Well, our house is in boxes. Moving day Friday, loading day tomorrow and final packing today. Don't know when I will get another chance to add to this so, have a free moment...
Page 3 cont.
"Faith and the children had plans for something to do and see every day during our stay. We went on picnics, we went blue-bery picking, goose-berry picking, for raspberries and for a delicious plum called suger-plums. Another fruit called "pit" cherry, very tart and I did not care for this one much although it makes a delicious jam or preserve. These all grow wild and are very plentiful. Needless to say I did not do any picking, only enough to eat myself. I carried a folding chair, and a blanket, bundled up like an Indian Squaw and did some crocheting.
Page 4
Kirkland Lake is a nice little town (18-20 thousand), like any other town you would probably find in the Untied States that is only fifty years old. Still in the throes of growing pains. There are excellent schools and colleges, many churches, banks, super-markets, amusement places (many of these are ice-games that require one to be adept on ice, I am happy to state that the Bill Adair family is becoming good at these games). There are also some very good shops. There are more Chinese restaurants and Chinese people in ALL towns from Toronto north than I have ever seen in any place I have been. The reason for this may be because it is easier for them to enter Canada than the United States. They have wonderful food and are very generous with their servings. They also speak very good English. Kirkland Lake is the only city in North America and probably the world that can boast of having three miles of their main street paved with gold ore from one of the many mines in the area. Of course the streets do not glitter like gold but it is the gold-ore from the mines just the same. (I remember that all of the rock on the railways was full of obvious 'fools-gold').
Kirkland Lake is a town made up of people from all countries, all races and religions. Very few if any negroes. I saw none, but I believe there is to be a Negro teacher in the High School this next year. All people were friendly and our Florida tag and my F.F.A. tag (I cannot remember what this was, maybe one of my siblings?) on the front caused many people to turn for a second look and give us a smile of welcome. Many asked what part of the South we were from after hearing us speak. As if they could tell we were from the Southland!! I said everywhere there was a welcome..Almost..Faith had a new neighbor.. A POLACK AND A STINKER. He was a refugee from Hitler's persecution and seemed to think because of this he owned the whole province of Ontario as well as a good portion of North America. For no good reason he wanted to pick a fight with Faith and the children, when J.W. went out to find out what the argument was all about, he called J.W. some vile names and told him to go back to Florida with the Negroes where he belonged, Canada was his country and we were not welcome and wanted there. At this, Faith was fighting mad and told him Canada was also her country and had been for the past ten years and we were her guests, not his.
He would also not argue with Bill or any other man but had rather fight women and children so he stated. Never have I seen J.W. so white and mad, but I am happy to report he held his temper in check for once. Although he said he wanted to tell Mr. Samboli Hitler failed failed to finish the job. He should have rid the world of all undesirables such as he, who only fought women and children. For the last two nights before we left the air was let our of our tires. Although we have no proof that he was the guilty party he had vowed that he had a way to make us leave. As J.W. was out inspecting the tires, he was peeping around the corner, grinning. NIZE PEOPLE EH WHAT.!!!
We learned the names and how to pronounce many strange sounding Indian lakes, towns and rivers. There is one we did not learn to pronounce if anyone ever has. It is Mesinocwanigwahiganing (which the Indians call simply, "Peter Long Lake"); there is Lake Rimuskaming, which means deep water; Kapuskasing river, meaning rough water; Lake Nipissing; Chapleau; Attawaspikat; Sugluk; Onakawana; Abitibi river; Lake Temagami; Lake Kenogami, meaning Long Lake and many many others. All very fascinating.
Then there are the names of the people. A school friend of Terry's whose name is Abraham Chookamoolin. He and Terry play the guitar together for school and church affairs. He is training to teach and plans to go back to his home in the far northland to teach his people. He does not see his parents from September untill school is out in June. He can go 282 miles from Kirkland Lake by train, then fly if in summer and by dog-team if winter and the expense of either is very great one which he cannot afford to make."
Here is a handout that is in the book. Below are some pictures of a 'gold-brick' box I found while cleaning out this house, I am happy to report that it has been received by The Museum of Northern History in Kirkland Lake this week past. I believe I mentioned prior, we lived in the old Sylvanite Mine bunkhouse beside the Loyal Order of the Moose hall.
