Marmora Ironworks)

Marjory lived in Rawdon Township, where she died in 1893, at the age of 90. She is buried in Stirling.

The following is a transcription of David’s letter as written. Some words, spelled phonetically, reveal his Scottish brogue

DAVID FIDLAR WRITING TO HIS SISTER MARJORY

January the 3, 1839 Isle of France, Port Louis

Dear Sister, I now take up my pen to let you know that I am in good health at present, thanks be to God, for it and I hoop and earnestly wish that this will find you in the same my Dear sisiter. I have left Dickson and joined a schooner called the Mezeppa. Cap't John Tait and mate were going from here to the Cape of Good Hoop and perhaps we may come home but it is not sairton when we may go but if we go any where I shal wright you. I don't know whether you will receive 16 pounds from Dickson is he is spared to return. I have not quite quit with him yet and cannot tell whether there will be any more or not. him and I part good friends, it was him that got me this ship. I shall write you from the cape and tell you how I find her. I have 10 pounds per month and if agree he is to advance my wages. he apears to be fine felloy so far. I send this by the Gazzet of Leith Bound to Leith so that I hope you will get it Post free. I have not time to say more at present as the ship is just going to start to move at Present. from your affectionate Brother David Fidlar. Be so kind as remember me to all inquiring Friends and relations. Remember me to Nichol and Cecilia and all the children not forgetting Old Mr. Mannow and the family. But Remaining yours 'till Death D. Fidlar

FOR MORE ON THE FIDLAR FAMILY, CLICK HERE

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

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We have quite a collection of photos depicting “Disappearing Marmora”, but here’s a twist!

JUSTIN CASSIDY wrote to us with the attached photo

“I thought this may interest some.

Found washed up along the shores of Moira river in Deloro, this appears to be some sort identification for Registered Nurse Miss G. Campbell, 1928. A quick google search brought up an article on the Marmora Historical Website about a Miss Campbell, nurse from Deloro.”

The article he found on our website referred to tonsillectomies performed in 1919 at the Town Hall - CLICK HERE

But this could be a start to a whole new concept… . How about “REAPPEARING MARMORA”?

Be sure to let us know if you have examples of Reappearing Marmora..

info@marmorahistory.ca

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HUGH JONES

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The horror story of Hugh Jones is one of human stamina and a brother’s persistence.

On a Saturday in early August, 1938, Mr. Jones left the house of this niece, Mrs. Prest, in Bonarlaw. When he had not returned that evening, a search party of over 50 people was organized, headed by Provincial Constable A. Dymond, Marmora’s Constable Percy Gray and Hugh’s brother, Charles. The search lasted four days before it was abandoned with no hope.

Charles, however, was not willing to give up, and working on a tip that a man and a boat had been seen on Sunday, he and the two officers launched a boat at Alan Mills and headed upstream. After two miles, just near an island before Callaghan Rapids, they heard a sound of a low moan. Mr. Dymond decided to use the boat while the other two tried to reach the spot from land.

“ In a few minutes Mr. Dymond called that he had found him, though only his head and part of one arm was above mud and water. He moved his head and the officer called out that he was still alive. The Officer had a strenuous time reaching the unfortunate man and an even more difficult job extricating him from the mud in which he had been imprisoned so long.

The rescued man was in a very serious condition. He was so weak he was unable to speak, but showed he recognized his brother by a slight nod. Just when he entered the bog or his sufferings and experiences there, will probably never be related. It is thought he sank very gradually in the mud and he may have held himself up on the log for some time before he began to sink. His legs were in a bad condition from having been submerged in the mud so long and also from bites of bloodsuckers or other reptiles. His face was also badly swollen as the result of bites of mosquitoes and other insects.”

Taken to Belleville Hospital, five days later he was still weak and only able to answer questions with a nod. It had been determined that he had been trapped in the mud for over four days as the grass in the bog had grown back up, leaving no trace of his path. Asked if he had seen the search parties near by, he nodded “Yes”. Apparently he was unable to call to them.

Although Hugh showed no inclination to take food, and he remained weak, the doctors expected a full recovery..

The location of the rescue of poor Mr. Jones.

The location of the rescue of poor Mr. Jones.

