Ackerman Mine Fishing
/Rev. Jim Dalton sent this from Montreal:
JIm Dalton (Deloro) fishing below Ackerman Mine Spring of 1949. Photo taken by H. Boley and appeared in the Globe and Mail May 1949.
YOUR STORIES
Upload your stories in our TELL US YOUR STORY section here!
(If you reach the bottom of the page, hit "Next". There's more!)
Dr. Herbert Garfield Parkin
/Since we are getting a few comments about Dr. Parkin, we have decided to dedicate a page to your Dr. Parkin stories.
Dr. Herbert Garfield Parkin
Mike Empey writes: " I used to love visiting Dr Parkin as a boy. His wonderful wife always had a treat for me and he would clean and pull the sharps from needles and give them to us a squirt guns lol" Oct. 22, 2014
Julie Mckenzie-Post writes: "He taught me to tie shoe laces!" Oct. 21, 2014
Annette Taylor writes: " He was certainly dedicated to his profession." Oct. 21, 2014
Derek Meiklejohn writes : " He delivered me." Oct. 23, 2014
Wendy Danford writes "very few doctors like him now, would see you anytime if you were ill, made house calls, I wish I could see a doctor like him now, I am sure I would recover." Nov 24, 2014
Sharon Anne Vesterfelt writes: "He sure was there to look after Marmora when they needed him". Nov. 24, 2014
The Day we (sort of) met George Harrison - by Chris Faiers
/
It was late summer. A bunch of L'Auberge regulars decided to take a Sunday trek to see George Harrison, who was rumoured to be living in a little village named Esher. We hopped on the double-decker bus in Richmond, and after an hour or so of riding we arrived in Esher. The ten of us were a scraggly lot, all would-be hippies trying to grow our hair long, the girls dressed in shawls and long skirts and granny boots.
Our goals were the standard ones in 1969 - California Jon, Canadian Peter and a couple of other guitarists had made a tape, and wanted Harrison's opinion of it. I had a copy of my just printed haiku chapbook, Cricket Formations, and I hoped to get up enough nerve to present my poems to my idol. And of course we all wanted to meet a real live Beatle!
Harrison was my favourite Beatle, largely because he was the one closest to me in physical appearance, with his craggy face and dark hair. I had modeled my haircut and clothes on Harrison for some time. I also thought he was the most interesting Beatle because of his enthusiasm for Eastern mysticism.
Someone had gotten good directions, for we actually found Harrison's house without a lot of trouble. Located in a very staid, upper- middle-class suburban neighbourhood, the house stood out like a psychedelic advertisement. A high fence bordered the large lot, and the house was painted a myriad of colours, like something out of the movie Yellow 5ubmarine. We were all entranced to be setting foot in a sacred preserve of Beatledom, and after knocking on the door and receiving no answer, we boldly began surveying the premises.
"MICK & MARIANNE WUZ HERE!" was spray painted on the front wall, and this further consecrated the property. Our rock heroes actually lived here, visited with each other, slept together, and had probably done these wild paintings on acid trips like our own. We were all strengthened in our faith as true believers in hippiedom.
Some of the group camped by the front door, and the guitar players started scratching on their ubiquitous instruments. I wandered around, and found a pair of George's jeans hanging on a clothesline. For a fleeting moment I was tempted to steal them, to see if my hero's jeans would fit.
Manicured lawn would-be hippies wait for a Beatle
A touch of the Beatles' famous ironic humour was present in a large wooden cross leaning against the back fence. I even had the nerve to peek in the draped windows. On the window ledge of one room was a collection of seashells. Miracle of miracles - there was even an apple tree - how appropriate for the founders of Apple records. If there was a heaven on earth, this was it for Beatle fans.
Seashell lined window apples rotting in the yard suburban fences
I rejoined the group on the front lawn, and soon a mini-car came scooting up the drive, quickly followed by a luxury sedan. The driver of the mini got out, and a not-very-pleased looking George Martin confronted us. He wanted to know what we were doing, and while we
all sat there stunned, George and Patti Harrison disembarked from the sedan. George wasn't really very prepossessing at all, but Patti was a vision of beauty, a psychedelic queen who smiled on us and calmed down the two very aggravated Georges. She knew that we were harmless fans come to honour Beatledom, and while she smiled her guileless smile, we felt like we were in the presence of a divine goddess from another reality. Canadian Peter recovered first, and awkwardly handed George Harrison the tape, mumbling something. I followed suit, even more awkwardly giving George my thin booklet, and saying I hoped he would enjoy it.
