Timmins High and Vocational School - Porcupine Quill Yearbook (Timmins, Ontario Canada)

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15 The PORCUPINE QUILL Stores were built along Third Avenue and Pine Street. Various doctors, dentists and lawyers established their offices in the busi- ness section. Chain stores -opened branches until, in 1935, Timmins has many business places. The population of one thousand in 1912 has increased to over sixteen thousand. From virgin forest Timmins has become a beautiful town with a fine hospital, good and adequate educational institutions, and a business dis- trict that in this time of depresson is the mecca of travelling salesmen. JACK BROVENDEER Scene IV: FUN AND FROLIC A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Fun When The Camp was New When the little settlement of Pottsville, now South Porcupine, and the site of what is now Timmins were being surveyed, Schumacher was non-existent, though it began to be settled a few years later. At the various mines and alleged mines small camps had grown up and, as the general manager, en- gineers, and other mining men had brought their wives with them, social activities began. Although the roads were merely wide trails oorduroyed in the worst places, which made it far more comfortable to walk than to ride in summer, the ladies were able to organize tea parties. dinner parties, and card parties much as they do now. One of the most popular social activities was dancing. A great many dances were held in the early days, usually in the halls of fraternal organi- zatizns or in the Miners' Union. Both round and square dancing were popular then. The music for these dances was usually provided by a single person playing the piano, some- times accompanied by a violin. The most popular team of those days was that of Scotty Wilson and 'Gene Colombo, and they were much in demand. One of the most impor- tant events in the early days of the Camp was the annual Firemen's Ball. This was considered a great social event. The Church societies were always giving dances or card parties to augment their funds. These all contributed to the enjoyment of the com- munity. In the first days of the Camp, an amateur theatrical company was formed. This com- pany performed with homemade scenery and costumes and even homemade plays, and provided entertainment and amusement, pro- bably more amusement than entertainment, when the actors forgot their lines or made mistakes. The lines in these plays other often caused laughter by reference to local people and aifairs. On one occasion a string quartette composed of some of the well-known men of the community appeared on the stage to play, accompanied by a piano and violin in the pit. As neither group could hear the other: the result was a musical disaster. The audience enjoyed it more than the musicians and from the standpoint of amusement, it was a success. A moving picture theatre made its ap- pearance in Timmins in the early days of the Camp. This was situated in one of the Snowshoeing Party

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14 mli. The PORCUPINE QUU-L + wwf '1 ' Pills and Things structure on the site where his present store now stands. Near him Mr. McLaughlin also had his general store built. Mr. Charles See built a drug store. To every good pioneer his slogan, Pills and Things is very well known. How did these early stores get their sup' plies from the larger cities? At first all goods had to be hauled, on wagons or sleighs, from South Porcupine. In 1911 tracks were laid to Timmins, but were not used until the following year, as the road bed was not solid. Two box-cars on a side track served as station and freight oflice. Trains ran daily from other centres to Sooth Porcupine giving a very g-ood service. Later th-ere was a daily connection between Timmins and South Por- cupine. To-day Timmins has a daily train schedule connecting it with all the im-portant centres of our country. The freight-shed is a large building and the station is a brick structure. Where did the town get its water, and how did it get its lights? At first its water supply was from several natural springs. One of these was at what is known to-day as the corner of Elm Street and Third Avenue. Then pipe lines from a huge reservoir, built behind the present fire-hall, were laid to all the houses. Now Timmins has a modern water system, with purified water from the Mattagami entering every home. The earliest lights were coal oil and gasoline lamps, But as a mine needs electricity to run its various departments, as early as 1912, when it was barely three years old, Timmins was equipped with electricity generated from Waiwaitin Falls. As the town became established, a bank was necessary to deposit the payroll. This problem was solved when, in 1912, the Bank of Ottawa opened a branch, where the Reed Block is now situated. Later the Imperial Bank of Canada established itself on the corner, where it remains to the present day. Now Timmins has five diiierent banks. What did the people do for amusements? In 1912 Kings Amusement Parlour was established. This had a dancing floor up- stairs and a billiard 'hall downstairs. A silent movie was started by Mr. Leo Mascioll in 1913. A block was laid aside for an Athletic Grounds, where, every Sunday, various teams played keen baseball. This block is still in the central part of the town. In the winter, hockey was the leading sport and players were imported. In 1934, its Silver Jubilee year, Timmins had two talkies and several dance halls. With the finding off gold 'Timmins soon grew into a larger town. From the early years, particularly from 1914, to the present year, it has 'been the scene of much activity.