Emily Christian wrote in July, 2022,

“looking at this picture of the bog where Hugh Jones was trapped reminds me of a story my family used to talk about from horse-drawn wagon days apparently a team of horses and a wagon were lost in a quicksand pit could this be the same location? My Aunt owned property that went all the way down to Rylestone lake once upon a time”

1916 A BIG YEAR IN DELORO

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The year 1916, half way through the first world war, left many businesses seriously crippled or even shut down. But, as the Marmora Herald reported in June, 1916, Deloro was just the opposite. According to that report, even though supplies were cut off, prices were unpredictable, and shipping a nightmare, the company (Deloro Smelting and Reduction Co) and its employees made sacrifices to turn things around.

“As a result, extensively building operations are now under way by the Company. Messrs. Curran and Clement have a contract for the erection of six big double houses, a store (click here for more on the store) and a school. The buildings will be constructed of cement blocks and will be up-to-date. The contractors have a very complete plant and can turn out a large number of blocks in a day. The houses will have a cement wall through the centre, which will deaden all sound so that persons on one side will not be disturbed by those on the other any more than if they were in separate houses.

DID YOU KNOW?

A large number of men are employed in connection with these operations, gangs being busy excavating while the blocks are being made. The Company is also installing a sprinkling system for fire protection. A big tank or stand pipe will be erected at a high elevation with a capacity of about 70,000 gallons.”

For more on the Deloro Smelting and Reduction Company, CLICK HERE.

$650,000 theft from Deloro - 1965

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In 1939 Deloro was the only company in North America capable of producing cobalt. The only other companies in the world producing this sought after metal were the Belgian company Katanga, and a Rhodesian company named Rhokana, which had no refinery of its own. With war looming and Germany approaching the Belgian border, the need for cobalt for planes and arms became more urgent. By agreement Deloro took on the Rhokana needs, with ore being shipped out of Africa at a port on the Indian ocean, shipped around the southern tip of Africa to New York and then on to Deloro, where it was refined and shipped to England. In 1940, the Germans overran the Katanga plant in Belgium, leaving Deloro the only refinery in the world. Deloro’s profits soared.

In their book, O’Brien, authors Scott and Astrid Young wrote:

Belleville Intelligencer June 29, 1965

“In 1949 the United States government, having been caught flat-footed out of cobalt before, decided to stockpile for the future, buying from the Deloro, Ontario, plant. A few months later when the Korean War began, the United States government sent men to Deloro to contract for sixty tons of cobalt a month, offering a premium price. Said Charles Buskard, then a thirty-four-year man at Deloro, "Our capacity by then had dropped back to thirty-five tons a month, so we had to build a new plant." That contract lasted until the end of 1958, with the 1,300-pound galvanized drums full of cobalt rolling out regularly into United States industries and stockpiles. In 1958 the Canadian government decided to stockpile a little, and did so—but left it on the Deloro property unguarded. When they decided to sell it in 1965 nobody could find the cobalt.“

On researching the mystery, we found little was reported on the matter, however on Aug. 12, 1965, the Winnipeg Free Press reported:

Stolen Cobalt Found TORONTO (CP) Six men  have been charged in connection with the disappearance of more than ($650,000.00) worth of cobalt stockpiled by the federal government at Deloro, Ont., the provincial police said today. Assistant Commissioner Harold Graham of the OPP said most of the disappearance over a long period was discovered last been "accounted for" in England and the United States.

On the 13th of August, 1965, the “Colonist” Newspaper of BC reported that six men had been arrested, after they discovered the barrels had been filled with sand and gravel. These included three metal scrap dealers, Irvine Moldaver, 50, of Peterborough, Leonard Vigodda, 27, of Belleville, and his father, Samuel Vigodda, 50.. Along with them were William Regan,  70, a watchman at the Deloro warehouse of Deloro Mining and Reduction Co., and two labourers, Herbert Maracle. Aged 40 labourer; Leonard Boulier, aged 20.

Ontario provincial police had worked with Scotland Yard of Great Britain and the US FBI on this case. The outcome of the arrests, according to a Marmora Herald article, dated Oct 27, 1966, was that Leonard Vigodda was sentenced to two and a half years, while four others were freed. The outcome for the sixth is unknown. However that is not the end of the story.

In a lawsuit dated June 1, 1970, wherein the Deloro Smelting and Mining Company was suing to recover its losses, we find “It is alleged that on or about May 1, 1964, and thereafter, one Leonard Vigodda, a principal of Markel Metals and Minerals, Ltd., with others, perpetrated a series of thefts of the cobalt and converted it to his own use. It is alleged further that subsequently he sold and delivered the converted metal to the third-party defendant, H. Klaff and Company, Inc., a Maryland corporation, in Baltimore, Maryland. Thereafter, between May, 1964 and January, 1965, Klaff in turn sold this same lot of stolen cobalt in Baltimore to K. Hettleman and Sons, a division of Minerals and Chemicals Phillip Corporation, located in Maryland. In 1967, Minerals and Chemicals merged into Engelhard Minerals and Chemicals Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the defendant”. (In 2004, that company had 6500 employees and sales of $4.17 billion)

Hopefully Deloro got its money back!

