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"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

Dr. Herbert Garfield Parkin

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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

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George Harrison.jpg

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)

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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.

Click here for more photos

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.

SEE BELOW THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED!

Gladneys from Ireland, 1842 (by Janet Long)

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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

Click here for Gladney family trees

Click here for more on Laycocks

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)

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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)

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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.