Atikokan, Ontario,
Steep Rock Iron Mines, Caland Ore,
and Sapawe, Ontario :
Mostly Photographs

Updated January 1, 2010.

ATIKOKAN :

•   Atikokan Municipal Cemetery. See photos of all of the graves in the Atikokan Municipal Cemetery, up to August, 2007. The Atikokan pages are a small part of the Canadian Gravemarker Gallery project whose volunteers hope to photograph and index all gravemarkers in Canada. This is a link to an external website and will be shown in a separate browser window. (Added July 2, 2009)
• Summer of 1938: From the Memoirs of Rev. James Carder. In 1938 James Carder was a student minister sent by the United Church to Atikokan and Mine Center for a summer mission. This is a short chapter from his un-published memoirs. The only names mentioned are Mr. & Mrs. Hoover and their son Kenneth, of Mine Centre.
•   Five aerial photos of Atikokan, 1950's and later. One of the photos shows the old and new (present) O'Brien Street bridges standing side by side while the new bridge was being built. (Another postcard added January 1, 2010)
•   Main Street Atikokan in the early 1950's. This postcard image shows the whole downtown jammed with cars. There is a message on the card concerning Atikokan but it is in Swedish, Finnish or Icelandic. Can you translate it for me? (Revised June 11, 2009)
• A heavy string of fish, 1953. Charles & Dora Dobie and Clayton Reed.
• Hunting party at Tracy Rapids, 1953. Merv and Jimmy Upham, Bill and Charles Dobie at an old cabin near Tracy Rapids.
• Dora Dobie and Gloria Kristjanson, 1953. Taken in one of their front yards on Hematite Ave.
• Charles Dobie, 13th birthday party, 1954. Two photos, both badly underexposed but everyone is more or less visible. Surnames: Bannister, Dobie, Heale, Kervin, Upham, Wells, Youngberg.
• Dora Dobie, Gloria Kristjanson, Elora Turpin, Gordon Starr, 1954. Three photos which seem to have been taken behind #9 Hematite Ave.
• Pat and Gib Hele, 1954. Two photos, taken at a picnic at Steep Rock Lake with various members of the Dobie family.
• Elfie Galler with Dora & Margaret Dobie, 1954. Taken in Galler's living room.
•   First Protestant Church junior choir, 1954. This shows the cover of the First Protestant Church cookbook which has a photo of the junior choir. This church later became the Anglican Church after the various denominations had left to built their own churches. Surnames so far: Armstrong, Ayres, Bannister, Bergman, Boone, Bryk, Crookes, Dewar, Dobie, Fotheringham, Lesak, Sutton, Waranuk. All but one choir member are now identified. (Updated August 14, 2009)
•   Same choir a year or so later. Two photos. A few of the people are the same as on the cookbook cover but there are many new faces. Most of them I can't identify. Can you help? Surnames so far: Boone, Faulkner, Hele, Knutson, Polischuk, Prignitz, Sutton, Wilkins. (Corrected November 1, 2009)
• Grade 7, Marks St. School, 1954. Most of the students are identified but a couple of names are missing. Surnames so far: Anderson, Bryk, Carlson, Cromack, Danard, Davidson, Dobie, Flatt, Haag, Harmon, Kechakowski, Kennedy, Kuiack, Kunzelman, Landry, Leeson, Mantha, Markovich, McKay, McLeod, Nagorski, Payton, Potts, Provost, Redshaw, Reed, Reid, Sawchuck, Shields, Thorlakson, Waranuk, Wells, Wenstrom, Whiddon, Zarabeski.
• Lions' party, early 1950's. A few people are still unidentified. Surnames so far: Dobie, Hele, Roberts.
• Dance recital, 1955. Four girls are pictured but only two are identified -- Bonnie Baxter and Dora Dobie.
• Four women of the Anglican Church auxilliary, 1956. This is probably an Atikokan Progress photo. Margaret Dobie (age 101 in August 2009) immediately remembered the photo being taken and the occasion, and she recognized everyone but herself. Pictured are: Margaret Cole, Margaret Dobie, Patricia Hele and Molly McInnis.
• Some teachers of the Atikokan High School, about 1956. I can't figure out what the occasion was, as both Mr. Morgan (principal up to 1956) and Mr. Hogle (principal 1956 to 1957) are in it. There are also people who might have been members of the school board, not to mention two military types. Four people are unidentified, can you help? Surnames so far: Boone, Brennan, Clarke, Edwards, Hogle, MacMillan, Morgan, Penner, Stamler, Thorpe, Watt.
• Atikokan Progress: Bob Clarke, editor, about 1956. I'm guessing at the year, but it seems about right.
• Atikokan Progress: Art Reykdal, linotype operator, about 1956. His primary interest was rabble-rousing -- so much so that he got fired at least once a week.
•   Evelyn and Rev. Jack Ayres, April 20, 1956. This photo was taken at a presentation on the occasion of their leaving Atikokan. For many years Jack was the only Protestant minister in Atikokan, and conducted services for several different denominations. (Revised April 7, 2009)
• Mike Zabirka gives a haircut, about 1956/7. Mary Jane Hele, aged about one year, gets her first haircut from Mike Zabirka. Two photos.
