THE 1950s | home

THE

1950s

The Ste Gertrude Church was destroyed by fire for the second time on December 31, 1951.

1950

SRF'S BOOMING 50s

The theatre on 3rd Avenue started in 1950, but its official opening was March 30, 1951.

1951

MAKING HEADLINES

A 1951 Newspaper headline states....“Fastest-Growing Town In Canada Is Claim Of Smooth Rock Falls.” The town boasted a population of 3,000, with more than 80 babies born in the past year. Monthly rent for (Abitibi) company housing was $25.50 for a five-room house, and up to $50 for a larger unit. Today's population would be well under 1500.

ABITIBI COMPANY HOUSES

Abitibi added basements and central heating to their older company houses.

RAILWAY FARE

In the 1950s the passenger fare from SRF to the Junction was fifty cents each way.

SCHOOL ADDITIONS

Additions to the Public/Secondary and Ste-Gertrude schools.

MOORE'S GARAGE

Tom Moore St. built Moore's Garage, a General Motor’s Dealership. Located at the corner of 5th Street and Main Street.

BUILDING THE ARENA

Last slab cut on Thurs. September 28, 1950 - Official opening January 18, 1952. Built with volunteer labour.

CHURCH FIRE

Ste. Gertrude's Church, destroyed by fire Dec. 31, 1951. The alarm was sounded at 08:15 a.m.

At first during the rebuilding they held services at a few different places in town, e.g. the Community Club, the Theatre. They then put a floor down and held their services in the basement until they had enough resources to construct our current church.

PHILLIP TIMOTHY KELLY

SRF resident, the Hon. Philip Timothy Kelly (Cochrane North), was first elected to the Ontario Legislature on Nov. 22, 1951. He became Minister of Mines June 3, 1952.

1952

SRF'S BOOMING 50s

- The Grill Restaurant (Railway St. now 5th St.), Smooth Rock’s first restaurant (downtown) opened in November. Owners were Dennis & Betty Ryan.
- In June, Paul H. Gagne built the first home under the Abitibi's Employee Home-Ownership Plan.
- The new townsite work shop was constructed, enabling most town maintenance services to be concentrated under one roof.
- Telephones were installed in homes (3 digit dialling).
- The arena on 5th Street (formerly Railway St.) officially opened January 18. Built with volunteer labour.
- Royal Canadian Legion Hall Branch 305 (Railway St. now 5th St.). Original Hall was constructed in 1950 but the Official Opening was September 20, 1952. Built with volunteer labour.

SEA SCOUTS AWARD WINNERS

1. Jack Green (Tenderfoot)

2. Peter Kadikoff (Swimmers)

3. Berek Kadikoff (Swimmers)
4. Paul Oleskevich (Firemen’s, Rescuer, Athletics)

5. Yvon Gagne (Tenderfoot)

6. Scouter Richard H. Holmes “Skipper”

7. Larry McLelland (2nd Class Entertainers)

8. Jim Parisee (Queen Scout)

9. Wayne Biglow (Patrol Leader)

10. Bob Thurston (Swimmers).

40-HOUR WEEK

During the year, Abitibi’s switch over to the 40-hour week was virtually completed so that now practically all departments through the company are working on this basis. The implementation of the 40-hour week from 48 hours was done with no reduction in pay

THE ROYALS

Mayor, Paul H. Gagné, was requested to represent SRF at Kapuskasing, and meet Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

1953

SRF'S BOOMING 50s

- Town Hall on 1st St was completed late 1953.
- The Credit Union began Sept. 14, 1953. The credit union office was initially located in The Grill, where deposits were made and loan application forms were obtained. 1953-1966 it was located in the basement of Mr. Vic Dubeau's residence, 92 Sixth St.
- In 1953 Tom Moore Sr. constructed a new post office building at 141 Fifth St. (Formerly Railway St.).

A NEW HUDSON'S BAY

In the fall of 1953 The Hudson’s Bay opened a brand new modern store in their original location.

A FIRE IN TOWN

On Tuesday, Nov. 4th, 1952 a fire broke out and the following, which were all housed under one roof, were destroyed: Hudson’s Bay Store, Townsite Shops and The Woods Commissary (lost were the winter supplies for 650 bushmen working in the area). Total cost of the fire: approximately one million dollars.Within three days the Hudson’s Bay was back in business, temporarily housed in the Community Club.

