Eleanor "Pidie" Malane says in part: " I was born in Kirkland Lake where my father was an electrician at Lake Shore. In 1937 he became the chief electrician at Kerr Addison and my mother and I moved to the mine property adjacent to the mine. There was no direct access to the town -- we went through the mine itself to get to the main road. In my memory -- I was three so I don't even recall the town, but there clearly must have been some homes and businesses in existence even then.
" It has been such fun reading the accounts some folks have submitted. I was so taken with all the pictures and comments from Mance Potvin who was a friend of mine. She had a wonderful family and our parents were friends as well. Like Mance, I too went to boarding school once it was time for secondary education, so although my mother and dad did not leave the area until 1962 -- the year of my father's death -- I never really lived there after I was fourteen. "
1938: My father, Ray Malane and me, Eleanor "Pidie" Malane, in the bush near our house on the Kerr Addison mine property.
1938: My Dad and I in front of our house in winter -- Ray Malane and Pidie.
1938-39: The Malanes in the bush near our house. This is a particular favorite of mine because of my mother's outfit. There she was all decked out in a suit, rather dramatic hat, silk blouse and stockings and shoes with heels. She had determination dressing like that in the midst of nowhere. City girls don't give up easily, do they!
1941: Birthday Party at Griers' on Connell Avenue.
From left, Jeannie ?, Brenda Jarvis, JoAnne Postle, Eleanor Malane. Brenda was a child evacuee from London who
lived with the Grier family for part of the war and this was her birthday party. Brenda's story made such an impact
on me. And she had the reddest curls I had ever seen!
1941-42: Enid Durham, my baby sister, Margie and me, Eleanor, but called "Pidie". Taken on our lawn. Isn't the pram a monster -- it was huge and dark brown.
1943: Another birthday party -- probably Jimmy Baker's 3rd or 4th.
Top row from left: Eleanor Malane, Wendy McIntyre, Ann Cutler, John Cutler.
Front row: Jane Wickham, John and Jimmy Baker.
Circa 1943-44: Taken on Bakers' front steps. I had corralled the children to gather their toys and Rose Baker decided the gathering was worth a picture. So Jimmie Baker, Wendy McIntyre, Eleanor Malane and John Baker got snapped.
1944: Our English setter, Buck and me, Eleanor "Pidie" Malane, in front of our house.
Circa 1944: John Baker, Jimmy Baker, Jane Dewar and Eleanor "Pidie" Malane.
Photo was taken on the mine property. Larder Lake is in the background.
1944: Taken on the lawn of Row's house. From left, Margie Malane, Mary Row and Jimmy Row.
1947-48: Dick Guerin, René Cadieux and Ronald Gauthier at the skating rink.
1948: David and Elizabeth Beggs are on the first sled on left and Mary Row and Margie Malane on the second. Shortly after this was taken, Mary Row died of meningitis. My first brush with death so it figures high in my recollection of the time. A particularly devastating time for the Rows -- Mary was a beautiful little girl and everyone loved her.
1948: Eleanor Malane and Julia Golden at school.
1950: Eleanor Malane, taken in front of the Malane house.
The summer the mine gardener had all the lawns dug up!
About 1951-52: The Malane family. Margie, the two Eleanors and Ray, in our dining room.
Can you provide details or corrections?
Many thanks to
for these photos and comments.