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REMEMBERING THE LYNCHES

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The story of my parents,

Vincent Lynch (1907-1982) and Anna Maloney Lynch (1905-1999)

by Vince Lynch Jr.

Vince was born in Westwood Ontario, the fourth child to Edward and Margaret Lynch. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Marmora, where his father was joint owner operator of the Lynch-Ryan Sawmill on the Deer River near Cordova.

Dad grew up in Marmora, Ontario, at 27 Bursthall Street. He probably assisted in the Lynch-Ryan Sawmill operation at a young age. On August 27, 1928 he married Anna Christina Maloney who was the sixth child of John and Christina Maloney (Cook) of Cordova, Ontario. The wedding took place at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Marmora. Rev. Fr. Keely performed the ceremony, with her sister, Gertrude Maloney, being the Maiden of Honour, and dad’s brother, Frank , was the best man.

1951 Deloro, Dept. of Miines Meeting, Tiny Yates, Charlie Buskard, James Shannon, Vince Lynch SECOND FROM RIGHT

Mom and dad honeymooned briefly at Niagara Falls and returned to reside in Marmora in our house at 27 Bursthall Street. They took ownership of the house on January 2, 1929 (from the estate of his father, Edward Lynch). They raised a family of seven children; Carl, Patricia, Morris, Doug, Keith, Anna and me, Vince. By the late forties, dad had his job as the chemist at the Deloro Smelting and Refining Co.; he was Reeve of Marmora (1947-52) and was secretary treasurer of the separate school board.

In 1949 dad decided to enter into the retail business and purchased the “Gladney” store at 1 McGill St. He started “Marmora’s Frosted Food” which was a meat processing facility, a large locker frozen food storage operation and a relatively small grocery store. Dad and mom worked tirelessly to get the store operational. Morris quit school to take over the butchering part of the operation and Doug, Keith, Anna and Vince all contributed, until they pursued their separate careers.

Vince and Anna Lynch Aug. 27, 1928

 In 1950, dad sold our house at 27 Bursthall Street and we moved in over the store (the house was later to be destroyed by fire in the late 1990’s). Ernie Belanger, a local painter, painted the large “Marmora’s Frosted Food” sign on the south side of the building. The business was quite successful but had to adjust during the late fifties as home freezers became popular.  Other product lines included selling paint, small appliances and making ice cubes and blocks for sale. The chilling room was often filled with up to 20 deer during hunting season. The deer awaited skinning, cutting and dividing equally among hunting gang members.

 In the late 1970’s, with dad’s health failing, Morris took over full operation and ownership of the store. Over time, the store operation was becoming less profitable, with competition from big box operations and less people buying locally. In 1987, Morris began phasing out store operations and evolving it into an ice business with his son Mike.

 Dad passed away in his sleep at home on June 19, 1982 (close to Father’s Day) and Mom passed away in Belleville General Hospital on May 3, 1999 (close to Mother’s Day). They are both buried in the Marmora Sacred Heart of Jesus cemetery.

Left: 1978 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Back Row L-R, Vince, Morris, Carl, Keith Front Row Doug, Patricia, Mom, Dad, Anna

"A SAW BY ANY OTHER NAME......"

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By Wayne VanVolkenburg

In the 1950's, sawmill slab wood was a common, inexpensive, source of heat. Once delivered to your yard, you could cut it on a sawhorse, with a buck saw, or pay to have someone with a circular “buzz saw” do the job for you. I'm sure that Ralph Nader, who attacked the auto industry with his book “Unsafe at any speed,” would have had a field day dissecting this piece of equipment.

George Pressick serviced the village with one of these mounted on his tractor, and powered by a belt to the power take off. Unfortunately, his son Glen had his hand severely injured, and later amputated, while using this piece of equipment. Glen, with the help of an artificial hand, went on to become one of the “The Men of Steel.”

Dearbourn buzz saw

Farmall circular saw

I believe Stewart Barrons owned the one in our community. He would move from farm to farm, along with farmers and every one's cord wood would be cut to stove length in short order. I can still hear the sound traveling across the landscape, zing, zing, zing with every cut that. —-Ronald Barrons

Everet Gray's father had one also….. —- Leo Provost

Pretty sure dad used one of these to chop the wood that we burned in the winter — — Jennifer Speiran

For more on lumbering, CLICK HERE

the vintage buck saw

The modern Bow saw

PIONEER CALLAGHAN AT THE RAPIDS

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Lynda Szmyr’s grandmother, Jean Morgan Callaghan, 1910

Have you ever wondered about the people that places are named after? - Bonarlaw, named after British Prime Minister Andrew Bonar Law, their only Prime Minister born outside the British Isles; or Blairton, named after Mr. Blair, who was the largest shareholder in the Cobourg, Peterborough & Marmora Railway and Mining Co.? Bailey’s Corners? Vansickle , Powell’s Mills, O’Hara Mills, or Lake Township?

Recently we received correspondence from Lynda Szmyr, who wrote to tell us of her great great great grandfather, Thomas Callaghan who, in 1836, acquired a crown grant for 200 acres, at Lot 1, Concession 2, Marmora Township to start farming, She writes,

“ Thomas & wife Judith Callaghan, and 8 children, came to Marmora with the 2nd wave of Irish Immigrants in 1825. He owned land, 200 acres, by the river at “Callaghan Rapids”. He grew potatoes, 100 bushels & corn. His son, Patrick, married Susan Shannon, (her parents were John Shannon & Margaret Hammel) and their son was Thomas Callaghan (Jr) & wife Bridget (Gallagher) who had only one son, John Joseph, my grandfather.”

This lot was settled and farmed by the Callaghan family from 1825 to the 1920s. In addition, Patrick settled 100 acres at the “Rapids”, being the west half of Lot 21, Concession 14 in Rawdon Township. But this was not the only property in the Callaghan name. Land records show that Thomas Sr. was also granted 120 acres at Lot 9, Concession 3,  patented Aug. 27, 1845, which appears to be the Marble Point shore of Crowe Lake.

In 1871, according to Lynda’s son, Christopher, Patrick settled 100 acres at the “Rapids”, being the west half of Lot 21, Concession 14 in Rawdon Township. expanding the family hold in the area. And so there you have it……Callaghan’s Rapids.