An invitation inside was not forthcoming, although I believe Patti wanted to ask us in. We were so enthralled at meeting George and Patti, awkward as all involved had been, that we decamped and blissfully headed back in the dusk for the bus to Richmond.
Several weeks later, a few members of the entourage went back to pick up the tape. Apparently a record contract wasn't immediately offered, but Canadian Peter did have some good news for me, "George Harrison told me to tell you that he really liked your poetry." I was thrilled, even though I now realized that Harrison was a mere, awkward mortal, and I was no longer in his thrall. As a postscript, I note that George Harrison's first solo album, All Things Must Pass, had the lyrics printed on the sleeve like poems. I like to fantasize that maybe my booklet had some subtle influence, but that's wild hope and speculation ...
Downtown "Shoot out" in Marmora (by Lou Wilson)
/This photo, 1962, supplied by Wayne VanVolkenburg shows the "Pearce Street Boys" - Bernie Stewart, Wayne Van- Volkenburg, James "Squeak" Reynolds Back rt. Ken Horton, & possibly Doug Falls.
Happier Times
One Saturday night before midnight, in the late 60's on the main drag in Marmora Ontario, James "Squeak" Reynolds, about 26 years old, had a history of mental problems decided he was going to shoot up the hotel because they would not serve him anymore beer. He was on the "Prohibited" list. No alcohol was supposed to be served to him in the county. He had historically gone crazy on occasions prior to the court judgement. He wandered down to the hardware store and broke in to get a gun. Three of us who knew him came along & spotted him inside. I climbed up on the front window to look inside and he took a shot at me and missed by 2 inches - See arrow. It turned into a major event with many police.He also had fired several shots into the ceiling after he heard noises from the residents. The father mother and 2 daughters were in the iron bathtub for safety. A couple of my friends went around back to get him out as the police were on their way. He fired through the door and one fellow fell to the ground bleeding. Luckily it was just shattered glass from the storm door that cut him He wandered out on the street with a rifle firing up and down the street. About 200 people had collected all behind or under cars. The cops shot him 3 times; he went down; I rushed over to restrain him as well as some cops. He still had the strength to lift my whole body in the air. He survived. I was to be a witness against my wishes but I never had to testify. He could not see anything without his glasses. I noticed just before he shot they were all broken. So he was shooting at sounds. Right about where the GE sign is. Now we would call this terrorism but in Marmara in the 60;s it was just another Saturday night. Right about where the GE sign is.
Click here for the full newspaper report.
This photo, 1962, supplied by Wayne VanVolkenburg shows the "Pearce Street Boys" - Bernie Stewart, Wayne Van- Volkenburg, James "Squeak" Reynolds Back rt. Ken Horton, & possibly Doug Falls.
COMMENTS:
John Croskery: We were headed to the pool hall at the dance intermission. Saw someone at the cash register, thinking it was Leo Provost I knocked on the window. When Squeak turned around with a rifle we took cover.
Sharon Anne Vesterfelt: Remember that night so well. Teen dance at the town hall and we all headed to front street when we heard the excitement!!!!!
Celia Murray: I can't bring myself to hit the like button...it was a terrifying night.
Penny Barrons: My first thoughts were for the Murrays. What a frightening thing for them to experience.
Pat McCrodan: Joe Murray was lucky upstairs
Wayne VanVolkenburg added: We lived across the street from James aka "squeak" for many years. Unless he had too much to drink, he was a very quiet peaceful person. He liked to knit and even designed his own patterns. Many nights I would see him sitting in the rocking chair, knitting away.
I would imagine that he would have been a good marksman with all of his militia training, but as Lou mentioned, he was almost blind without his coke bottle thick glasses
Gladneys from Ireland, 1842 (by Janet Long)
/Ruth Meath Gladney Devlin
The name Marmora always evokes memories of my grandmother and her brother swapping stories of family. My grandmother's great-great grandfather, William Gladney (born 1780 on Lord Carew's estate in Wexford, Ireland) came to Marmora, according to family notes, in 1842. He brought his wife, Elizabeth Hampton, followed by their daughter Sarah and her husband John Meath, daughter Mary Ann and her husband Joseph Reid, daughter Jane and her husband Daniel Minchin (later Mrs. Richard Laycock also) and son Edward Gladney, who married Ruth Meath. William was a miller on Lord Carew's estate and probably continued with that occupation in Marmora, possibly at Pearce's Mill. He and his wife died within months of each other in 1850-1 while their children prospered and lived for many years in Marmora. There are still descendants of this family there now.