ALL EYES ON A MEMORIAL

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It was Dec. 1, 1920 when a small group of councillors from our three municipalities convened at the Town Hall in Marmora to “organize a movement that would result in the erection of a suitable memorial to the men of this district who served in the Great War”. While the sentiment was unanimous that a memorial was an appropriate expenditure, what form it should take was a matter of discussion.

Henry Reginald . Pearce

A committee of twelve was struck to prepare plans of action to bring before the public. Chairing the committee was Henry Reginald Pearce (builder of the present day Marmora Inn), who was president of the Marmora, Deloro and District Branch of the Great War Veterans Association (the predecessor of the Royal Canadian Legion). Along side was two other member of that organization, as well as the Reeve and two other reps from each of the Municipalities.

Mr. S.B. Wright, Reeve of Deloro, made it clear from the start that Deloro reserved the right to remain independent to consider fundraising for a a memorial for Deloro. He, however, assured the committee that Deloro would work to the best interests of everyone.

Sidney B. Wright, Reeve of Deloro

One suggestion that received considerable favour, made by Mr. John Wesley Richardson, Reeve of Marmora and Lake Township, was to plan a memorial in connection with the new Continuation School. (This building at the corner of Madoc and Victoria Streets burned down in 1989, replaced by Drummond Apartments). One thing was clearly agreed upon, though. The memorial should be something useful.

The rest is history…….

The memorial was to be a building that was of service to the whole community and a fitting tribute to the men who served overseas, and to the G.W.V.A. - a library, with a reading room, with perhaps an office of some kind, residences upstairs and even perhaps a hospital.

The Proposal looked like an ambitious one and the amount required would probably be considerably more than many had contemplated. But as the Marmora Herald commented, “Compared with what was accomplished during the war, the task of financing the project would be small.”

Although it took eight years before the memorial was erected, isn’t it perfectly fitting that all the memories of those that served in the wars, along with all the stories of their communities, are now housed in that very memorial building erected so long ago?

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEMORIAL BUILDING

The Sad Thomson Stories of 1937

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Dr. David Thomson was one of Marmora’s doctors, practising from 1910 to 1933. His family included his wife, Mary, daughters, Hilda and Jean, and son, Jim. They lived in a yellow brick house on the south-east corner of #14 and #7, where our post office now sits. As a prominent member of the Village, and living in a beautiful home at the very centre of town, life seemed perfect for the doctor.

Miss Hilda Thomson

But 1937 was a year of darkness for the family. In November, the shocking news was released that his brother’s grave had been robbed. But that was nothing compared to December’s news that his daughter, HIlda had been found dead from exposure, in what appeared to be a suicide.

Nov. 11, 1937

Nov. 11, 1937

Dr. David Thomson, Hilda and mother, Mary, Mary Thomson, Daughter, Jean Dr. Thomson and son, Jim

News from the Train Station

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The Marmora Railway Station, named Wolfe Station after Richard Wolfe who was murdered close by, was opened in July of 1883, hosting the arrivals and departures of passengers and cargo to and from Belleville and then Coe Hill. By 1907, passengers were able to ride all the way to Bancroft. The man to sell you your ticket at that time was David Ernest Bell, the station master there for thirty years. The following is an article from the Marmora Herald, sent to us by Wilma Bush, with photos from his family.

David Ernest Bell 1926-27.jpg

From the Marmora Herald - 1936


Mr. D. Ernest Bell, agent at Marmora Station for the past 30 years, has been appointed agent at CN Railway Station in Peterborough.

When Mr. Bell came to Marmora the station belonged to the Central Ontario Railway, which extended from Picton to Bancroft and Coe Hill.  Later the COR became part of the Canadian Northern Railway system and then the Grand Trunk, Grand Trunk Pacific, Canadian Northern and various other lines were amalgamated to form the CNR.  Mr. Bell remained in charge of the station.

    Marmora Station has been one of the most profitable stations outside of large towns or cities owing to Deloro Smelting & Refining Co.  Mr. Bell has been a highly competent official - has had the confidence of fellow employees by the fact he has been chosen as chairman of the Divisional Railway Telegraphers Association for a number of years.  