TUBERCULOSIS DONATION

This season, Smooth Rock’s donation to the Tuberculosis (TB) campaign was among the highest in Ontario.

POSTAGE STAMP

REDEDICATION OF THE CHURCH

The Trinity United church basement was built and the original building (1920) was moved onto its new foundation. Also added were the Narthex and Tower.
March 15, 1953: rededication of the church and dedication of the new organ.

FIRE TRUCK

The town’s first fire truck arrived on Nov. 10, 1953.

MOORE'S HARDWARE

Built and operated by Arthur Moore 1953-1956. Located near 148 Ross Road.

The Abitibi Plant in SRF was the model for the paper mill on the new Canadian 20-cent stamp, which went on sale April 1, 1952. The stamp is steel blue in colour.

1954

1955

SRF'S BOOMING 50s

Michael and his brother Vincent started up their business, McCafferty's TV & Furniture, on the corner of Hollywood Ave and Ross Road.

DEPT. OF LANDS & FORESTS

c.1955 Residence, Staff House & Warehouse, Sixth Street W, Hwy 11 W (situated in area of Kelly Park, near Mattagami River Bridge).

SRF'S BOOMING 50s

A residence for the Ontario Provincial Police was built at 5 Sixth Avenue West. It had an attached garage which contained a small office.

STELLA DUBAS BUILDING

Stella Dubas was a hairdresser.
(The Northland Savings & Credit Union Ltd. later bought this building.)

PORCUPINE HEALTH UNIT

SRF became a member of the PHU and a clinic was established by mid-summer, staffed by a health nurse.

NEW STREETS

Mooreville and Cloutierville roads (in Kendrey Twp.) were constructed in 1955.

TELEVISION IN SRF

Television arrived in SRF in 1955.

1957

NEW PLUMBING

Unionville (Main Street area) and Mooreville (Ross Road area) in Kendrey Township. now had modern indoor plumbing complete with their own water supply and sewage facilities.

ST CUTHBERT'S CHAPEL

[Anglican] A chapel on wheels (trailer), was put into service in May 1957.

CORPORATION OF THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT OF KENDREY

On October 12, 1954, Tom Moore Sr. was appointed as Vice-Chairman on the first Board of Trustees for the Improvement District of Kendrey Twp. Kendrey became incorporated as the Corporation of the Improvement District of Kendrey.

1956

BAILEY BRIDGE

In 1956, a 525-Foot Bailey bridge spanning the Mattagami River, situated just north of the Abitibi mill in Smooth Rock Falls, was the longest in Ontario. It was constructed entirely on land, and then pushed over rollers mounted on the piers until it spanned the river. It consisted of three 160-ft spans with short approach spans at either end. It was 50 feet above the river. The Bailey bridge was taken down after a permanent *bridge was constructed.

GOULET'S ESSO

1958

SRF'S BOOMING 50s

- Swimming Pool - Official opening: Friday, July 18, 1958. Built with volunteer labour. The land was donated by Abitibi.
- Mattagami River Bridge on Hwy 11 West officially opened Tuesday, Sep. 23, 1958
- A trailer camp was established at the end of Hollywood Ave., up behind Tom Moore’s farm.
- Construction of the Abitibi bush camp 39.

DUPONT STREET

Tom Moore Sr. built Dupont Street, which was officially opened in 1958.

On the corner of Hwy 11 and Dupont St.
Built in 1956 by Joe and Alice Goulet.

LION'S CLUB

On February 13, 1956, a Charter was presented to the newly formed SRF Lion’s Club.

1959

SUSAN EVANS-DAVIES

December 5 - : The 1st local female member to join the Abitibi Quarter Century Club was Miss Susan Evans-Davies, Nurse/Hospital Matron at the S.R. Falls Hospital. At that time the hospital was privately owned by the Abitibi Company.

PIPELINE

The Trans-Canada Natural Gas Pipeline crosses the Mattagami River (in the Jacksonboro area), and lays a 30" pipe through Kendrey Township.