During World War II, a "manpower shortage" hit Metagama just like it did other communities, but according to the Toronto Star, "...the town's total population of 22 has carried on, and you can give the girls credit for it."
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The Star reported from the community, located on the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Spanish river area between Chapleau and Sudbury in 1945 as the war was ending.
The Star explained: "For instance, there's attractive 19-year-old Anne Ruffo who 'guides' for Michael Urban Bates, unofficial mayor of the town, and operator of a string of hunting and fishing camps. And Gwen and Marian McKee, aged 18 and 16 respectively, who have been acting as 'towermen' for the Provincial Department of Lands and Forests."
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In 1941, the distinguished New York Times photographer Herb Foster visited Metagama, and took photos of Anne, which appeared in that newspaper.
Anne had been living in Metagama for 10 years, moving there from Pogamasing a "rival community which has a population of seven and lots of hopes."
She attended school at Metagama where the school car which stopped one week in every five to give the children four weeks' homework, the Star reported.
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"But to get down to guiding, Anne can sling a canoe and a pack on her back and shoulders and hike right along with the rest of them. She meets an occasional bear along the bush trails but finds "if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.'"
Asked if she had any pet peeves, Anne told the newspaper that she didn't have any even though "plenty of brawny men leave her to carry canoes and packs, but 'that's my job'".
Mike Bates, veteran guide, hunter and wild life conservationist commented that she does all right. "She killed a bear just a while ago," he related.
With regard to the McKee girls, they had been working as forest fire spotters from two of the 85-foot towers for the past two years. With binoculars, during summer months they watched for smoke and should they see any, they immediately contacted the chief tower at Biscotasing.
"Sure we like it.. It's swell," they chorused to the Star reporter.
Anne Ruffo was born in Sudbury to Vincenzo and Rosaria Ruffo, Italian immigrants who came to Canada in 1924, and settled in Metagama. Mr. Ruffo was a section foreman on the CPR and retired after 45 years of service. Her brothers were Armand, who settled in Chapleau and Rocco in Sudbury.
In 1947, Anne married Lawrence McGoldrick of Chapleau, who worked for the CPR and they had three children Frances and twin girls Joan and Joyce. Joan kindly provided all the material and photos for this column.
Joan described life in Metagama: "We were taught to fish and hunt at a very ear ly age and loved it. Mom used to take us for rides in our cedar strip boat. We would go swimming, picking blueberries, ice skating in winter. We loved Mike Bates, especially when he took us to the one and only store in Metagama and gave us a chocolate bar.
"For excitement we would go the Metagama train station to greet the train and see who was getting on or off and to wave at the passengers."
When they reached school age they moved to Chapleau where at one point her mother Anne worked at Stedman's store. Joan pointed out that her father's brother Mike and his wife Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick lived in Chapleau.
But, even after moving to Sudbury, Joan relates that they retained ties to Metagama. "In the fall my Mom and I would take the train to go hunting for the day in Metagama. We would walk the trails. She knew them all, and we always got our limit of partridge. She was my best friend and we did everything together, canoeing, hunting, camping, ice fishing, drinking and partying!!!. We had a Sportspal caneo and a 2hp Johnson motor that has been everywhere."
Joan's mother Anne died on September 22, 2010 at the age of 84. "She was a trooper to the end..." Joan wrote.
Thanks so much Joan for sharing your mother's story. It is sure to bring back fond memories. My email is mj.morris@live.ca
CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE
The Star reported from the community, located on the Canadian Pacific Railway in the Spanish river area between Chapleau and Sudbury in 1945 as the war was ending.
The Star explained: "For instance, there's attractive 19-year-old Anne Ruffo who 'guides' for Michael Urban Bates, unofficial mayor of the town, and operator of a string of hunting and fishing camps. And Gwen and Marian McKee, aged 18 and 16 respectively, who have been acting as 'towermen' for the Provincial Department of Lands and Forests."
In 1941, the distinguished New York Times photographer Herb Foster visited Metagama, and took photos of Anne, which appeared in that newspaper.
Anne had been living in Metagama for 10 years, moving there from Pogamasing a "rival community which has a population of seven and lots of hopes."
She attended school at Metagama where the school car which stopped one week in every five to give the children four weeks' homework, the Star reported.
"But to get down to guiding, Anne can sling a canoe and a pack on her back and shoulders and hike right along with the rest of them. She meets an occasional bear along the bush trails but finds "if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.'"
Asked if she had any pet peeves, Anne told the newspaper that she didn't have any even though "plenty of brawny men leave her to carry canoes and packs, but 'that's my job'".
Mike Bates, veteran guide, hunter and wild life conservationist commented that she does all right. "She killed a bear just a while ago," he related.
With regard to the McKee girls, they had been working as forest fire spotters from two of the 85-foot towers for the past two years. With binoculars, during summer months they watched for smoke and should they see any, they immediately contacted the chief tower at Biscotasing.
"Sure we like it.. It's swell," they chorused to the Star reporter.
Anne Ruffo was born in Sudbury to Vincenzo and Rosaria Ruffo, Italian immigrants who came to Canada in 1924, and settled in Metagama. Mr. Ruffo was a section foreman on the CPR and retired after 45 years of service. Her brothers were Armand, who settled in Chapleau and Rocco in Sudbury.
In 1947, Anne married Lawrence McGoldrick of Chapleau, who worked for the CPR and they had three children Frances and twin girls Joan and Joyce. Joan kindly provided all the material and photos for this column.
Joan described life in Metagama: "We were taught to fish and hunt at a very ear ly age and loved it. Mom used to take us for rides in our cedar strip boat. We would go swimming, picking blueberries, ice skating in winter. We loved Mike Bates, especially when he took us to the one and only store in Metagama and gave us a chocolate bar.
"For excitement we would go the Metagama train station to greet the train and see who was getting on or off and to wave at the passengers."
When they reached school age they moved to Chapleau where at one point her mother Anne worked at Stedman's store. Joan pointed out that her father's brother Mike and his wife Anne (Zufelt) McGoldrick lived in Chapleau.
But, even after moving to Sudbury, Joan relates that they retained ties to Metagama. "In the fall my Mom and I would take the train to go hunting for the day in Metagama. We would walk the trails. She knew them all, and we always got our limit of partridge. She was my best friend and we did everything together, canoeing, hunting, camping, ice fishing, drinking and partying!!!. We had a Sportspal caneo and a 2hp Johnson motor that has been everywhere."
Joan's mother Anne died on September 22, 2010 at the age of 84. "She was a trooper to the end..." Joan wrote.
Thanks so much Joan for sharing your mother's story. It is sure to bring back fond memories. My email is mj.morris@live.ca
1 comment:
I believe Rocco Ruffo worked in the dispatcher's office in Sudbury in the late 80's.
Reid Haigh.
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