  Mr. Bell will be greatly missed as a citizen of Marmora Village.  He has served as a member of Council for quite a number of years.  At the recent election he was elected Reeve for 1936.  Mr. Bell also acted as Village auditor for a number of years. .

Helena Bell, 1926-27

Mr. and Mrs. (Helena) Bell will both be greatly missed by St. Andrew’s United Church.  Mr. Bell has been secretary of the Official Board for many years.  Mrs. Bell has been a member of the choir and officer of the Women’s Association.  Mr. Bell has held various offices in the Masonic Lodge being secretary for many years.  He was President of the Booster Club and has been connected with nearly every movement for the welfare of the Village, including the Public Library of which he was chairman of the Board.

Mrs Bell has been an officer in the Women’s Institute and helped in other organizations.  Both will be greatly missed.

Mr. & Mrs. Bell had one child, Lorraine Hendershot. Lorraine & her husband Bill had one daughter, Carol and one son , John.

1898 Child Murder in Marmora

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(Toronto star photo) Despite its promising beginnings, the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women in Toronto would become the centre of controversy with allegations of torture, beatings, experimental drugs, and medical procedures, all in the name of reform. Closed in 1969 , the site where the old reformatory existed is now the Alan Lamport Stadium. All that structurally remains from the original site is the superintendent's house at the corner of King Street and Fraser Ave. (Wikipedia)

The case of Helen Darrach of Marmora, who was accused of child murder, came up at the assizes on Sept. the 28th. From the evidence it appears that the girl was in the employ of John Terrion who lives near Marmora and that on May 24 last she gave birth to a child of whose murder she stood accused. .Mr. and Mrs. Terrion gave evidence as to the circumstances surrounding the birth, and as to the finding of the infant’s body and the subsequent proceedings. Dr. Sutton of Madoc was called in as coroner and held an investigation at which Drs. Jones and MacKechnie of Marmora held a post-mortem examination. They tried what is known as the hydrostatic test on the body to see if the child had lived after birth. On this test in which the child's lungs are said to have floated, rested the charge. The body showed marks of violence about the neck and the mouth was full of excrement.

Mr. W. J. Camon, who defended the prisoner, cross-examined Drs. Jones and Sutton carefully and did not  put in any defence. On the former's cross-examination he did not positively swear as to the fact of life having been present at birth. Hon. Chancellor Boyd addressed the jury and advised them to dismiss the charge of murder and find the girl guilty of desertion and failure to provide for her offspring, and concealment of birth, The jury did so without leaving their seats and the chancellor gave the unfortunate young woman a very kindly lecture and sentenced her to two years in Central prison. (That was the Andrew Mercer Reformatory for women) The crime was evidently the result of gross ignorance as the unfortunate woman is almost wholly illiterate. The despicable scamp who was the cause of her downfall is said to be a business man in the village of Marmora Belleville Sun. and North Hastings Review Oct. 1898,

The view of the Reformatory location now - Lamport Stadium

TALKIES RUINING SMALL TOWNS

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In April of 1919, the Great War Veterans Association of Marmora had purchased a motion picture machine that was considered the latest and the greatest. (See here). Silent movies were all the rage, with regular weekly viewing at the Town Hall for only 25 cents.

But by 1929 a new threat lurked outside the village……..

Movies, Talkies 1929.jpg

MOVIES - 1937-1944

Grand Opening - December 1959

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December 17, 1959  THE RELM CLUB OPENS TOMORROW NIGHT

The new dance hall and banquet room in connection with Marmora Heights Restaurant will have its grand opening tomorrow evening, Dec. 18th.The hall has been named the Relm Club and will cater to banquets, dances and other special events.

The new building has been erected by Mr. Russ. Jarvis at the west side of Marmora Heights Restaurant and Mr. Jarvis has spared no expense in providing the finest accommodation in the area.

The new addition is 40 ft. wide and 105 ft. long and is of  cement block construction  with a flat roof.

The interior  is finished with stained and varnished plywood walls, ten-test ceiling and a beautiful hardwood floor.  A stage is set at the extreme  west end, raised above the floor level and lighted with rose and green colored lights which can be varied to provide different effects and .gives a very attractive setting for the orchestra.

There rare recessed lights in two rows in the ceiling,  the length at the building and coloured spot lights in sets down the centre.   Fluorescent tube lights are fastened at intervals along each wall.

At the east end next  to the restaurant,  there is an attractive lobby, a cloakroom and washrooms for ladies and gentlemen, complete with modern fittings.