1830’s map with lettering added later (cALLAGHAN CIRCLED)

14th Concession of Rawdon Township 1878 hASTINGS hISTORICAL ATLAS

Lynda continued - “My grandfather, John Joseph Callaghan, was born on Oct. 14, 1891, (died 1970) in Marmora. His mother died when he was a young boy and so at the age of 16 or 17, he left for Oshawa to work at GM….He had a cottage on Blairton Bay, where I spent summers as a child.” (John Joseph married Jean Critchley Morgan(1897-1968). Their only daughter, Jeanie Callaghan(1922-1985), Lynda’s mother. )

Three generations of Callaghans, 1955

William Riddell added:

…..my great uncle, William Riddell, and my Grandfather (Ewen Riddell) each built cottages across from the rapids on Crowe River at the end of Morrison Rd. William Riddell named his cottage "Ramona", after the name of his dance hall.
I spend 13 fabulous summers in the late 40s and 50s at the 'Crowe'. It was a very enjoyable part of my childhood.
George Wellman and wife Cora, with son Barry had a cottage just 3 lots past my grandfather's. Barry one year trapped and caged a red fox but released it after a short while.
Thanks for bringing back the marvelous memories of Marmora and Crowe River.





 

Painting of Callaghan Rapids, Rawdon Township, by Christopher Szmyr, great great great great grandson of Thomas Callaghan, pioneer at Callaghan Rapids.

THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. LAIRD

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Having no idea of its origin, one of our readers recently sent us a photo of a locket inscribed

“PRESENTED SOLDIER’S WELCOME LEAGUE MARMORA, PTE JOHN LAIRD, #536315, 21ST BATTALION, APRIL 22, 1919

While today it sits on a shelf, a piece of WW1 memorabilia, it reminds us there is a story behind it, a story of life in Marmora, a call to war, of gratitude and, in this case tragedy.

Mr. John Laird came from Ireland, settling in Marmora in 1910, working for Dan Shannon at 20 Forsyth St. as a tin smith, a business he later took over after his return from the war. His enlisting for war service placed him in the 155th Battalion, but he was later moved the the 21st Battalion, which was the starting point of our search for details. We noticed he was not listed on the 21st Battalion website and with the help of Al Lloyd of Kingston, the omission was amended and now provides us with so many more details. (CLICK HERE)

BUT THAT’S NOT THE END OF THE STORY…..

John Laird returned from war and was shown appreciation for his service by the Marmora citizenry.

“On May 24, 1917 a meeting was held in the town hall to form a Welcome League. It was moved by S.B. Wright and seconded by T.E. Laycock that it be named "The Great War Marmora Soldier’s Welcome League". The object of the League was to suitably acknowledge the dead, wounded and those returning home from the Great War.

The League provided celebrations with suppers and dances, and presented each soldier with diplomas, and a ring or locket . John Laird would have attended with his wife, Pauline Grimshaw. Soon after, they took up residence in Campbellford, while spending the next thirty years working for Deloro Smelting and Refining Company. It was there that tragedy struck.

On July 18, 1950, John James Laird was accidentally killed in an industrial accident, his arm caught in a machine used for rolling steel. He left behind his wife and one daughter, Grace, and was buried at Little Lake Cemetery in Peterborough, where the grieving family had moved to.

And it was in Peterborough, in a neighbor’s house, where the locket was found.

For more stories from World War 1, CLICK HERE

 

THE STORY OF PRIVATE JAMES NASH - the Italian point of view

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The Marmora Historical Foundation was recently contacted by Rafaella Cortese de Bosis, an Italian historian/ journalist in Rome, who specializes in WWII. She is working on a series of stories of Canadians buried in the military cemeteries in Italy. Her mission was to find out more about Private James Nash, the man that Nash Street is named after,

Here is her moving article, in full. Her skill of descriptive narrative will put you right in the action:

Pvt. JOHN ALBERT (JAMES) NASH

Hastings and Prince Edward (Hasty PEs)

Bath, UK April 17, 1906 – Spittal am Drau, Austria October 29, 1943

The street sign reads “CARONIA km 40”. It is a small village perched in the Nebrodi mountain range in Sicily, with a breathtaking view over the Mediterranean sea. But John will never see the village and Caronia will only be a name on a street sign, hanging on a rusty pole. In that very spot, 40km from Caronia, John J Nash, Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, 1st Canadian Infantry, is captured by the Nazis, while he was drawing water for the wounded.

It is July 22, 1943. John participated in the Sicily landing. Code name “Operation Husky” and with his regiment he fought step by step, in minefields, climbing steep mountains, treading trails along cliffs, inching forward on his elbows, trying to arrive in time to rescue the wounded. John is a stretcher bearer. The July heat is unbearable in this area. The soil is cracked by draught. Shade is a rare commodity. And the ubiquitous dust mixes with sweat and lands on the burns caused by the sun. Some wear handkerchiefs on their head with the four knotted corners, others take their shirt off and wear it as a hat but get their backs burned.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY………..

THE EASTWOOD FAMILY

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Alderbrook Resort in Union, WA.jpeg

What does the Alderbrook Resort on Hood Canal, Washington have in common with Marmora?

The answer is CLARA EASTWOOD, the daughter of Edgar Eastwood, one of Marmora's butchers in the early 1900s. One of her sisters was Minnie the Millner, who married William Bonter; another was Victoria, the well known nurse who enlisted in the Expeditionary Forces of WW1, and one of her brothers was Fred who built cabins at Crowe Lake, near the Tipperary Hotel. CLARA EASTWOOD was the manager of the telephone system in 1909 until 1916, when she travelled to Seattle with her mother, Hanna Haughton. There, Clara remained and in 1927 she purchased the Alderbrook Resort which she developed into a first class inn with her business partner, Eloise Flagg until 1945 when they retired. THE ALDERBROOK RESORT is looking for any historical information on Clara. Let us know if you know anything!

Note: In our Marmora and Lake residents lists for 1879 and 1889, Edgar Eastwood is located on Lot 7, Con.4, but there is no trace of him in the land record for that lot. Possibly, he rented or leased the land. The Marmora Village business directory for 1879 lists his occupation as butcher and drover (one who drives cattle or sheep).

GERTRUDE BURNS, DELORO BUTCHER REMINISCES ..........

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In a 1978 interview with Georgina Rodden of the Peterborough Examiner, at the Deloro Nursing Home, Gertrude Marcella Burns (1899-1980) had a few stories to tell.

Miss Burns, a warm personality  of diminutive stature, is not only knowledgeable about the history of the Marmora area, but is probably as unique in her career background as any woman could get in Canada.  Miss Burns was a meat store butcher and proprietor nearly all her life.

Born and brought up in Marmora  Miss Burns contrasts her childhood with the ones of children she can see from the windows of the Home. "Right here at Deloro my father ( John Burns) and I delivered meat door to door. At first, it was with the horse and wagon, then with a little car which resembled  a wagon but was motored.

