Immigrant in Porcupine
and His Later Journal
by Magne E Stortroen
An Immigrant's Journal is a sequel to Immigrant in Porcupine; both are autobiographies of a Norwegian immigrant, Magne Stortroen. Both books are in this special reprint volume.
Immigrant in Porcupine starts with Magne's journey to Canada from Norway. Born on a farm in Tylldalen, Norway, he came to Canada in 1923 at the age of 20. He worked in lumber camps and road construction around Iroquois Falls, Cochrane, Larder Lake and Timmins from 1923 till 1925, the period described in his story. He describes the conditions of the these camps at that time. Generally the experiences he describes are common to that era, but hard to believe today. As such, it is important that these pieces of history are preserved to remind us of their unique contribution to our Canadian history. His wry sense of humour certainly helps him to cope in his new environment.
Between 1925-1950 he worked for Tough-Oakes Mine in Kirkland Lake, and the Hollinger Mine in Timmins. For 19 years he worked for the Dome Mine from 1950 until his retirement in 1969. Altogether he worked 34 years underground, mostly in production jobs.
In the 1930s and 1940s he was a strong worker for the Mine and Mill Workers, in the days when 'it was almost a crime to belong to a union' and the meetings were held in people's homes.
An Immigrant's Journal takes up the thread of his life from 1925. From meeting his future wife, building homes, coping with the natural and social environments of the Timmins area in the 1920s, 1930s and on, he continues to find the balance between what he expects, and what actually is. He took an active part in the establishment of miners' unions. This is a story of the love and determination which overcame hardships during the first half of the twentieth century.
Go Here for Table of Contents for both books
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264 pages; 106 photos; trade paperback | $23.95
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Table of Contents
Immigrant in Porcupine
3 Dedication
4 Introduction to This Edition
5 Original Foreword
6 Table of Contents for Immigrant in Porcupine
9 The Voyage to Canada
17 Bush Camp Experience 1923
29 Shacking 1924
34 1924-1925 Winter In Cochrane
46 Aristocrats Of Roadbuilders
60 Compassion Of My Fellow Immigrants
79 Biographical Notes
An Immigrant's Journal begins on page 81
83 Acknowledgements
84 Original Foreword
85 Table of Contents for An Immigrant's Journal
87 Original Introduction
89 The Gambler
92 The Street Fight
94 Mining at the Tough-Oakes (1925-1926)
107 Prospecting Fever
112 Mining at the Hollinger (1927-1928)
122 Fire at the Hollinger Mine
129 Search for a Better Job
136 Meeting Elsa
138 Bolton Street Tunnel
147 Competition For Jobs, 1932
150 The Beginning
156 Tragedy Strikes
159 Boat Trip Camping
164 Our Second Beginning
167 A Dream Realized
169 The Ski Club
174 Squeezing The Dollar
179 Watabeag Lake
184 Our First Car
193 Our New Life in Bourkes
201 You Are A Thief
206 To Porcupine
208 Voice From The Past
210 Miners' Union Struggle
212 Train Ride To Moosonee, 1948
216 Moosonee
224 Elsa's Visit To Moosonee
227 Jacob-The One-legged Trapper
229 Back To Mining Again
231 Norway Trip
240 Second Trip To Norway
248 Elsa's Art
249 Elsa's Cancer
257 Appendix