The kitchen in the restaurant part has been increased in size and will now extend the full length of the restaurant taking in the room formerly used for displaying novelties and fishing tackle and being connected with the new room.

Pink & black - like this?

Attractive new tables and chairs  have been secured, the tables having a pink arborite top and black wrougt iron legs, and the chairs are of a type that can be conveniently stacked when not required. It is estimated that they can accommodate about 300 people at one time.

Mr. Jarvis has arranged for the Modernairs Orchestra to provide the music for the opening night and dancing will be enjoyed from 9 p.m. to 1.00 a.m. Admittance will be restricted to couples only at this dance,

READ MORE ABOUT THIS BUSINESS AND OTHERS TO THE WEST OF MARMORA.

JUST CLICK HERE.

Hot Time in the Old Times!

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In August of 1922,  Alfred T. Neal,  proprietor of the Royal Hotel, purchased from Judge James Parker  a strip of land at Crowe Lake,  including the beach and the "Marble Rock"  now known as Marble Point. By April of 1923 he had started construction of a dancing Pavilion,  complete with  a 50 by 30 foot hardwood  dance floor,  a Delco lighting system and dressing rooms for bathers below.  It was known as  the MARBLE CLIFF PAVILION.

The music for the dancing was furnished by the Myers Orchestra of Toronto,  who were so popular they were contracted for the whole season. Wynn Myers was the conductor and violinist; his brother, H. Myers, pianist, and Fred Boland, drummer. Besides the week night dances,  a concert is given in the pavilion every Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock and it is nothing unusual to house over 300 guests at these affairs. Many of the guests at the hotel are lodged in cottages owned by Mr. Neal and situated in a beautiful grove on a high hill overlooking the lake.

As badluck would have it, however,  the Pavilion burned down less than two years later.  Due to popular demand,  it was rebuilt and became known as MARBLE POINT LODGE.  (Now privately owned.)

TO READ MORE ABOUT MARBLE POINT LODGE,  CLICK HERE
 

The Pearce Company Ablaze

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When walking down by the Marmora dam today and passiing the many different relics of days gone by,  one can't help feel the ghostly presence of the hive of activity that once existed there.  Most of the ruins visible today are the left overs of the Pearce Company dynasty,  started in 1873 to mill  and sell everything from lumber to gold.

Click on photos for larger view

But while the sky seemed the limit,  the Pearce family was soon to learn how quickly all can be wiped out by fire.   On May 18, 1905,  the Herald described the fire that wiped out a section of Main street,  from Reginald Street to Madoc Street.

 "The fine 'Arcade" Block', containing several stores, the "Herald" printing office, and upstairs offices, was totally destroyed, entailing heavy loss to the occupants. J. W. Pearce, M.P.P., occupied the largest premises in the block, with a large general store and he will be a heavy loser. 

Then again,  On August 20th, 1920,  the Pearce Company's office,  planing mill,  dry kiln and two long sheds containing a considerable quantity of lumber were totally destroyed....."  Because of that event,  all company books prior to 1920 were lost,  as were the public and cotinuation school records.

With hardly enough time to recover from that disaster,  in September of 1921 the alarm rang out a third time for the Pearces,  this time with a massive fire that would destroy the woollen mill, the old electrical plant and the stables.  When the firehose was discovered to be deliberately slit,  the village requested an investigation and offered a reward of $200.00  to find the arsonist,  and within two weeks,  William Bayett was arrested.

             JUST CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT                                     THE PEARCES AND THEIR DYNASTY

 

DID HE STEAL FROM THE DELORO MINES?

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In the perfect little community of Deloro in the early 1900's,  crime existed as in any little community,  however,  Deloro had the added enticement of carloads of silver being shipped out on a daily basis. In 1909 William Kevz from Finland seems to have been running a second career with Deloro silver.  (see left).   On February 10, 1910,  the Marmora Herald wrote,  "It is alleged that Deloro Works have been systematically robbed for some time. Three arrests have already been made and a considerable quantity of refined silver and silver ore have been found. The Crown is taking active measures to protect the property of the Company."

A foreigner, who went by the names of Hill and also Lappe, came up before Judge Deroche on Wednesday of last week for stealing a quantity of silver from Deloro Mining & Reduction Company. He was sentenced to the Provincial Reformatory for two years less a day.
February 3, 1916

In Sept  1918,  William Hymen and Joseph O'Brien of Montreal,  employees at Deloro, spent a night in the cells of the Marmora Town Hall,  charged with stealing silver.  They pleaded guilty in front of Magistrates B.C. Hubbel and William Bonter,  but claimed they only wanted a little bit as "souvenirs".  As their fine and costs amounted to more than the combined resources of the two,  it was agreed they might go and find a new job somewhere else.  They were 16 and 17 years old. 