• Cub pack with leader Herrick Wilkins, about 1956/7. Rev. Greg Armstrong is also shown, along with many cubs and some adults, none of whom I can identify.
•   Cubs gathered on Apple Day, about 1956/7. Many thanks to Sheldon McRann for this photo. Twenty-three boys but not everyone is identified. Surnames so far: Botel, Busby, Hamilton, Kopechanski, Leishman, Lesak, McRann, Menzies, Newman, O'Kroneg, Polischuck, Thorsteinson. (Updated July 14, 2009)
•   Group at Nym Lake, 1957. I'm pretty sure I have these names right: Connie McDougal, Myrtle Johnson with one of her daughters, as well as Dora Dobie and her cousin Judith Dobie. (Corrected March 20, 2009)
• Dora Dobie, birthday party, 1957. Three photos. Only one girl remains unidentified. Names so far: Pam Adey, Linda & Patsy Brewer, Laurie Cannon, Gloria Kristjanson, Elora Turpin.
• Parade with Pipe band, Legion, etc. 1958? My color slides of this parade are not dated so I'm guessing at the year. I think the pipe band was from Thunder Bay. What was the occasion? Was it the official opening of the highway? This shot includes pipers and members of the Legion marching on Main Street. Can you identify anyone?
• Two kilted marchers in the same parade.
• More kilted marchers and a lot of spectators.
• Four cool dudes watching the parade. Bruce Baxter, Richard Donohue, Lloyd Bunt and Chester Draper standing in front of Chapples store.
• Bruce Baxter hitching on the Atikokan Highway, about 1958. For some reason Bruce and I hitched back to Atikokan from Thunder Bay. I can't remember why we were there in the first place.
• Group at Nym Lake about 1958. Bill & Margaret Dobie and Klaus Prufer, who was a printer at the Atikokan Progress.
• Charlie Dobie, Nym Lake, about 1958. Youth is wasted on the young . . . .
• Unidentified man and boy at winter campfire, about 1958. I vaguely remember this and I think it was at an Atikokan Camera Club outing at Nym Lake. I don't have a clue who the man or boy are.
• Unidentified teens with a car on the ice on Nym Lake, about 1958. They must have been friends of mine but I can't remember the occasion. They aren't quite clear enough for me to identify them. Can you?
• Atikokan High School, Mr. Marcinek's home room class, about 1958/9. Mr. Marcinek and 18 students. Of course the photographer got left out. One student is still unidentified, can you help? Surnames so far: Berry, Booth, Danard, Douglas, Draper, Gordon, Harris, Kimerlie, Kunzleman, Marcinek, Nagorski, Redshaw, Reid, Stamborski, Sturtz, Waranuck, Young.
• Atikokan High School, hockey during PT class, about 1958/9. Lynn Booth and Pat Reid chasing the puck.
•   AHS students goofing around, 1959/60. Graydon & Jim Bird, Judy Bundza, Yolande Jeansonne, John Kervin, Mike & Pat Reid are identified so far. I should know the others but . . . (Updated September 6, 2009)
• Atikokan High School field day, Wayne Ash pole-vaulting. For some reason this field day was held in the ball park rather than the High School grounds. Wayne is doing the pole-vault in his socks.
•   Terry Phair's photos, late 1950s. Terry Martin, was known as Terry Phair when he went to high school in Atikokan in the mid-to-late 1950's. He sent me eight photos. Names are: Melvin Bone, Colby Dickison, Buzz & Danny Gagne, Jerry Hamel, Terry McLenndon, Terry Phair. He also sent a clipping from the Atikokan Progress, dated May 13, 1959, titled "Hockey Players Presented Awards". Names are: Len Foisy, Jim Kruger, Terry Phair, Cameron McLeod, Keith Prignitz, David Ringus, Lloyd Rolling, Leroy Rostie, Gary Summers, Larry & Vern Thorsteinson, Ed Werner, and one unknown. (Corrected August 25, 2009)
•   Members of the Cole and Hele families, Nym Lake, 1961. Patricia, Gib, Mary Jane and John Hele with David & Gordon Cole. (Added June 2, 2009)
•   Birthday parties, 1961-1964. Six photos. Names are: Linda Brewer, Dora Dobie, Millie Fredrickson, Erin Harrison, Barbara Icton, Faith Ivall, Donna Jackson, Sharon O'Beirn, Kathy Oddleifson and one unidentified. (Updated January 1, 2010)
• Donna & Pauline Armstrong, 1963. They are the wife and child of Greg Armstrong, who was the Anglican minister at the time.
• Art group, 1964. An Atikokan Progress photo. A link to my genealogy website.
• Anglican Church confirmation group, about 1964. A link to my genealogy website.
• Draper Family, about 1965. This photo and the next were taken in Streetsville, Ont. Chester ("Red") Draper, Sr., was a diesel mechanic who worked at Steep Rock from the mid-to-late 1940's until the early 1960's. Mrs. Draper was teaching school in Streetsville at the time this photo was taken.
• Chester ("Checker") Draper and his father, about 1965. In the living-room of their house in Streetsville, Ont.
•   Group gathered at Nym Lake, 1967. The Kristjanson and Dobie families. Two photos. (Updated June 8, 2009)