For more on Gladneys click here
Click here for Gladney business
Laycocks in Marmora 1800s rICHARD AND HIS WIFE, jANE gLADNEY mINCHIN lAYCOCK, , HER DAUGHTER, mARTHA AND THEIR SON, rALPH
Burke's Hill in Deloro (by Brenda Brooks Skof)
/1948 O'Brien St. (looking south)
Standing at the General Store in Deloro, and looking north up the street, you come to a small hill where the houses end (this hill appeared very big to us when we were children, today not so much) and we call this hill "The Crusher". Continuing northwards towards Malone, there was a straight road and then a huge hill and on the top of that hill was where the farms were (the Doyles, the Bedores, the Wileys, etc.). This was known as Burke's Hill, and it was a great place for us to watch the horse-drawn sleighs delivering the milk and other supplies, plus other activities.
My grandparents Daisy & Harry Smith and my parents, George & Daisy Brooks (by Brenda Brooks Skof)
/My grandfather, Harry Smith, emigrated to Canada in 1911, and settled in Deloro to work at Deloro Stellite. My grandmother, Daisy Reay Smith followed shortly thereafter with their three children, Harry, Daisy (my mother) and Norman. Harry Smith Jr eventually became a member of the Deloro Stellite Quarter Century Club. Harry Smith Sr. worked as foreman at Deloro Stellite until his death in 1940. Harry and Daisy Smith operated a small boarding house in Deloro shown in the photo below. They had ten children in all: Harry, Daisy and Norman (all born in the U.K.) and the remaining seven children born in Deloro being Simeon, Richard, Iris, William Maye, Betty and Marjorie.
Harry and Daisy Smith are buried in the Smith Plot, Marmora Protestant Cemetery, with William and Iris, and Richard Cyril Smith buried in Legion Section of Marmora Protestant Cemetery
Harry and Daisy Smith, in front of their boarding house in Deloro
George & Daisy Brooks with their 13 children on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary, 1950
Daisy Smith Brooks and George Charles Brooks, parents, sitting on the couch.....Left side of Daisy, listing the youngest girl to the oldest as: Sylvia, Brenda, Jean, Evelyn and Winifred.
Right side of George, listing the youngest boy to the oldest: Kenneth, Victor, Harry, Jim, Tom, Stan, Sid and Bob.
My father, George Brooks, emigrated to Canada in 1922 from Bognor Regis, Sussex, U.K. and ended up working at Deloro Stellite in Deloro. He lived at my grandparent's boarding house and there met my mother Daisy Smith. (born West Hartepool, U.K., born July 26, 1907) They were married in 1925, settling in Deloro. There were 13 children born and raised in Deloro, - Winnie, Bob, Sid, Stan, Evelyn, Tom, Jean, Jim, Harry, Brenda, Vic, Ken and Sylvia
George and Daisy moved to Belleville at the closing of the plant in Deloro and after my father's death in 1968, my mother Daisy Brooks returned to Marmora, where she lived in the apartment over the library until her death in 1986. George and Daisy are buried at Marmora Protestant Cemetery with Harry and Sylvia in the Brooks Plot, Winnie (Nobes) buried in Legion Section of Marmora Protestant Cemetery and Stan is buried in Beaver Creek Cemetery.
George managed almost every sports team in Deloro, and played on some as well, including the Deloro Lawn Bowlers League, winning the Silver Trophy.. He also played for “The Bognor Rocks”, West Sussex Soccer League on the Championship Team in the U.K. in 1921-22. He was a shoemaker by trade in the U.K. and he repaired his children’s footwear, made football cleats for his sons, and baseball bats and hockey sticks for his sons and daughters but when playing ball his children did so bare-handed. Geoge was bugle player, drummer, spoons, bones, piano, and harmonica player.
Marmora Soap Factory burns down (by Ann-Marie Willman-Spry)
/"Mom remembered when the soap factory burned. She said the suds could be seen in the river for almost a year."
MHF adds: This building which stood just south of the dam on the east bank of the Crowe River, was first built as a potashery. It is also considered Marmora's first school house, although Charles Hayes showed a school on his 1824 map at the corner of Mill St. & Cordova Rd. We have no evidence yet, however, that this school existed.. Some time around 1918, Mr. W. Fraser Bowen, a former Polmolive Co, salesman, opened his soap factory in the abandoned building, however, it was not long after that the factory burned down. It was believed to be a case of arson. Some of the ruins remain.