Silver was not the only motive for theft, however.  In March of 1911, Frank Gunyar,  an employee in Deloro  (formerly working for the Pearce Lumber Co.)  stole $50.00 from a foreign workman there and enjoyed 30  days in the County jail.  In February of 1917,  an employee of the company stood before Magistrates H.R. Pearce and B.C. Hubbell on a charge of stealing a quantity of Stelllite.  Found guilty,  he was fined $5.00 & costs,  plus the value of the stolen material,  worth less than $10.00.

But our favourite act of deceit was performed by H.H. Duquette,  who,  having borrowed a suit from Harold Bartlett,   a Deloro  employee,  liked it so much,  he didn't give it back.  He was arrested in Springbrook,  and  brought back to Marmora,  where he was committed to Belleville jail to await a trial!  We never found out what became of Monsieur Duquette,  but we now know they are tough in Deloro when it comes to stealing their clothes!

Bad luck at the Free Methodist Church

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1958

On the closing of  St. Andrew's Presbyterian church  in 1923, the remaining members of the congregation attended· the Marmora Methodist Church.  In 1925 "The Little Church on the Hill" was sold to the members of the Free Methodist Church.  But in 1958 bad luck struck and the Free Methodists were forced to tear the building down.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS PRETTY LITTLE CHURCH ON THE HILL

 

Aug. 8, 1938 - Marmora Song To Be On Radio

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William John Cottrell was a popular man about town in Marmora,  in the 1930's to the 1960's.  He arrived from England as a young man,    working in the silver plant of the Deloro Smelting and Refining Co..  There   he found time to be a local news reporter for the Toronto Telegram,  the Peterborough Examiner,  Marmora Herald  and the Belleville Intelligencer.  He was a story teller,  a lecturer,   a writer and historian. He served in WW1 and was a Legion member,   His community service involved  lay reading at  St. Paul's Anglican Church,   choir membership, and writing the history of the church.   He was enrolled  in the Masons,  the Orange Lodge,   and the Order of the Odd Fellows.  However,   according to an article in the Marmora Herald on August 8, 1938,  he was also a song-writer:

 

 "Contented Valley, the first song written in Marmora to be heard on a broadcast, is to be included in the initial program of "Songs of Canada" the Canadian Song Writer's own program to be heard over CKOC on Monday, Sept. 12th, at 8 P.M. The vocalist will be Howard Jerome, organist of Trinity Baptist Church, Hamilton.............................. The author of "Contented Valley" is W. J. Cottrell and the composer is Charles Wellinger.*   Owing to difficulty experienced in this district in getting CKOC, Mr. Wellinger is endeavouring to arrange for "Contented Valley" to be sung over CFRB in which event, due notice will be given residents."

Mr. Cottrell died in the Queensborough Nursing Home on on Sept. 4, 1968,  where he had lived for the last 15 years of his life.  In the future,  we hope to share some of his stories.  Stay tuned.

*Charles Wellinger was a well known Canadian writer of Ragtime music, living in Toronto.

On November 9, 2018, Coralie Fountain wrote:

I am W.J. Cottrell’s grandaughter. My mum was his daughter Ruth. I had a sister and brother, who unfortunately are both dead . I was so chuffed to find this as I did not know a great deal about him . I was wondering if you could send me a copy of the Contented Valley and any other information you may have .It was so nice to know he was so well respected by the people of Marmora.

Left - Dec. 2018 - The Marmora Historical Foundation found a second example of Cottrell’s sheet music, again with words by W.J. Cottrell.

Below:

W.J. Cottrell was also a writer, licenced lay reader, a local news reporter, a story teller, a veteran, a Deloro silver plant worker, and now we discover with this pamphlet, he was a poet

DELORO ACCIDENT

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March 9, 1967

Six Year Old David Deering regained consciousness last Friday evening after five days in a coma. David was injured when struck by a car while sleigh riding on the road through Deloro. The youngster was rushed to Belleville where he underwent an emergency operation and then was moved to Kingston where several more operations were performed to save this six year old's life. The injuries suffered by Dave were a fractured skull, bruised section of the brain, broken hip and many less severe cuts and abrasions. A great load was lifted from the inhabitants
of Deloro when word was received that David was off the critical list and had been moved to the pediatrics section of the Hotel Dieu Hospital.

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