In case some banjo picker wants to visit the site and find old wooden trestle parts to make a bridge out of.... or as my long-suffering high school English teacher, Mrs. Lindsay, would sternly correct, "Charles, it should be 'from which to make a bridge'".
Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/09/2025 12:54:30
I grew up a mile from the Welland Canal that links Lakes Erie and Ontario. I miss watching the ships ; I worked at Port Weller Dry Docks for a year back in the 1980’s.
^^^^ guess which other ship picked up a load at Superior, Wisconsin for its last run of the season. Hope there won’t be any gales on Lake Superior for this ship and its Captain and mates.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/14/2025 17:43:19
Tracking the Atlantic Huron…. she's in Lake Michigan at present heading for Burns Harbor, IN.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/15/2025 18:58:57
More Lake Superior shipping…
facebook.com/reel/163917775706...fs=e&fs=e
From Old Ontario Series >> Facebook >> BHO:
Caption could [almost] be "Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg, my back still aches when I hear that word," but it isn't ....
...it's: "Tomato picking in Leamington, Ontario in the 1950s. credit: Archives of Ontario."
Edited by - Owen on 12/16/2025 19:33:17
quote:
Originally posted by OwenFrom Old Ontario Series >> Facebook >> BHO:
Caption could [almost] be "Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg, my back still aches when I hear that word," but it isn't ....
...it's: "Tomato picking in Leamington, Ontario in the 1950s. credit: Archives of Ontario."
That'd be for S Tom's other song about Leamington tomatoes make ketchup, and ketchup loves PEI potatoes.
Meanwhile, out on Lake Michigan hard by the Chicago shoreline the Atlantic Huron has left Burns Harbor heading for Superior, WI.
In other recent news, the Atlantic Huron is now entering Lake Superior. Let's have a look at the weather forecast... hmm, could be dicey
Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/18/2025 12:18:09
She’s getting close to Duluth/Superior ,, notice with the heavy winds the ships are hugging the leeward coastline.
Seems everyday's a school day. 
This popped up on Facebook today ..."Shantymen's Christian Association" is a new one for me.
From a fellow at White Fox, SK >> Facebook >> BHO:
I remember when my dad bought the King brother's sawmill in 1966 there was a fellow that came around that we called “The Shantyman”. I think that he “set up shop” in the cookhouse and we got to watch a film that he brought with him. Before the film, though, he would give a brief sermon since “The Shanytmen” were part of a religious organization.
The Shantymen's Christian Association was a Toronto based organization which had its start in 1914. The association's main purpose was to minister to the logging camps of northern Ontario and Quebec. In 1919 it arrived in British Columbia when a Vancouver businessman, R.W.Sharpe, brought in a missionary to serve the logging camps of that province. Very soon missionaries found their way into other isolated camps such as mining and fishing camps as well as logging camps.
From that early beginning missionaries soon spread into the isolated camps of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
No matter what the camp residents thought of organized religion these missionaries were welcomed into most camps because it relieved the monotony of their day-to-day labours. The majority of non-believers thought that listening to the short sermon delivered by the missionary was a small price to pay for the (religion based) entertainment that was sure to follow.
**************************
The photo depicts a camp of bygone days that could very easily have been visited by a Shantyman.
Sask. Department of Natural Resources photo from 1946.
Recent history….
“ The Canadian movement began 51 years ago when Torontonian, Jim Keys, started helping truckers by providing over-the-road safety films for the industry. It evolved into a mobile chapel of sorts travelling across the country and now, the big rig chapels have parked permanently at a number of different truck stops throughout Canada.”
Meanwhile, back on the lakes, the Atlantic Huron is on Lake Ontario on her way to Quebec City.
From Old Canada Series >> Facebook >> BHO:
A “I won’t be home for Christmas because I was arrested for public drunkenness” Christmas card in Canada in 1910.
I remember when a Regina radio station aired the news that Colin Thatcher had been convicted of murdering his wife. At the end of the newscast two announcers kibitzed a bit. The first stated [probably as a comment on what some saw/see as a lenient judicial system??] : "I'll be home for Christmas ..... " and the second continued right on, humming/singing: ".... if only in my dreams." Dunno, could very well have been scripted. [I'd like to learn the details, but ain't holding my breath.]
Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/27/2025 12:44:30
Owen, can you make out any of yer model pull-behind-shacks?
fb.watch/EiSjwB8XDn/?fs=e
Nope, but that doesn't come as a surprise does it? 
I can legitimately plead ignorance, as my lovely and talented assistant did all the "due diligence" before we got ours.
Compared to the fiberglass ones those ^^ are pretty heavy; they're around, but they're definitely a small minority at vintage meets. I took the opportunity to learn a bit myself and came up with this: https://www.mortonsonthemove.com/vintage-travel-trailers/ Aside from Airstream and the fiberglass ones, the names I recognize are Shasta and Fleetwood.
In the latter part of 60s one of my older brothers built an 18' "hardwall trailer" patterned on the Vanguard, but with several enhancements. He knew the owner of Vanguard trailers in Richmond BC, so he bought the frame there, and then built components in the basement and assembled them on his driveway come spring. He took it to the assembly plant to install the aluminum siding as it had to be done at a constant/controlled 80 F. so as to eliminate warping due to changes in temp. [I recall him/them having it at my parents' farm, but the other details I picked from his "Memories of ____________ " book.]
Just an update - the Atlantic Huron escaped the big lakes storm having entered the St. Lawrence River a few days ago. She’s now moored at Quebec City.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/29/2025 21:16:33
.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 12/31/2025 23:01:07
quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97
Musta been some sorta time machine back then. Those soldiers are fighting under the Canadian flag that was adopted in 1965.
There is one thing we lack around here compared to the rest of North America. That would be history. This major city where I have lived was only incorporated 61 years before I was born. As a result any classes in Canadian history were heavily dominated by everything east of Manitoba.
Does anybody remember the names of our 4 early barn yard governors ? They would be SydenHAM, DurHAM, MetCALF, and BAAAgot. I remember little else from my grade 10 history class.
.
You’re all probably holding your breath for the latest on the Atlantic Huron,,, well, she was in the Canso Strait 2 days ago but due to ice it’s now sailing the longer route around Cape Breton.
“ The Atlantic Huron was in the vicinity of the Canso Canal on January 1–2, 2026, but had to sail around Cape Breton because the canal is currently closed for the winter season.
Canal Closure: The Canso Canal typically closes in late November (specifically November 24) due to ice risks and remains closed until mid-May. For the 2025–2026 season, it is closed for the winter and to allow for maintenance.
Current Voyage: The vessel is on its final "revenue run" before being retired and scrapped. It is heading for Sheet Harbour, NS to be scrapped.
Route Change: Because the shortcut through the Canso Canal was unavailable, the ship was forced to navigate the longer route around the northern tip of Cape Breton to reach its destination on the Atlantic coast.”
Edited by - chuckv97 on 01/03/2026 19:27:08
Well, not Davy Jones’ Locker but the scrapyard in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia. She was built at the Collingwood Shipyards in 1983-4,, a 42 year worklife. May some of her metal end up in one of my fingerpicks some day.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 01/06/2026 21:32:42
Another town, and stories untold…..
Edited by - chuckv97 on 01/10/2026 20:29:44
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