Stuck-In-the-House- Saturday

 Due to a Freezing Rain Alert (and some laziness) I plan on a low profile relaxing day. I was browsing some of my old files and photos going back to the 1890's and found a few of interest.

My home town, Kenora, was originally called Rat Portage, due to the migration of muskrats , or so the story goes. The town fathers decided that this was not a very attractive name and so changes it to Kenora, Taking the first Two letters of Keewatin, a village three miles away, the NO  fron Norman, another village about 1 1/2 miles away and the RA from Rat Portage. My Dad claimed seniority over his friend due to the fact that he was an "original citizen", being born in Rat Portage in 1903, and his friend was born in Kenora, the same year!

 It's hard to believe that my Dad was born the year the Wright Brothers first flew! Look what's happened in 2 generations with flight!

The picture below was of the Rat Portage Fire Department in 1895.My Great-grandfather was A.R Holland and another relative E Donkin

An old obituary

 Now, a picture of cuteness, me, at age 3 in 1947. Did I say I was humble too?

 My Grandfather on my mother's side, James Bruce.

 My Great grand father on my Dad's side who came over from Coventry, England in the 1890's, plus his sons who came with him.Arthur was my Grandfather. They homesteaded near Bird's Hill Park in Manitoba, but their timing was off and the had to leave the land. They almost starved the first winter. Arthur moved to Rat Portage.

Well, I guess that's enough reminiscing for now.

It is a shame though, that a person may know his parents and grand parents, but anything beyond them is largely unknown and forgotten.

Historical Help?

Anyone recognize the Royal getting off the train? This was about 1945/6 in Kenora. The person on the running board is Chief Petty Officer Richard Bird, and my Dad, as mayor.

I believe this flying boat is a Vickers Vimy, but again, am not sure.

Going Way Back

Our family home going back to the 1900's. It still stands and hasn't changed much.

 One of my first hunting trips with my Dad, about 1957.

A distant relative David Lockhart in the early 1900's

What the Mayor of Kenora (my dad) had to do in 1945 in International Falls, Minnesota when he lost a bet to their mayor. (m.a Hydrants seem to be a magnet for dogs. He was forced ( at gunpoint :-} to clean it!)

The local snow princesses in Kenora, 1946. The blocks of ice were cut from the lake to build castles and ice sculptures on the street corners. Lights were put inside the blocks. What a way to celebrate Winter carnival 

This is a little more recent, 1997 in Thunder Bay Ontario when we received two snow falls of 50 cm each within 3 days! It took a week before we could get out.

"Smile things could get worse! We smiled, and they did!"

Wordless Wednesday, Rat Portage Ontario before it became Kenora

Grandfather A.R. Holland and Ed Donkin (Grandfather, Once removed)