Her father's butcher shop was established just after the first World War and carried on through many changes in the village. Miss Burns recalls stewing beef at 15 cents per pound, T-bone steak 25 cents a pound and pork  was cheap, hardly anything for side pork.

Marmora had two butcher shops then. The school was in the building where the Legion is now . Our house and shop were on North Hastings Avenue “ Oh people simply turned their noses up at the innards .. .We made headcheese for the family, for ourselves, but very seldom ever sold much of it in the shop."

“I helped my father from the time when I was a small girl. I did go to Belleville and Toronto a little later on to do housework, but most of my life was taken up with the butcher shop. He broke his wrist really badly cranking up the car. I was the only one available to do the butchering, and I stayed at it until I was of retirement age.” She did everything "All but the killing.  Someone else did that for me."

Miss Burns carried on the trade after her father's death. She never had time for acquiring  needlework and crafts skills, although she has done a "bit of knitting." not anything she would care to do now. "We made our own entertainment  (when she was young)." she recalls. “ Spelling bees at school were the highlight, dances at the local halls with fiddles and mouth organs providing the music, and the dancing both squares and waltzes. Eventually, there were silent movies too.

"I'm the last of the family." she mentions, recalling the French background of both her parents, grandmother and great-grandmother who all came from Montreal to Marmora to settle, hardly speaking English. John Burns farmed at first, and certainly knew "a good many of the river drivers," having gotten to be a part of the lumbering operations in the area. At one time. Miss Burns says, her father was actually connected with the lumber company which loaded the logs at Marmora, after the river drivers had brought them down the tortuous river chain "from the north country."

Nov. 25, 1980

People, places, names come easy to her. "Marmora had dressmakers and hairdressers, bakery, bank, post office, blacksmithing , hardware and Marett’s clothes". I was just a kid when the first car arrived in 1909 . . . my brother was one of the first to drive a car .. . the very first car in Marmora belonged lo Charles McWilliams" . .

"Mostly women worked in the Deloro plant operation during  World War II," she recalls, herself among them as a grinder," "and the pay was poor,  an indication of the Deloro shutdown to come. When Deloro finally shut all its gates in the early1960s, its workers had been absorbed by Bethlehem Steel, by western and northern new industries, and Lake Ontario shoreline complexes.

"No. I don't see much of Marmora now  Miss Burns says. a trifle dolefully. She accompanied the interviewer to the  home's front door. One wishes the fact-finding foray and friendly exchange could last longer than it has.

TERRY FOX SLEPT HERE.

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DOES SUNSHINE MOTEL AND TAVERN RING A BELL? - A dinner bell, maybe?Fortunately for us, Mili Mezei, wrote to remind our readers of another little bit of “Disappearing Marmora” - the Sunshine Motel and Tavern, just west of Marmora on the #7, which was purchased by her parents in June of 1980. Having realized that there was no profit to be made in the motel section of their property (although they did put up Terry Fox for the night), they concentrated on a gourmet restaurant. Mili’s mother, Maca Calap, was a chef in Toronto, working for a home for the aged and a children’s nursery, where she added Italian recipes to her European repertoire of flavours. Her father, Dusan Calap, was a professional waiter in the old Yugoslavia before emigrating to Toronto. - a perfect duo.

In an article in the Marmora Herald, reporter Jeanette Moore described her meeting with the restauranteurs. “I am a waiter by profession”, Dusan told her with pride, ‘a statement that explained the dexterous way he flourished a napkin.’, she wrote. Entering the kitchen, the reporter described the chef at work.

Maca Calap in the kitchen. Photo by Jeanette Moore of the Marmora Herald

“Maca, like the many armed Indian goddess, Shiva, was twirling her arms and a spatula like a windmill weaving from pan to pan and toaster, while at the same time attending to a small child requesting a hot dog, studying a number of orders and buttering some slices of bread.”

“Not now, I’m too busy”, (Maca) said on catching sight of her husband and me, and flipping a piece of ham with her left hand as she continued to butter bread with her right.”

“But you can talk, can’t you? asked Dusan, noting she was not using her mouth for anything else!”

Two years later,  Maca and Dusan sold their property which found its future in Upper Canada Marine.  They returned to Toronto where Maca eventually died of cancer.  However,  Dusan  and their daughter,  live on to tell their story.

New information:

Wayne VanVolkenburg: After the Calap family, there was a Chinese restaurant. A person from Ottawa tried to run an upscale restaurant from that location. Unfortunately, for him, there wasn't the clientele to pay his big city prices. Hans Holterman, son Randy, and family converted the location into Upper Canada Marine. After running the business for several years, Rick Roto and Trevor Day purchased the business, with Randy Holterman staying involved. Somewhere along the line, the motel and Marine were demolished, and the present day building constructed. Around 2013, Rick Roto spit from that business, and opened Outback Marine on Preston Road, near Round Lake.

Brian Bronson I remember the gent that built the Sunshine Motel, a Mr Joe Hecimovic. I worked with on Ontario Hydro.  Joe started on the Hydro when we built Havelock Transformer Station, that would  be mid sixties but he was working on finishing the motel then.  Hydro guys boarded at the motel over the years.

Joe wrote a book on his Second World War experiences. It was called In Tito’s Death March.  - A gut wrenching story of survival during his youth.   He had a little trouble with the English language. One statement he would make when he was not feeling well he would  say, “I feel good not me”. Funny how thosethings stick in your mind after all this time.  R.I.P. Havelock Joe.

Was Deloro Arsenic the Cause of Death?

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Toronto Ferry docks as they appeared in 1927

Toronto Ferry docks as they appeared in 1927

Marilyn Brooke wrote this story.

My Grandfather, Robert Wilson, who emigrated to Canada with his wife and son in 1926 , was  in the Merchant Navy and after struggling to find work finally got a job as Mate on the ferry steamer Clark Bros.  Before that he took a job in the Deloro Mine.  He dropped dead of a heart attack on 26th September 1927 aged 32 years.  His wife and son returned to England not long afterwards.

You will note that the attached  newspaper cutting  regarding his sudden death states he had no physical problems and family lore has always been considered that working in the “arsenic mine” caused his death.  I have recently  been looking into the family history and googled “arsenic mines in Ontario” and up popped the history of Deloro Mine!  When I read one of Grandfather’s  letters to his brother (who lived in Belleville) and it mentions him working at Deloro. It seemed to confirm that maybe the  Robert’s sudden death was caused by some sinister pollution such as arsenic.  I wondered if you have any records of other suspicious deaths relating to working in the mine.

(Editor recalls stories in 1973 of Leo Doyle’s Deloro cows keeling over without explanation.)