ITEMS FROM THE STEEP ROCK ECHO :

• Many thanks to Sheldon McRann for contributing these clippings from the Steep Rock Echo. Most of them relate to people and events in Atikokan as well as at Steep Rock Iron Mines.
•   November, 1956 : Name This Group For $25. This photo of 22 women shows the Ladies Choral Group of Atikokan. They were re-named "The Northernaires", presumably as a result of this contest to suggest a new name for the group. Many are unidentified. Surnames (a couple are questioned) so far are: Berry, Breakey, Douglas, Eyton, Grindrod, Hele, Johnson, MacMillan, McCuaig, McInnis, McTaggert, Munn, Youngberg. (Updated April 25, 2009)
•   August, 1957 : "10 Years a Safe Worker". Eleven men and their wives gather for presentation of desk pen sets. Names are: Bill Bochula; Jack Munn; Danny O'Connell; Ray Hergott; Fred Hirshfelt; Steve Krukoski; Paul Kirjewski; Merrill Leeson; Arthur McDonald; Harvey McRann; John Brzoza; Mike Chromiczuk; Al Labrie. (Added February 27, 2009)
•   November, 1957 : Preparation for Remembrance. Some SRIM employees gather to commemorate our war dead. Names are: B.W. Carriere; Mel Dodds; Alec Drobot; Bill Ferguson; Roy Greig; Frank Moronics; Ed Oczkus; H.H. Wilkins. (Added February 27, 2009)
•   July 1959 : SRIM Lab Picnic. Five photos of the picnic at French Lake. Names are: Jim Magee, Herrick Wilkins. (Added March 20, 2009)
•   July 1959 : News Photos. Six photos of interest to Steep Rock people. Names are: Joan Frykas, Anne Marie Girard, Georgina Whitlaw, Dolly Jackson, Beverley Rostie, Jean Rasi, Peter Oxley. (Added March 20, 2009)
•   July 1959 : Sports Photos. Thirteen photos, mostly of local baseball teams. Surnames include: Albrecht; Allan; Bainbridge; Beyak; Bottenfield; Brown; Bruce; Cain; Cairnes; Campbell; Carleton; Carpenter; Chambers; Chubey; Clement; Cooper; Donaldson; Dunn; Fay; Flatt; Gabbs; Garrioch; Girard; Goodfellow; Hamilton; Hudey; Huntley; Ibey; Kolton; Koroscil; Legros; Lewicki; MacDonald; Maki; Markle; Munn; Ostrum; Pare; Polischuk; Prignitz; Pyper; Ripplinger; Rosnow; Rousseau; Rundle; Slater; Teschke; Thompson; Timmons; Walker; Whitman; Youd. (Added March 20, 2009)
•   September 1959 : Before & After Photos. Two photos and accompanying story. One photo shows the intersection of Main & O'Brien Sts. as an empty field. The other shows the same scene a few years later with buildings under construction. (Added May 13, 2009)

STEEP ROCK IRON MINES :

• Steep Rock Iron Mines underground staff, 1952. Seventeen men, all identified. Photo by Norman Kipnis.
• Steep Rock Iron Mines staff party, 1953. Two photos of the same group of 27 men. All are identified.
• Safety Rally in the pouring rain, 1957. I took this shot of a bunch of bedraggled local people in the pit peering into a hole in the ground.

CALAND ORE :

• See a short 1970's film clip of Caland. This 26-second 8mm film clip by Donald J. Nyman can be seen on Youtube.

SAPAWE :

•   Mink Ranch at Sapawe, 1941. Charles Parsons and his nephew John Blair Stone started a mink farm at Sapawe about 1940. It lasted only a short while before the animals died of disease. Nine photos. Surnames: Cassels, Parsons, Porter, Stone. (Added November 9, 2009)
• Graham Harris, late 1950's. This portrait was taken by Frank Morice, founder of the Atikokan Camera Club, about 1957.
• Graham Harris, another photo. Taken by Margaret Dobie about the same time as the one above. He's sitting in front of his cabin in Sapawe.

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