Page 3 cont.
"Faith and the children had plans for something to do and see every day during our stay. We went on picnics, we went blue-bery picking, goose-berry picking, for raspberries and for a delicious plum called suger-plums. Another fruit called "pit" cherry, very tart and I did not care for this one much although it makes a delicious jam or preserve. These all grow wild and are very plentiful. Needless to say I did not do any picking, only enough to eat myself. I carried a folding chair, and a blanket, bundled up like an Indian Squaw and did some crocheting.
Page 4
Kirkland Lake is a nice little town (18-20 thousand), like any other town you would probably find in the Untied States that is only fifty years old. Still in the throes of growing pains. There are excellent schools and colleges, many churches, banks, super-markets, amusement places (many of these are ice-games that require one to be adept on ice, I am happy to state that the Bill Adair family is becoming good at these games). There are also some very good shops. There are more Chinese restaurants and Chinese people in ALL towns from Toronto north than I have ever seen in any place I have been. The reason for this may be because it is easier for them to enter Canada than the United States. They have wonderful food and are very generous with their servings. They also speak very good English. Kirkland Lake is the only city in North America and probably the world that can boast of having three miles of their main street paved with gold ore from one of the many mines in the area. Of course the streets do not glitter like gold but it is the gold-ore from the mines just the same. (I remember that all of the rock on the railways was full of obvious 'fools-gold').
Kirkland Lake is a town made up of people from all countries, all races and religions. Very few if any negroes. I saw none, but I believe there is to be a Negro teacher in the High School this next year. All people were friendly and our Florida tag and my F.F.A. tag (I cannot remember what this was, maybe one of my siblings?) on the front caused many people to turn for a second look and give us a smile of welcome. Many asked what part of the South we were from after hearing us speak. As if they could tell we were from the Southland!! I said everywhere there was a welcome..Almost..Faith had a new neighbor.. A POLACK AND A STINKER. He was a refugee from Hitler's persecution and seemed to think because of this he owned the whole province of Ontario as well as a good portion of North America. For no good reason he wanted to pick a fight with Faith and the children, when J.W. went out to find out what the argument was all about, he called J.W. some vile names and told him to go back to Florida with the Negroes where he belonged, Canada was his country and we were not welcome and wanted there. At this, Faith was fighting mad and told him Canada was also her country and had been for the past ten years and we were her guests, not his.
He would also not argue with Bill or any other man but had rather fight women and children so he stated. Never have I seen J.W. so white and mad, but I am happy to report he held his temper in check for once. Although he said he wanted to tell Mr. Samboli Hitler failed failed to finish the job. He should have rid the world of all undesirables such as he, who only fought women and children. For the last two nights before we left the air was let our of our tires. Although we have no proof that he was the guilty party he had vowed that he had a way to make us leave. As J.W. was out inspecting the tires, he was peeping around the corner, grinning. NIZE PEOPLE EH WHAT.!!!
We learned the names and how to pronounce many strange sounding Indian lakes, towns and rivers. There is one we did not learn to pronounce if anyone ever has. It is Mesinocwanigwahiganing (which the Indians call simply, "Peter Long Lake"); there is Lake Rimuskaming, which means deep water; Kapuskasing river, meaning rough water; Lake Nipissing; Chapleau; Attawaspikat; Sugluk; Onakawana; Abitibi river; Lake Temagami; Lake Kenogami, meaning Long Lake and many many others. All very fascinating.
Then there are the names of the people. A school friend of Terry's whose name is Abraham Chookamoolin. He and Terry play the guitar together for school and church affairs. He is training to teach and plans to go back to his home in the far northland to teach his people. He does not see his parents from September untill school is out in June. He can go 282 miles from Kirkland Lake by train, then fly if in summer and by dog-team if winter and the expense of either is very great one which he cannot afford to make."
Here is a handout that is in the book. Below are some pictures of a 'gold-brick' box I found while cleaning out this house, I am happy to report that it has been received by The Museum of Northern History in Kirkland Lake this week past. I believe I mentioned prior, we lived in the old Sylvanite Mine bunkhouse beside the Loyal Order of the Moose hall.
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