Steamer Clark Brothers

NICKLE FAMILY PAID ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

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Clint nickle at Nickles Drug store, Marmora

We all remember well Clint Spurr Nickle, who owned and operated Nickle’s Drug store in Marmora for almost thirty-five years, but only after Cohen Salo of Peterborough wrote to us was it brought to light the size of Clint’s family, and what a toll the world wars had on them all.

Clint was one of twelve children born to Thomas Nickle and Eleanor Spurr. Thomas himself was one of twelve children born to Margaret Quigg and John NIckle (1827-1894) who settled in Madoc in 1871 from Ireland. John’s brother, James, who had arrived earlier, is buried in Zion Cemetery, Marmora, with his wife, Hannah Jane, and their son Robert. 

It is James’ grandson,  Robert John Nickle,  who  gave his life at age 24,   in the first world war,  and whose name tops the list on the Marmora Memorial.-

John Nickle’s grandson, was Lt George Moore Nickle, referred to in Cohen Salo’s letter:

“My  story is about Lieutenant George Moore Nickle. He was born in Manitoba but much of his family lived in Marmora. He was cousins with Robert John Nickle and Clinton Spurr Nickle. He served with the 44th battalion CEF. In 1917 he was wounded by being buried by a shell. On Jan 2., 1918 while awaiting transfer to be a pilot with the Royal Flying Corp he was killed by a shell (killed in the tranches by shrapnel at Avion, France ) while with a messenger. (aged 22) He is my 1st cousin 4 times removed.

Information on Robert John Nickle is he was killed (in the trenches) at Crest Farm, Passchendaele (Belgium) on the night of November 3, 1917.  Also three of Robert Nickle’s half brothers from Madoc were killed overseas. Robert John Nickle’s half brothers from his mother Margaret Broadworth are Carl McDonald Broadworth of Madoc, Percy Melville Broadworth of Madoc, and Ernest McCauley Broadworth from Madoc who lived  out west. All three were killed. Carl at Vimy, Percy at Brandhoëk Belgium, and Ernest at Pas de Calais, France.

Private Leslie Nickle

Leslie Webster NIckle was Clint Nickle’s brother, living in Madoc. During WWI, on Nov. 18, 1916, he was killed shortly before reaching Ancre Desire trench on the Somme by a machine gun bullet through the heart at about 6:10a.m. (a week before his twentieth birthday) He is buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont and Pys, France. 

One brother of Clint and Leslie Nickle was Thomas Edmund Nickle who moved to the US in the ‘20s and was a pilot for the Marine Aviation Corps. He was killed in a crash on Feb. 11, 1929 in San Diego, aged 23. He is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery, in Virginia.

Clinton Nickle of Nickle’s pharmacy was wounded during the invasion of Sicily, Italy during WWII. “ He returned to Canada in 1945, having married Audrey Ince in England in 1942.

Lt George M. Nickle
Can. Inf.(NB Regiment)
SUCRERIE CEMETERY ABLAIN ST.-NAZAIR

Thomas Nickle, US Marine Corp. Grave -Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, US

  FOR MORE ON CLINT NICKLE AND THE DRUG STORE CLICK HERE

FOR MORE ON THE NICKLE FAMILY TREE AND PHOTOS ,  CLICK HERE.   

Trudy Irwin wrote: It was a heartwarming surprise to read this article, especially the parts about my Uncles Leslie, T.E.D. ( Thomas Edmund Dudley, and Clint. My mother was Jean their youngest sister and I have in my possession the same photos that you shared with this article. At times like these, I think of my grandmother and grandfather who lost two sons, another was wounded, as well as losses among nephews and cousins. Ultimate sacrifice indeed.
Trudy Irwin (nee Smith), daughter of Roy and Jean Smith (nee Nickle) trudyirwin51@gmail.com

John Fife wrote: Very interesting article. My maternal grandmother was Jane Nickle, born Dec 4, 1890. She was Private Robert Nickle's older sister.

Malone Treasure Finds Its way Home.....

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Thanks to the thoughtfulness and kindness of Sandra Cain of Kanata, Ontario, a piece of Malone history has returned home, giving us some insight into years gone by. With the Malone school (SS6) accounting book in our hands, we are able to piece together some more details of life in the classroom in the early 1900s.

Sandra Cain writes:

”A couple of years ago my husband and I stopped in at an “antique” shop somewhere along Hwy 7, where, I can not remember. This book was in a pile of books in a wicker basket on the floor and I believe I bought it for about $ 5.00. I was drawn to it because it is an old ledger book and I am an accountant so it was interesting to see how the school’s accounting was done a hundred years ago.

 Last weekend I was showing the book to an accountant friend of mine and she was quit taken with it. She commented that it should really be in a museum. She asked if I knew which SS#6 it was for and I said I did not, so we started looking online. She suggested it may be Middleville, and I liked that idea because Middleville is not to far from where I live.

 After she left I started doing more serious research and I started looking through the pages more thoroughly and I was able to find a receipt (see photo below) and the one page which actually says “ RR#6 Marmora”, and then I found your website, read about the school and decided that the book should belong to the historical society. I see that you have one ledger already, wouldn’t it be exciting if you managed to get all of them? “

A quick review of the pages reveals some of the school improvements and local tradesmen hired.

1907 - Fred Arthur for fencing, shingling, closets and a flagpole, Bonters for lumber, and W Hughes for cement and nails, Pearces for doors, siding, sash and glass.

1912 - C. McCann for firewood and Wilfred Terrion for carrying in water. Men were hired to light the fire in the morning. Wages were set at $4.00 for the year in 1908, paid to Alex Nickle and F. Terrion. By 1942, that job earned $25.05 for the year, paid to Jackie Terrion and Fred Hill.

Cleaning, of course, was left to the only woman hired (other than teachers) who was Mrs. Fox, in 1918. School supplies included black polish for the wood stove, a Bible, the Evening Telegram, some seats in 1907, window shades in 1908, hat hooks, and, of course blackboards, chalk and paper.

The biggest expense was the teacher. In 1907, three teachers shared a total sum of $316.32, which was almost 54% of the total budget. By 1920, the cost of the teachers more than doubled to $734.79, being 60% of the income received from a Legislative Grant, a Township Grant and a local “Trustees’ Levy. In 1907 the school also earned $6.00 renting the school to the circus, $13.32 selling Christmas Trees and $17.75 from “Social Receipts”.

For more on Malone and its school, or to read the whole SS6 Cash book, JUST CLICK HERE.

A Little Research Helps a Lot.

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Recently Al Grant donated this painting on buckskin, advising it was owned by Marmora’s famous Pearce family. We felt we had been given a fascinating item that needed preservation, so Wayne VanVolkenburg stretched the skin on a willow branch aided with some advice from the High Springs Saddlery just west of Marmora.

