I Remember Kirkland Lake

The Museum of Northern History presents "I Remember Kirkland Lake", a video project created by Danelle Messier in 2013. Special thanks go to Althea Contant, Pat Hastie, Joyce Allen, Judy Zwanko, Grace Sparrow, Adele Wilson, Tom Drew-Brook and Ted Irvine, without whom the video would not have been possible. Since then several of these participants have passed away; we are certainly grateful to have their stories recorded. This video was also made possible by Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations Program, and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Be sure to visit the Museum of Northern History for more Kirkland Lake memories!
Transcript:
Kirkland Lake was very prosperous because we had all the mines running.
It was a good place for kids. It was a good place to grow up.
Very busy, thriving in town here then.
Coming over the hill was the ore transfer between Lake Shore Mine and the Teck-Hughes. And for a city girl to see this big black thing across the highway-and I'm saying "why did I do this?", but then I met the most wonderful people in the world here.
We got to Teck-Hughes and I remember getting off, and sitting on the swing.
I remember we had an awful lot of stores, which we don't have now. Oh yes, and of course when I was growing up they had beautiful ladies' wear.
When we first drove into Kirkland Lake through Chaput Hughes my father told me I had to go out in the morning and get a pale of water from the tap on the corner of the street. And I said: "What?". We did not have to go and get water we lived down town in Kirkland.
Here in Kirkland Lake everybody knew who you were, and it was kind of nice when you were a teenager. Then you could walk down the street, people would be waving and saying "Hi, how are doing doing? What are you's doing today?" You know, you don't get that in the city.
It was a very very busy town.
There was a place that you could have liquor every other block in Kirkland Lake, you know cuz' there were more pubs than churches.
The school, K.L.C.V.I, was absolutely first-rate.
I remember watching our football team, you know, mid-September in the snow playing Football.
We could entertain ourselves.
Well basically you made your own fun.
We all played together, and it was wonderful, we made our own fun. It was always outside.
All the games that you played were outside, of course, you had to make your own.
We would play ball, and skate, and get together for, you know, things that kids do.
Yeah I had a great time growing up, wholesome , clean, healthy fun.
You know it was a carefree, non-worrying way to grow up.
In the Summer you'd look forward to seeing the Ice Man come, because he would give you a chip-off to suck.
It was fun, you know, we had Crystal Beach to go to, we had Culver Park to go to, and buses took you out there.
My generation, we saw what Kirkland Lake was really like and it was busy.
People used to come here to shop, at one time.
Stores all through the whole downtown area.
We had Kresge's, Woolworth's, Metropolitan, and they were big chain stores, and we had Eaton's and we had Simpson's, and we had 9 ladies' dress shops.
You had three movie houses.
So many stores, shops, hotels, restaurants, and everything else. It was quite a busy community. It was a wonderful place to live.

[@lightox01ttv]

i love this i miss kl i went to central public lived on rowan left in 2000 i wish i was back if i had a home id be there

[@sylviayoung889]

That was so enjoyable. Thank you and would love to see more

[@lightox01ttv]

winnetta matthews and kenny matthews were my grandparents mark colpitts is my dad

[@rolandelefave7831]

I lived in Baron st in Kirkland lake or show me school The assumption school

[@MrMoosekiller31]

It was lol still is 👍

[@noOneAskedForHandleOnYT]

yeah right

[@waynewilberforce3965]

36 like nice seeing some recognized people