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

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17 'iillm The PORCUPINE QUILL f greatest winter sport, ice-hockey. In the first days of the Camp Mine teams and Town teams were organized and provided very good hockey In fact some of the early teams were far better than those produced by local clubs in the last few years. The matches were al- ways hard-fought, both as hockey matches and pugilistic encounters. The early settlers in Timmins did not have the comfort and choice of amusements that we haveg but they enjoyed themselves as much if not more than we do. Though their amusements were simpler, they were much more picturesque. The pioneers of the camp should not be pitied for what they lacked in the way of amusemenrs and good times generally: rather they should be envied by a generation that has never known the fun of the Moccasin Dance or of home made' dramatic evenings. CA QILLY Scene V: CHRISTMAS foward Men The Christmas Tree of 1923 This Kiwanis Christmas Tree party took place on December the Twentieth, 1923. The da? was cool, the air still. and fluffy white clouds moved slowly across the sky. On a platform that had been erected near the railway station a huge Christmas Tree had been set up. It was decorated with elec- tric lights of all colours, imitation snow and icicles, small Santa Clauses, and bright silver bells joined together with red or green tinsel- covered string: and tied to the very top of the tree was a large, silver. shining Star. Here and there were hung brightly-coloured par- cels and toys. Around the base of the tree were piled larger and heavier Christmas pre- sents. But the thing that drew cne's atten- tion first was a wide band of white, gold- edged, velvety cloth. inscribed: Peace And Goodwill To Menl' Early in the afternoon children of all ages began to arrive. The two or three-year-old tots were escorted by their parents, and the older boys were running here and there ex- citedly. pointing out the diiierent toys and other presents on the Christmas Tree. Suddenly, there was a hush! Then all the children yelled delightedly: for there. by the Christmas Tree, all clothed in red and white, stood Santa Claus! Many prominent men of the camp stood nearby. The band struck up O Canada! and everybody sang. Then on behalf of the people. a number of speakers praised the Kiwanis Club for its kind action. Among the speakers that Christmas Day were Rev. Father Theriault and Dr. Mclnnis who are still prominent members of the Porcupine Camp, . The childrens good behavior during the speeches was then rewarded. for Santa hand- ed out the toys and other presents to the accompaniment of delighted exclamations from the children. Once more the band played and everybody sang. All the songs were and still are well- known: 'The Alouette : Tipperary g Auld Lang Syne'g and Jingle Bells' were the songs that helped to brighten this day still more for everyone. A few more words of thanks were addressed to the Kiwanis Club. and then everybody left happy. after the singing of 'God Save the This Christmas Tree of eleven years ago is still remembered by many in the camp as one ofthemanygooddeedsofthe'IimminsKi- wanis Club. GERGE A. ROY The winds are blowing all around. They blow the leaves and trees: Theyblowthekiteshighinthesky, And do just as they please. IIURIEL THOMPSON

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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

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18 The PORCUPINE QUILL i FREIGHTING INTO PORCUPINE. 191i Courtesy of A. Tomkinson Interlude tal: THE SERVANT INDISPENSABLEU I like to see it lap the miles And lick the valleys up, And stop to feed itself at tanks. What the Terniskatning and Northern Ontario Railway Means to the North Few people in Northern Ontario realize the immense value of the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario railway to the North Most people. if they think of it at all. think of it as a joke: they have even originated the nickname. based on the initials: Time No Object. Despite all this derision the T. and N. O. plays an important part in Northern life. The service that it gives to the mines afone is sufiicient reason for praise. Almost every day in the week. mine machinery and sup- plies are brought in by freight. This mach- inery might be brought in by trucks. but trucks would take a longer time: and it would be an unsafe mode of transportation when dynamite and blasting caps were being shipped. The railway co-operates With the mines when serious accidents occur. such as the Hollinger disaster of 1928, when it rushed north a special train carrying rescue equip- ment, Without this railway the mines simply could not carry on. The Temiskaming and North-ern Ontario Railway is very important in the every-day life of every Northern town, because, with the exception of four months in the year. all sup- plies must be brought in by train. Food, clothing, furniture tools and everything ne- cessary for the comfort of the inhabitants is brought in by the railway. Without it. Nor- thern Ontario would be a vast, densely- wooded region, with a few trappers, and with no towns or means of communication with the outside World. Early this year. the T. and N. O. inaugur- ated a new train service for the North. NOW, Timmins. rather than Cochrane, has become the terminal. an arrangement which does away with the necessity of changing trains at Porquis Junction. The northbound train leaves Toronto each night at ten minutes after eleven, which gives the traveller time to go to a theatre, a hockey game, a lecture, or a concert. And yet, despite the fact that he has almost two hours more to spend in To- ronto. he arrives in Timmins forty-live min- utes earlier than under the old schedule. This change in the time-table is sufficient proof that the authorities fully recognize the value of this railway to Northern Ontario. BASIL HOWSE