While the item offers little connection to Marmora, it offers a great opportunity to demonstrate the power of research in mystery solving. We handed the mystery to Elinor White of Marmora and this is her reply:

“As an amateur who has read up on North American Native Peoples since my early teens, I give you my best guess. In my estimation, the painting is a "romanticized" rendering of Red Cloud (Mahpiya Luta) - named for a flaming meteor at his birth), Oglala Lakota (often called Sioux). Born 1822, died December 10, 1909.

Red Cloud was a significant person in the history of the United States as the only leader to defeat the US Army in battle until Custer's defeat. The battle was called "Red Cloud's War" over the Bozeman Trail across his territory leading to the Montana gold mines. He never went to battle after that, negotiating instead for which he was awarded a medal from President, Ulysses S. Grant. He went to Washington on four separate occasions where he negotiated (and often refused to sign) treaties to keep territories. Red Cloud was often in delegations with Spotted Tail, Lone Horn, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull. Red Cloud was photographed first by Mathew Brady in Washington DC and by Edward S. Curtis. There are 128 known photos of Red Cloud, the most of any Native Leader. He has descendants still living in South Dakota

There are several issues with the painting that caused me to say the rendering was "romanticized".

  • the painting had to be done from a photograph or printed picture. in your painting, Red Cloud looks to be in his mid to late 50's. The buckskin background is too flexible and "new" to be over 140 years old if it was painted from life.

  • the blue buckskin jacket was probably painted blue to show against the same colour buckskin background. The Lakota sometimes decorated/painted blue and/or yellow designs - but nothing solid blue as the painting. They decorated extensively with bead.

  • the fringe tips are incorrect. Clothing worn during Red Cloud's time had either human or horse hair tips hanging down about 6 inches from the ends of the buckskin fringes.

  • Symbolism of the feather:

  • the feather in his hair with the painted cross and the blue vertical stripe was not done. The eagle feather was sacred and would not have been defaced.

  • Red Cloud converted and was baptized into the Catholic faith in 1884 when he was approximately 62 years old.

  • the tip in the painting shows a red fluff at the top. Lakota dyed hair red and fastened it to the tip of the feather to denote man's scalp lock as a war honour. In all the photos I was able to look up for Red Cloud, he never had a red hair tip on his eagle feather.

Other symbolism:

  • the white downy eagle feather hanging down is symbolic of mysterious forces. The continuous movement of the fine filaments of the feather suggests communication with higher powers, ideas which prevailed amongst the Lakota.

  • the breast plate is typical of Lakota as is the red "trade" cloth neck piece.

  • the Oglola Lakota wrapped their hair braids in Otter fur - which could be the fur shown down the lapel of the painting.

  • no idea on the blue lanyard”

Elinor White “Thank you, Elinor”

German Innovation at Its Best

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Tara Sieg wrote to tell us this story:

My Oma and Opa (Grandmother and Grandfather), Gertrude and Felix Hainle, moved to Marmora in 1970 from Toronto (originally from Germany) and settled on an old Victorian farm. Opa needed a good vehicle to get around the Farm and couldn't afford a tractor so turned his 1963 VW Beetle into a 'jeep' of sorts! and then in 1981 made another Beetle double as a snow plough. He was innovative!

Their house on Station Road in Marmora turned it into a hub of friends and family where I grew up in the Summers meeting visitors from all over the world. Everyone worked hard to make 'the Farm' such a memorable place. Now Oma and Opa have passed and their ashes scattered at the Farm where my Uncle (Peter Hainle) continues the legacy. Opa was involved in Environmental and Outdoor pursuits and Oma was the best cook this side of Germany ;). Opa died in 1991 at 79 and Oma recently passed in 2016 at 95.

AND NOW WE KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY.......

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The Shannon Family in Seattle by Allison Fay-Ebert

Our story begins in 1864 when James Crawford, born 1837 in Marmora, left home to travel to the Pacific Northwest. After spending a few years in Portland, Oregon, where he worked in a hardware store, James and his future business partner, W.A. Harrington, moved up the coast to Seattle which was in its infancy, having been settled just 11 years earlier

James Crawford

1882 Crawford & Harrington.jpg

The two partners set up their business, Crawford and Harrington's, on the corner of Second and Jackson. It measured 30 feet by 30 feet and was stocked via ships from San Francisco which moored at the Crawford & Harrington Wharf at the foot of Washington Street. In addition to stocking general merchandise, they also became Insurance Agents and were Wholesale Liqueur Dealers.

About 1872 James contracted Consumption, TB, and sent for his niece, Anna Shannon daughter of his sister, Margaret Crawford and Daniel Shannon, to take care of him. By 1880 James realized his health was failing and sold his share of the business for more than $100,000.00, a staggering amount at that time. He died December 7th 1883.

Over the next few years, Anna's three brothers and one sister joined Anna in Seattle.

Patrick Crawford Shannon , born 1853 Marmora,, Son of Daniel Shannon & Margaret Crawford

Summit School Seattle built by Patrick Shannon.JPG

Patrick Crawford Shannon and uncle James Crawford

Patrick Shannon , my great grandfather, was born in Marmora in 1853. He was the son of Daniel Shannon & Margaret Crawford and was a carpenter by trade. He built four homes in Marmora including Jim & Ida Mae Shannon's home at 55 Madoc Street. In Seattle, he built many magnificent homes and the Spring Street School on Capitol Hill. Patrick and his wife, Mary Ellen Dempsey who was born in Belleville in 1858 had two daughters and two sons. Anna Leah was born in Marmora in 1887.She died tragically at the age of 14 in Seattle. Joseph Eugene was born in Marmora in 1889, had two sons and died in 2014 in Seattle.  Donald James was born in Marmora in 1891. He never had children and died in Los Angeles in 1935. Madeleine Sarah, my grandmother, was born in Seattle in 1896 and died in Seattle in 1963.
William Alexander Shannon born in Marmora in 1857 and died in Seattle in 1924 was an early physician in Seattle.
James Crawford Shannon was born in Marmora in 1859 and died in Seattle in 1926. He was also a physician.
Lastly, Frances or Fannie Shannon as she was known was born in Marmora in 1861 and died in Seattle in 1923. Fannie never married and made numerous trips back to Marmora to visit family and friends.


As a result of their immigration, there are hundreds of Shannon descendants in the Pacific Northwest and environs.

