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

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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

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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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19 - The PORCUPINE QUILL i'lw- Interlude fbi: THE FAMILY RE-UNION 25th Anniversary Discovery of the Porcupine Gold Mines The celebration of the 25th anniversary of the discovery of gold in the Porcupine Camp began on Wednesday, May 23, 1934 and ended on Wednesday, June 6. Two weeks of colour- ful, unforgettable pictures of the Porcupine Gold Camp, in its youth and as it is now, were presented. This great celebration took place in the Timmins Arena lsituated on Balsam Street, near the Goldfields Theatrel under the guidance of Reverend Father C. E Ther- iauit and with the help of several committees -General, Reception and Mines. The cele- bration was both a great success and a great tribute to the town of Timmins, which is fast progressing. The celebration was ofiicially opened on May 23rd by the Honourable Charles McCrea and the Honourable J. E. Perreault, Ministers of Mines for Ontario and Quebec. Their pre- sence was indeed a great honour to the Por- cupine Camp, especially to the citizens Of Timmins, who feel proud that they can boast of having one of the greatest gold mines in the world. Their enthusiasm was clearly shown on the opening day, when they thronged into the Arena. The inside was like a beautiful garden, for eve1'y compartment. small or large, Was de- corated in the finest, bright colours, bright lights glittered everywhere. The leading manufacturers displayed their wares in a most effective and interesting way. Samples of their different products were given to the onlookers. Grocery stores also made beau- tiful showings of choice and delicious foods, domestic and imported. But best of all was the display, in the mining section. of the yellow ore which has made the name of Timmins a word on the lips of every- one. This section was organized by the leading mines of the camp. Mining imple- ments used as early as 1909 were shown. They consisted of helmets, candles, which were later replaced by the so-called miners' lamp, drilling machines, dynamite caps and various other gadgets. Only by looking at the changes in tools can one realize the great progress the mines of the Porcupine Camp have made. In addition to these dispiays, there were large photos of underground workings, crews of men and machines, there were pict1u'es of the first Hollinger shaft- and merely to look at it would make one tremble, it seemed so dangerous and threat- one shaft sprang the It is as Premier Henry ening. Out of that great Hollinger Mines. said, Twenty-five years is a brief period in Interior of a Gold Mine a country's history, but it is a long time in the career of gold mining in this province. These displays by the mines outlined clearly the history of the Porcupine Gold Camp. While the souvenirs of former days were being displayed in the arena, the Crescent Amusement Company's big midway on the grounds next to the arena was in full swing. It provided laughter, entertainment and thrills for the throng of old-timers. One could not fail to see the light of gaiety and enthusiasm in their eyesg for old memories were being reviewed. There were competi- tions of first aid crews who demonstrated the use of first aid equipmentg there were miners' drilling contests which involved the setting up of a complete drill. There were pie-eating contests, bagpipe competitions and fashion shows. On June Sth the celebration of this twenty- fifth anniversary ended. But in the two weeks the development of the Porcupine Gold Camp was relived. The history of 'limmins is short, but eventfulg we, as citizens of Tim- mins. realize that: We live in deeds, not years, In heart-throbs, not in figures on a dial? - LOUIS GUOLLA