Cairns and Monuments of Our Community 4
HAPNOT WILDLIFE PROJECT
When I visited this project, I realized that there was an important part of the development and growth
of this project that was not recorded or shown. In the late 1950's when I worked in the Copper Smelter,
individuals like Harry Sorenson, Vic Cullen were the men who were responsible for loading the blister
copper into CN grain cars. These rail cars had a certain amount of grain, wheat, oats and barley
trapped between the outer wall and the wood liner of the car. We used to take this grain out and
put it in 5 gallon pails, and we were advised that this was for the Duck Pond, and head Smelter
Clerk, Harry Lofendale. Roy Mast being our Superintendent and being a promotor of the future
of wild life, had made all the necessary arrangements for the grain to be picked up by the Surface
Dept., and delivered to the home of Harry Lofendale who lived directly across from the Duck Pond.
I think we had a good reason to say that there was a Duck Man in the very beginning and he was
supported by a great number of helpers who helped fatten the ducks for their flight south.
HARRY LOFENDALE, HEAD SMELTER CLERK
Harry Lofendale was a man of many hats. His largest claim to fame was the yearly role of
Santa Claus. He made many a young child excited at Smelter Xmas parties and many
other local Xmas gatherings, also was one of the driving forces behind the Hapnot Lake
Wild Life Project, so I would say he was the first Bird Man of Hapnot Lake.
GEORGINA PEAKE - THE DUCK LADY
After the passing of Harry Lofendale, many of the neighbours carried on the responsibilities until the
arrival of Georgina Peake. This lady took great interest in the birds and their needs and carried it on
for a number of years. The Hapnot Wild Life project is a place where many people stop by, feed the
birds, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
REES W. DAVIS
In August 1958, the Island on which the settlement stood was renamed Davis Island in honour
of Rees W. Davis, an Amerian engineer from Utah who was superintendent of the Churchill River
Power Company from startup until his retirment that year.
REES W. DAVIS
Island Falls was built from 1928 - 1930 and was known as CRP or Churchill River Power.
This was a subsiduary of Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
THE SONS OF MARTHA PLAQUE
Fittingly, Mclean was a legend among his workers: injured ones were properly looked after,
and if there was a fatality, the victim's family was looked after financially. Fittingly he erected
a cairn upon completion of each project to honour his workers, specifically in memory of those
men who were injured or lost their lives during each construction project. There are eight
such cairns in all, in Canada.
Bronze plaques were placed on the cairns, with a verse of the Rudyard Kipling poem,
The Sons of Martha, extolling the virtues of labour. The poem was inspired by the Biblical story
of Mary and Martha. It contrasts the lives of thinkers and labourers, and celebrates the careful
work done by workers and builders to provide for others' physical needs. It was Kipling's view
that without the "Marthas", or 'doers' of the world, we would not have the quality of life we enjoy today.
Rudyard Kipling and Harry McLean met at a gathering where Kipling recited The Sons of Martha, and
from this, McLean received the inspiration to erect monuments to the workers on his projects.
THE GOLD SPIKE
Dominion Construction's fiery president, Harry Falconer McLean, embarked on the construction of the rail
line for Canadian National Railway from The Pas to Flin Flon, an 84 mile branch line, in 1927-28. By
laying the rail line on frozen ground during the winter, the 24-month job was completed in nine months.
On September 22, 1928, Manitoba Premier John Bracken drove the 'Golden Spike' at Flin Flon
15 months ahead of schedule. When spring thaws came, the crews went back, lifted the rails and
installed foundation fill and ties.
Manitoba project cairns were built at The Pas, Flin Flon and Churchill. Most notably for our region,
Harry McLean had a cairn erected at Sherritt Junction north of Cranberry Portage on the
completion of the railroad to Flin Flon in 1928.
The above plaque and Golden Spike today is housed in the Flin Flon Station Museum as the plaque had been severly
vandilized and now has been restored for the benefit for all to see. I would like to say a special thanks to
Ron Dodds who helped me obtain the pictures and information surrounding this important part in our rail history.
PIONEER SQUARE
At the corner of Main St., and First Ave., has great historical significance for Flin Flon. In the community's
early days, the site was a focal point as newcomers arriving by train would pass by on their wy to gratefully
seek employment at Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Ltd. Businessman Abe Ostry purchased
the property in 1931, opening a popular grocery store. Over the decades, the site would also house a
butcher shop, a Salisbury House restaurant and a Styleright clothing store, among others. It was
most recently occupied by Mr. Ribs and the Northern Rainbow's End gift shop until a devastating
blaze struck in April 2006. Since then, the property has sat empty, encircled by a wooden barrier.
School children added colour to the barrier by painting a wrap around mural depicting
kids engaging in various sports and physical activities.
COPPER MURAL BY LOCAL ARTIST DOUG DMYTRIW
Pioneer Square was unveiled in 2008 for the 75th Anniversary of our City or Flin Flon.
The above copper mural created by Doug Dmytriw depicts the Mining Industry
and the local area which many of us call home. Today there are many social
gatherings winter and summer conducted in this area which commemorates
the pioneers and our past.
LEONE HAYES (GRAYSON)
This cairn and plaque is located at the Government dock on Lake Athapap.
LEONE HAYES GRAYSON
Lake Athapapaskow has probably rendered more large Trout than many lakes in Canada.
This lake has supported a great number of fishing derby's during the history of our community,
and also has provided one of the largest trouts weighing in at 63 1/2 lbs., which held the
record for over 30 years. This fish was caught and landed by Leone Hayes Grayson 1906-1991.
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION BRANCH 73 CENATAPH
This Monument is the most important in our Community as it makes us realize the number of individuals
who have served our Country and also the ones that laid down their lives to support the freedom
that we enjoy today. This Monument was unveiled on August 9, 1959.
CAIRNS & MONUMENTS
This project has certainly put me in touch with a good deal of history
and the past activities of a good number of individuals. I hope that
the readers find this informative and interesting and possibly able to
give me more info to add to the above pages.
Thank you and Enjoy.
4 of 4