For more on this branch of the Shannon-Crawford family,

JUST CLICK HERE

Margaret Crawford Shannon 1829-1890

Elizabeth Anne “Anna” Shannon Ellicott 1855-1936.jpg

DANIEL & MARGARET’S FAMILY TREE

Courtesy of Allison Fay-Ebert, Seattle Washington

CLICK HERE FOR DANIEL SHANNON 1825-1895

CLICK ON HIS CHILDREN

PATRICK 1853-1912 + Mary Ellen Dempsey (See McGee Tree)

PATRICK’S CHILDREN: ANNA JOSEPH DONALD MADELEINE

ANNA 1855-1936 +Salvador Ellicott - Children are Daniel and Eugene Ellicot

WILLIAM 1857-1924 + Sarah Mary Hunt - Children are Gerald and Clarence Shannon

JAMES 1859-1926 + Mary Monica Crookall - Children are Charles, Arthur, Edward and Mary

FRANCES 1861-1923

MARGARET 1863 - no notes

ROSE 1865 - + Thomas Clifton McCraith - Children - Mabel, Alice, Edna, George, Gertrude, Clifton, . . Rose, Bernice, Dorothy Marian

MARY 1867-1899 + John W. Dempsey

DANIEL 1879-1959 + Sarah Mary Donahue - Children - Marion, James William & Thomas

A DELORO PRESENTATION - 73 YEARS LATER.

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BRENDA BROOKS SKOF, IN HER RECOLLECTIONS IN "DELORO-LIFE IN A COMPANY TOWN" , RECORDS THAT THE WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL MEETINGS WERE HELD BEGINNING AROUND 1945. I RECALL THAT WE MET IN THE OLD FURNACE ROOM IN THE ORIGINAL TOWN HALL BEFORE THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED . CHAIRS WERE PLACED IN FRONT OF THE OLD WOOD BURNING STOVE. EIGHT OR NINE KIDS, AROUND THE AGES OF TEN OR ELEVEN WOULD GATHER UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF MRS. HEMPHILL.

NOW, OF COURSE, WE WERE NEVER WELL BEHAVED, AND TO THIS DAY I RECALL THAT OUR ACTIONS WERE MET WITH DIRE CONSEQUENCES WHEN WE GOT HOME. HOWEVER, WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED, WITH THE KIND OF BEHAVIOUR THAT WENT ON, THAT ON NOVEMBER 27, 1946 REVEREND YOUNG FROM ST. ANDREWS UNITED CHURCH, AND THE ANGLICAN PRIEST FROM MARMORA, ONE SUNDAY AFTERNOON PRESENTED EACH OF US WITH OUR FIRST BIBLE. THEY SAID," HOW DO YOU REMEMBER THE GOSPELS"? LONG PAUSE--(GOD HOW WOULD I HAVE KNOWN THAT). THEY SAID "MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN, GET ON YOUR HORSE AND GET ALONG”

“IMAGINE THAT”, IS MY THOUGHT, EVEN TODAY. THAT LITTLE BIBLE, NOW COVERLESS, TORN EDGES DUE TO ITS MANY MOVES, HAS BEEN WITH ME ON MANY OF MY JOURNEYS TO THIS DAY, AND I FEEL IT'S TIME TO BRING IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL HOME.

SOME 73 YEARS AFTER THIS PRESENTATION, I TAKE GREAT PLEASURE IN RETURNING THIS BIBLE TO ITS ORIGINAL HOME IN THE COLLECTION AND ARCHIVES OF THE MARMORA HISTORICAL FOUNDATION AS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS THIS EVENT, PLACE, AND TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THIS LITTLE VILLAGE CALLED DELORO.

REVERAND JAMES DALTON - JANUARY 2019

IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO REMEMBER THIS TIME, AND YOU MIGHT EVEN HAVE YOUR BIBLE, PLEASE LET THE FOUNDATION KNOW YOUR STORY AND ADD TO THIS TIME AND PLACE.

Brenda Brooks Thank you, James Dalton for this wonderful memory. I too still have my Bible which was issued in 1945, and also my brother Vic's which was issued in 1948. Most of my siblings, the Brooks children, also received the Bible, and for some of us it was given for perfect attendance. I really liked Mr. Dalton's version of "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,......" as the ending for me was ".....hold the horse while I get on......... Also I taught the lessons at Deloro Community Sunday School to the kindergarten class. Many good memories and blessings.

All the way from California

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My name is Dorcas Lee Aunger. I live in Arcadia, California. I am the great-great-granddaughter of John Laskey Aunger (of Blairton) and his first wife, Catherine Stanbury. I am  a half-first cousin twice removed to Patricia “Pat” Aunger Solmes, who told The Aunger Family story. Pat is the Grand Daughter of John Laskey Aunger and his second wife, Mary Jane Merriam .

I have been researching our family history since 1948, when I was a teenager. I had heard my grandparents refer to family in Canada, but knew nothing about them, except  a family joke which said that my grandfather, George Stanbury Aunger (a grandson of John Laskey Aunger) had been smuggled into the USA under his mother’s apron.  Actually there was no smuggling. His mother was pregnant with him when his parents, Edward and Edith Aunger emigrated from Canada to the U.S.

George Stanbury Aunger and his wife, Emma Catherine Holland, lived in Los Angeles , California, Shortly after Emma died in 1963, George had a stroke and came to live with my parents. He died on 13 March 1966. In going through some of his papers, I found a letter he had started to write to his Uncle George in Marmora. I wrote a short note to “Uncle George”,  informing him of my grandfather’s death, and enclosed  in it the partially written letter.

George R. Aunger, Handy Store Madoc St....south side and a bit east of Victoria St.

“Uncle George” was George Reanfrey Aunger, who had a variety store in Marmora, a son of John Laskey Aunger.

It was about 4 months later that I got a reply to my letter, but not from “Uncle George”. It was from “Aunt” Mabel, the widow of his brother, William Richard Aunger. Mabel told me that George Reanfrey Aunger had passed away on 24 July 1966. I continued corresponding with Mabel, but after just a few letters she told me that her eyes were bad and she had trouble reading the letters. Would I please write to her daughter Pat Solmes.  I found that Pat was a kindred spirit and as interested in the family history as I. Thus began a long-distance collaboration, which still exists.

The home of Edward Stanbury, Sr., and Mary Jane Aunger

In 1982, my mother and I made a trip to Ontario and spent a week with Pat’s family. Pat took me to visit her mother and brother, and several family members of the older generations. We walked cemeteries together, and went to the local library to do more research. She took me to the home of Edward Stanbury, Sr., and Mary Jane Aunger. It was the second house built in  Northumberland County in 1832. It is still occupied as a private home today.

