Stories - Page 15 of 61 - Waterfront Pergola: North Bay

Reid, Gladys & Harry #479

Honoured by daughter Gwen Millard and Family.

Thank you for honouring Gladys and Harry Reid with a Leaf of Inspiration and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park. Story to follow.

Steward, Fred & Diane #1276

Honoured by their children.

Thank you for honouring your parents with a Leaf of Inspiration and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

Nipissing Naturalist’s Club #1992

Honoured by past, present and future members.

Thank you for honouring Nipissing Naturalist’s Club members and for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

Hamelin, Roland & Eveline #533

Honoured by their children – Laurie MacDonald, Richard Hamelin, Suzanne Holliday.

Rollie and Ev where longtime residents of North Bay who raised a family of one son, and three daughters in a home on Fisher Street.

Rollie was born and raised in Mattawa, the second son of a logging tug boat operator who worked on the Ottawa River. In the midst of the depression Rollie’s father passed away and at the age of 15 he left school to help support the family.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Ev was one of four daughters to an Ottawa butcher. After high school Eve worked for the Federal Government in Ottawa.

During the Second World War, in 1943, Rollie enlisted in the RCAF and at the end of the war he was honourably released in 1945.

Fate brought them together, or was it Rollies’s brother Paul who was at the time married to Ev’s sister Trudy who played “cupid”? Whichever it was they fell in love and married in 1947.

After living in Ottawa and Montreal they finally settled in North Bay when Rollie joined the North Bay City Police. Here they bought their first home at 533 Fisher Street and raised their son Rick and daughters Sue, Louise and Laurie.

Active in their community they were members of the Elk’s Club and Royal Purple and enjoyed bowling in the Police league.

Ev worked for several companies in North Bay and finally secured a position with the Nipissing Board of Education where she remained for the rest of her career.

Rollie was a member of the Canadian Legion Branch 23, the Knights of Columbus Council 12106, Active member of 422 RCAF Nipissing Wing as well as volunteering as instructor for the Royal Canadian Air Cadets 547 Squadron.

Ev passed away after a brief illness in 1982 and Rollie in May of 2000. He was pre- deceased by daughter Louise also in 2000. Three of their children and their spouses still make North Bay their home. As part of their lasting legacy they have seven grandchildren.

Spencer, Donna & Jon #623 *

Honoured by their family.

Mom and Dad met in the summer of 1957, just outside of Huntsville at the Tally-Ho Inn, where Dad was vacationing and Mom was working for the summer. Mom was from Bradford, ON, while Dad grew up in Toronto. They attended different universities but still dated for five years before getting married June 23, 1962. They then moved to Vancouver where Dad completed his Ophthalmology training, so they lived out there for four years. They wanted to come back to Ontario because they felt strongly that their children should grow up close to their grandparents.

It was in 1966 that they moved to North Bay where Dad set up his practice. Dad always wanted to be close to the outdoors, a passion that they passed on to us. We were always going to the Nordic Ski Club, Laurentian Ski Hill, golf course, lake or hiking trails. We were lucky that they felt strongly about getting outside and exploring.

This year, 2012, they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. This is why we would like to dedicate pergola leaf #623 to them for the month and day they were married 50 years ago. We want to thank them for their love, the experiences they’ve given us and for being great role models.

We love you Mom and Dad (Nanna and Grandpa)!

Andrew, Barbara (Casey), Stephen, Micheline (Chenier), Sam, Myriam and Jennifer.’

Beland, Omer & Colombe #505

Supporting the park.

Thank you for supporting your Community Waterfront Park project.

Martyn Family #190 *

THE MARTYN FAMILY

The history of the two branches of the North Bay Martyn families can be traced from John Martin, born in the mid 1700’s in Devon County, England. He was the grandfather of William Martyn (spelling of names was often changed as they were recorded in various documents) who immigrated to Durham County in Upper Canada sometime after 1853. He was a shoemaker. William married Ann Slemin who also emigrated from Devon County in England, in 1861. The couple had four children, two of which were sons, William Albert, born 1865 and Frederick John, born 1868. William Albert and Frederick moved to North Bay, Ontario in 1888.

In 1897, Frederick founded The Martyn Funeral Home which to this day has been owned by his descendants; son, lan; grandson George and his wife Ann; and great grandson, lan, who is the present owner. lan is married to Jody (nee Sloan) and he has four children, Zach, Jacob, Sloan and Rowan.

William Albert married Margaret Jamieson in 1891 and the couple had eight children. William became a well-known contractor and was responsible for building many notable buildings in the town of North Bay. William also sat on the North Bay Town Council in 1909 and 1910. He was a championship curler, played baseball, and was very musical, singing in the choirs of Trinity Baptist Church and subsequently St. Andrew’s United Church. He was known as “Black Bill” because of his black hair and large black moustache.

The second youngest of William and Margaret’s eight children was James Irving Martyn, known as Jimmy. He was a well-known businessman in North Bay owning Doan’s Grocery and Martyn Fuels. He acted as Returning Officer for numerous Provincial and Federal elections in the District of Nipissing. Like his father, Jimmy was very musical, playing piano and singing in a barber shop quartet. He was also an excellent curler, winning many bonspiels. Married to Anna Moore, they had two children, Robert James and Mary Lynn.

After obtaining his law degree, Robert James (Rob) became a highly respected lawyer in North Bay where he was born and raised and has remained since 1975. He has been active in many community organizations including the Nipissing Rotary Club, the Capital Centre, the Nipissing District Public School Board, Canadore College and most recently, a director on the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation.

Rob is married to Judy and they have three children, Jamie, Becky and lan. Mary Lynn has two sons, Christopher and Rob. She is married to Richard Armstrong.

The entire Martyn family has and continues to be proud of its deep connections to the North Bay community.