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16 mmllmm The PORCUPINE QUILL l- 1 buildings near the site of the present Gold- iields Theatre. It was not ireproof or very comfortable, but contributed a great deal to the entertainment of the commtmity. In 1912. because of the high prices of food and low wages. the miners went on a strike. Dur- ing this time the mine brought the pictures up there and showed them in the machine shop which was turned into a cook camp, much to the enjoyment of the audience. One of the iirst pictures to be shown in Timmins was Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Althcugn not reaching the standard of present-day productions. these pictures were enjoyed as much by the early settlers, as the present-day pictures are enjoyed by the people of to-day. Out-of-doors sports played a great part in the amusement of the early settlers in Tim- mim. In summer. and fall, hunting and nsh- ing were enjoyed to a certain extent. Though the district of Timmins has never been an especially good hunting ground, many men enjoyed this sport. especially in duck-himt- ing. Fishing in those days was closer at hand than now, for Gillies Lake contained many fish in the early days. The mines had not then begun to dump into the lake, the cyanide which has killed the ish and destroyed the early nshing grounds of the Camp. Canoeing was also popular in those days. Much of this was done on Gillies Lake, though Miller Lake was also used until the Hollinger began to ill it in. In winter out-of-doors sports play- ed an even greater part in the life of the Camp. Although skiing was practically un- known in 1911. snow-shoeing took its place. To-day skiing is one of the greatest winter sports: then snow-shoeing was the greatest. If there was a party in South Porcupine, it was a general practice to put on moccasins, carry your shoes in you.r pocket. and go. No one thought anything of doing this and snow-shoeing from the Dome to Timmins and backg and then the men went to Work next day. Snow-shoeing parties were very popular. The guests usually assembled and tramped to a designated spot, where a bon- iire was built and coiiee and sandwiches were served. Around the bonnre they sang songs and played games. Perhaps one of the most amusing things they did at these parties was to try to dance the Virginia Reel on snow- shoes. These parties were enjoyed by every- one and most people took part in them. Sleighing as enjoyed to-day on bob-sleighs and toboggans was never very popular. Al- though there was a fair slide at Golden City, the lack of long, Steep hills and the depth of the snow prevented this sport from at- taining popularity. A more popular enter- tainment was to hire one or two teams cf work-horses and make up a party. Then, wrapped in buffalo robes, they might go to some point where a hot meal would be served, as is still done. Rinks were built in both Timmins and South Porcupine at a very early date. These provided skating, which became very popular. Many skating parties were Queen of the Carnival organized which provided enjoyment and amusement for everyone. One event of the winter which is no longer held was the annual Winter Carnival. This included dog-team races, snow-shoe races, carnival parade and the election of a queen. At the close of the day's fun, everyone re- paired to the town rink and took part in the Moccasin Dance. This dance was held on the ice. and all the dancers had to wear moc- casins. If you have ever attempted to stand up on ice in moccasins, you will understand the amusement this dance must have given both spectators and participants. The falls were numerous and often hardg but what of it? It was fun, and that is what these early settlers wanted. Various athletic clubs were organized early in the life of the Camp to provide competitive sport for the settlers. Baseball, almost un- known in Timmins to-day, was very popular in the early days. Football was also a popu- lar summer sport, as it still is. Both of these provided entertainment for the people, but the sport most enjoyed then as now was the