PS If you are interested in information on other descendants of John Laskey Aunger in later generations, who moved to other places.  I have been able to keep track of a great many of them, and are also in touch with the descendants of Anne Aunger and Catherine Aunger, the sisters of John Laskey Aunger's father.  These sisters, started the two branches of the Aunger family who went to South Australia and Victoria at the time of their goldrush and are still there today.  I also have John Laskey Aunger's ancestry going back seven generations in the Aunger line, eight generations in the Pearce line, eleven generations in the Pomeroy line and eleven generations in the Mutton line.  Much of Mary Jane Merriam's ancestry is the same as John Laskey Aunger's because they were first cousins one removed.  I can carry the Merriam line back 12 generations and the Stanbury line back 16 generations.  I will be happy to share any of that information if you are interested. dorcasaunger@gmail.com

CLICK HERE TO READ DORCAS AUNGER’S ADDITIONAL INFO ADDED TO OUR AUNGER FAMILY PAGE

1812 Earhart (Airhart) Petition for Land Grant

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The years around 1812 were unsettled times for Upper Canada. The Americans were looking to govern the whole North American continent, while the British, already feeling the wounds of losing their colonies on the continent’s east shores, were planning the strategies to hold on to their ground won from the French. One way was to reward those loyal to the Crown, the Loyalists, with grants of land, and then encourage more settlers and the next generation, with similar encouragement.

Just recently, while trying to confirm the Airhart family tree, Kevin Van Koughnett, sent us a Canada Archives copy of the Asahel Earhart’s (Airhart) document from Jan. 28, 1812 - a Petition asking for such a Land Grant in Adophustown, south of Napanee.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THIS CONNECTION TO THE MARMORA AIRHARTS

It reads:

To his Excellency Francis C. Gore ,  Provincial Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Upper Canada,  and ___in Council, The Petition of Asahel Earhart,  son of Adam Earhart of the Township of Fredericksburg,  a United Empire Loyalist

Most Humbly showeth That your Petitioner is the son of Adam Earhart of the Township of Fredericksburg,  a United Empire Loyalist,   that he has attained the full age of 21 years,  has taken the oath of Alligence (sic) as will appear by the  annexed certificate and has never had any Land or  Order for  Lands from the Crown, Wherefore your petitioner prays that your Excellency may be pleased to grant him two hundred acres of the vast Land of the Crown and permit Thomas Dorland  _____of Adolphustown to ___the  ___ and take out the Deed when completed and your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray.

Adolphustown 28th Jan. 1812                                Asahel   His X Mark    Earhart

Asahel Earhart maketh Oath and sayeth that he is the person he describes himself to be in the above Petition,  that attained the age of 21 years and has never received any Land or Order for Lands from the Crown. Sworn before me  in a General Quarter Sessions   Of the Peace of the Midland District In the Court House of Adolphustown    This 28th day of January 1812 Alec Fisher Chairman  (Same oath sworn by Henry Bartley by his mark)

Thomas Dorland, mentioned here, was a Captain of a company of militia in the war of 1812.

 

2001 - NINETY YEAR OLD BEATRICE TELLS HER STORY.........

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At the age of 90, Florence Beatrice Lee Steenburgh told her story to Nancy Derrer of the Marmora Herald - a story of migration in search of work, the struggle to make ends meet and the final settling in the Marmora area.

Her father was Fred Lee, known in Marmora for his harness business and shoe repair.It has been reported he was originally located in the Pearce Arcade on Main Street. The Arcade burnt down in May of 1905, when it appears Mr. Lee relocated to the Bleecker Building (later known as Embers Restaurant, and now replaced with the new Bleeckers Residence). Then, in 1907 the Marmora Herald wrote that F.N. Marett and Josiah Pearce bought the Bleecker Building, which may have been the reason the Lees moved out west at that time.

"Dad was a bit of a rambler," mused Beatrice Lee Steenburgh, from her comfortable private room at Caressant Care. She was born in Northern Alberta in 1910, where the family had been homesteading.

"The British government was encouraging people to "Go West", so my parents headed to northern Alberta. They had a little son who took sick and died on the train. They stopped the train; the baby was buried and my parents had to go on and leave him there."

In 1910, shortly after Beatrice was born, the family moved on to Oregon to farm. Beatrice recalled Oregon fondly but never had the opportunity to return for a visit. When she was nine, the family returned to Canada by train, to the Madoc Township farm of Beatrice's fraternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. George Lee .

"After two years in Madoc, Fred and his wife, Frances Shaw (from Eldorado) and, by then three daughters, moved to Marmora, where Fred returned to his harness business, ". The Marmora Herald reported that, from 1921 to 1937, he ran his shop out of the south half of the Green Block, now the site of the Nickle's Drug Store parking lot, and then in 1946, he is again reported to be running his business back in the Bleecker Building.

Beatrice, the middle daughter, attended elementary and high school in Marmora, graduating at age 16. There were no thoughts of further schooling, so Beatrice went to work in Gladney's General Store in 1926. In 1930, she moved to Peterborough and took a factory job with General Electric.

"I had to go in hospital for an appendectomy," she reports, "and when I came out and was able to go back to work, we were deep in the Depression, and GE was not hiring."

She moved back to Marmora for a while and then, in 1937, while working in Toronto doing housework, she met and married Floyd Steenburgh, a construction worker originally from Havelock.

"When you are in construction, you go where the jobs are," she commented. The family moved first to Buffalo, other locations in New York State, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In 1949, they were again in Madoc and Floyd purchased his parents' farm. He was farming when, in 1951, he was hired by the Marmora mine, employed as a general foreman. He was the first person on the payroll. Floyd died in 1990.

Beatrice had five children: Carol Davies (Marmora), Floyd (a teacher in Oshawa), Sharon (Newcastle), Donna (Cloyne) and Marjorie. In 2001 Beatrice had 54 grand and great grandchildren.

Submitted by W. Lawrence Burt

Memories of Marmora High

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As a result of Janice Brown's story on Jack Black,  we received this letter from William Andrews:

Leighton McGuinnes, Leonard Begley, Principal, Harry Jenkins, Jack Doran, Muriel Swayne, Helen Brady, Patricia Tockl, Anne Nickle

"Greetings to friends in Marmora.   I grew up at Bonarlaw and attended grades 9-12 at Marmora High from 1953 -1957. Wonderful memories of Leonard Begley - Principal  and Math, Helen Brady – French and Latin,  Patricial Toal – English,  Leighton McGinnis – science, Jean and Harry Jenkins – history. They were great years and mind opening experiences.

We all lived in fear of Reverend Brownlee and Father Healey! They always knew about who had started smoking,  had a beer before the school dance and the ultimate sin - dropped Latin.  None of this boded well and you were definitely stigmatized!    

