Milton John (Jack) & Elizabeth(Lovie) Wallace
“Black Jack” Wallace was born in 1880 in Hillsdale, Ontario. He came to North Bay with parents, Robert and Janet Wallace at the age of 9. Leaving school in his teens, he worked as a fireman and then as an engineer for the CPR, before joining his father in one of North Bay’s oldest contracting firms, Robert Wallace & Sons. Numerous North Bay landmarks were constructed by this firm, using bricks from the Wallace brick yard, situated across from the Pete Palangio Arena. These landmarks included: the Normal School (Teacher’s College), many of North Bay’s elementary schools, North Bay Collegiate Institute, the North Bay jail, many homes in the west end of North Bay, and the family home on Campbell Avenue. Jack was active in many community initiatives, served on the delegation to study the Georgian Bay Canal, was a member of the Northern Navigation Co., and president of Georgian Bay Creamery and Bidgood Gold Mines. It was through his efforts that the first of North Bay’s streets were paved.
Lovie Robinson was born in Orangeville March 23, 1884. She and Jack married in Toronto, Christmas Day, 1905 and they settled in North Bay. They had six children – Audrey, Ken, George, Harold, Gerald and Wilfred ( Bae). Jack died in 1930 at the age of 50. Lovie, a very strong and determined woman, with the support of her extended family, temporarily re-located her family to Toronto, in order that her children could complete university educations –Audrey in music, George in law, Harold and Gerald in medicine, and Bae in engineering, and later, in law.
She and her children continued to cottage on Centennial Crescent, Trout Lake, until her death at the age of 57, March 25, 1941. This cottage burned in the late 1950’s and is the current site of the Gerald and Jo Wallace family home.
Lovie lived to meet only one of her 20 grandchildren, Bob, and none of her 42 great grandchildren. Four of Jack and Lovie’s children – Ken, George, Harold and Gerald, remained in North Bay to pursue careers and raise Jack and Lovie’s grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great, great grandchildren. Quite a legacy that we all feel blessed to share!
With love and gratitude,
Bob & Anne, John & Wanda, Mickey & Penny, Dave &Nancy, Jane & Peter
Blake & Rita, Jack & Gwen, Don & Diane
Jamie, Lovie & Danny, Jay & Ginette
Tim & Deb, Kathy & Mike, Sue & Bob, Tom & Joanne
Brian & Wendy, Rory & S, Mike & Christine, Audrey & Joe