The murder of Richard Wolfe 1874 (by Bill O'Keefe)
/
Hughes Cemetery, Centre Line Road, Marmora, Richard Wolfe, 1874
My 3rd great grandfather was Robert O'Neill who married Ellen Wolfe, (sister of Richard Wolfe, who was murdered) This is an excerpt from the Renfrew Mercury from Oct 15 1874.
"About 9:00 last evening a dreadful murder was committed about 5 miles from Marmora. The murdered man, Richard Wolfe, resided about five miles from here andwas in the village during the day, where he had an altercation and fight with Thomas White, who left the village about dusk for home. Wolfe waited for some time and then started for home . both of them travelling the same road. When about 2 miles out he came up with White and Wheeler. White, being out of the wagon, attacked Wolfe and stabbed him in the thigh, cutting his femoral artery lengthwise about one inch and one half, he fell back and died on the spot."
CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE TRIAL
Richard (1826-1874) was the son of John Wolfe 1782–1885 and Mary Ellen Young 1800–1880
His siblings included
Ellen Wolfe 1821–1878 , married Robert O’Neill (1814-1888)
Nancy Wolfe 1824– married Patrick Connelly (1822–1890)
Mary Margaret Wolfe 1830–1883, married John O’Connor (1826-1901)
Nicholas Wolfe 1832–1833,
John Wolfe 1836–1874,
William Wolfe 1839–1840
Elizabeth Wolfe 1841–1922, married Michael O’Connor
Ester Wolfe 1844–1923 married John McCallum
His wife and children were: Ellen Connelly (1836-1869) and five children:
John Wolfe 1854–1860
Mary Margaret "Maggie" Wolfe 1857–1916 married James Shannon and Thomas Cain
Daniel Wolfe 1860–
Hester Anne Wolfe (Hattie) 1864– 1931 married John Romantus McKinnon
Frances Elizabeth (Fanny) Wolfe 1863–1942 married John E. Maloney
Ed O’Connor with wife, Elizabeth Wolfe
Margie Royle adds: I remember my grandfather, Ed O'Connor, telling stories about that man who was murdered. I believe he may have been Grandpa's uncle, as his mother was Elizabeth Wolfe. (another sister of Richard Wolfe)She is buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
The Tipperary & Jean Gauthier McGrath (by Wilma Bush)
/
I often wonder if anyone, over the years, ever taped or made a video of Jean (Gauthier) McGrath singing Ave Maria at numerous weddings in Sacred Heart. She had a lovely voice - a French lady who came from Timmins - operated Tipperary House on Marble Point Rd with husband Jim - had overnight guests - served meals & had a small shop in the one room where I I had my first popsickle - Mom preferred their Eskimo Pies! We loved it when she attended any of the bonfires around Crowe Lake because we were able to hear her voice again. She & Jim were godparents of my brother Jim McKinnon.
The Tipperary Hotel, Marble Point Road, Crowe Lake, Marmora (now demolished)
Joanne MacKenzie Thompson adds: I wish I had seen these pics when we owned the Tipperary (1983-1989)...it would have been wonderful to have that front/side verandah facing the water again...we only had a small front porch.
Andy Logan adds: Great shot of the Tipperary House. My grandfather (Grampa Hulsman) used to own it. I was just a wee lad then but remember there celebrating his 90th birthday.
Shannick School House (by Dennis Logan)
/Shannick School House S.S.#10
My Dad went to school there and made lifelong friends with the Trenears when they bought it in the early 70's. The old Shannick post office was located just behind the school house. The old stone foundation of the post office is all that remains.
School Section #10 Shanick Public School 1914-1915
John O'Neill and Annie McGrath (by Bill O'Keefe)
/
John O'Neill and Annie McGrath
Hello, My grandmother, Ellen O'Neill, was from Marmora. She married William O'Keefe in 1901 at Sacred Heart RC Church . She was the daughter of John O'Neill and Annie Shannon. Related names are, Wolfe,Shannon, O'Neill, Nihill,Hughes, Moloney, La Fontain ,Foley and many more. I have been researching these and other relatives from the Hastings county area for quite a few years. I have other pictures and stories also. The picture is my grandmother's brother John O'Neill and his wife Annie McGrath. Your web site is very good.
Bill O'Keefe