We had a pretty lively group  – James Shannon,  Bill Cronkright, Leona Hagerdorn,  Rodney Mawer, Mike Doyle, Ken Stiles, Alice Mathews, Brenda Mckeown, Jane Glover, Dave Bedore, Jack Black, Bill Redcliffe, Barbara Neal, Marion + Bob Chrysler, Anna Lee Parkin, Robert Clemens,  Judy + Sandy Fraser, Carol  + Bob Jenkins,  Sandra Meiklejohn, Dean Lavender, Paul Brady, Dale McTaggart and many others.   Our football, hockey, volleyball and basketball teams were the best,  winning many times over Madoc, Tweed and Stirling. 

And then there was our blow out play in grade 12 – Disraeli – 2 performances  – mounted by Patricia Toal .  I was Disreali and Jack was one of my key ministers!  We all had great fun.

I especially enjoyed the MHF  article on "My Uncle – Jack Black” by his niece “Janice Brown”. (See story below)  Jack Black and Dave Bedore  were my science partners – front row and  definitely leaders.  I will never forget the day our phosphorous experiment went awry and we set Judy Fraser’s angora sweater alight at the desk/table behind us. Brief high drama. Judy was good natured about it.

I remember Jack as a very enthusiastic  fellow with loads of energy.   He always had at least 6 girls in a swoon with his charm and head of jet black hair. He stood out in a very positive way.   If I recall correctly, he had an out of town connection in Campbellford on some weekends in grade 12.   And boom – grade 12 came to an end and we all pursued life in different directions.  

Long live Marmora High memories. It was a great beginning  to life in the modern world.Thanks again, with kind regards. "

 William Andrews
                                                             CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON MARMORA HIGH.

Glenn McGinnis wrote:

I enjoyed the story and pictures of Marmora High School. Although I never attended it, my father Leighton McGinnis taught there from 1949 until 1961. We lived in a house right beside the school, in fact it was owned by the school so even though we were in public school, we spent a lot of time around the high school. I remember that Mister Jenkins coached the football team and gave some of us kids a few old leather football helmets, and we played for hours on the lawn in front of the school.

My Uncle, Jack Black

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By niece, Janice Brown

My Uncle Jack about 20 years old

A link to Wikipedia overview of Larry Uteck’s life – Larry was a Canadian professional football athlete. In his own account, Larry credits Jack with being a key inspiration to him, during the time he was a student of Jack’s. Larry named one of his sons after Jack’s grandson, Luke, in honour of the positive influence Jack had on his life. (Larry refers to Jack as John Black in the article)  CLICK HERE

If you know the name Jack Black, you come to this piece of writing with your own memories and stories relating to my uncle. I am confident that there is a collective history that would depict a man with a ‘bigger than life’ personality, a love for fast cars and the wild side of life; a man who experienced a wide variety of escapades, some of which ended with a quiet diminishing of activity, but more often, involved an encounter with police and concluded with a trip to either jail or the psychiatric wing of a hospital.
If you know anything about Jack from the good ol’ Marmora days, I don’t have to retell any of those stories here; you will likely have your own stories, either from your direct experience or from the wild tales that swirled around the town following the many times that Jack was ‘on a tear’.

Jack has bipolar disorder, a term that wasn’t even known when he was acting out the extreme behaviours instigated by this disorder. Much more is understood about this illness now. In retrospect, during the 1950s and 1960s, Jack and many others with this illness, offered much ‘data’ to be studied and learned about bipolar disorder (including Margaret Trudeau). Much of Jack’s life history - encounters with doctors during manic episodes, and psychiatric assessments over decades - has actually contributed greatly to the understanding of the illness.
I have accumulated many memories of my uncle; numerous personal experiences and countless secondary stories, most of which start with ‘Jack Black is your uncle?! Well, I remember the time when……’

I would like to relay a story here that has not risen to the legendary status of the collective ‘Tales of Jack Black’.

When Jack was 15 years old, he was swimming at Crowe River. He had come out of the water and was laying on a teeter totter, sleeping. He was awakened by the cries of two female lifeguards. He then saw Nick Price who was yelling ‘a boy is drowning’! Jack ran onto the bridge and looked into the water, where he saw a body floating down the river. Jack jumped off the bridge, grabbed the boy and dragged him from the river.

Pat McNamara

Letter of Gratitude

As Jack recounted this story, he told me that he had never been trained in first aid or CPR but instinctively laid the boy on his stomach and began to pound on his back. The boy, who turned out to be Pat McNamara at the approximate age of 10, began to cough and then threw up a great amount of water. Once Pat was fully awake, Jack picked him up and carried him to his home and up to his mother’s bedroom. Pat made the comment ‘you are always there Jack’, referring to the buddy relationship between them, in which Jack had acted somewhat as a protector to Pat, who had experienced some bullying.

In the coming weeks, Jack was invited to attend a Marmora Town Council meeting, where he was honoured with the presentation of a gold ring, which had been engraved with the following message; ‘1955 Lifesaving, Marmora’. Jack also received an expensive gift, along with a lovely and very heartfelt letter from Pat’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. McNamara. 

My uncle has told me many stories over the years.  As I was speaking to him of the idea of writing a story about him for this publication,  he quietly recounted this memory.  As he told this story, Jack expressed much gratitude for this occurrence at the river. Among many, very extreme experiences that Jack remembers of his life, he holds this memory with particularly great fondness; as anyone would who had saved a life.

Bob Clemens, Jack Black, Wilf Terrion - 1956 

1957-1958 Marmora High School  Boys Noon Hockey Champions,    back:Harold Maloney ?, ?, Gord UniackE    middle row l to r    ?, ?, Gary Kelly   Jack front and centre

AND THEN PAT McNAMARA WROTE TO US!

Vince Lynch

"I am one of the protagonists in this story, Pat McNamara. I have never forgotten that day or any other memories of Jack and his up and down struggles in his life. There was always some kind of situation or story about Jack that would bring back that infamous day to vivid memory. Janice’s story gave me a few more details of this story that I was not aware of but do really appreciate.

There was however another actor in this drama, Vince Lynch; my swimming partner that hot summer day under the Marmora bridge. While trying to swim between the piers, Vince was the first to realize I was in real trouble. He later described me “like a dead frog floating in the river”. Vince made two great decisions: the first was to not try and get me himself and the second was to obviously yell for help and get the attention of those on the beach. Therefore my first memory of that event is Jack and Vince.

Just one final note, I have no recollection of either of my parents ever talking to me about that event but I do know I was registered into swimming classes that summer down at the beach."

Thanks for writing, Pat!

If you have a Jack Black story to share,  drop us a line.  CLICK HERE