A Northern Hope

A Northern Hope
One Family's Life in Cobalt and Haileybury 1904-1928
by Debra B. North

Beginning with the birth of her maternal grandparents William Ferris and Rachel Johnston, in Scotland, in the 1870s, it follows them through their early years and my grandfather's experiences in the Boer War (1899-1902), their immigration to Canada beginning in 1903 and their settling in Cobalt in 1904. Debra B. North It recounts the family's life during Cobalt's Silver Rush which occurred, from 1904 to the early 1920s. Their family history is followed through World War II. Documented with 430 pictures, many of which have never been published before, this book makes fascinating insights into life in northeastern Ontario in the early twentieth century.

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ISBN: 978-1-927541-91-3 | WMPub#1164 | 8½" x 11"
252 pages; 430 pictures; silk acid-free paper; trade paperback | $37.95


Table of Contents

3 Dedication

6 Preface

8 Acknowledgements

10 Family Tree (diagram)

11 The Family - as identified in this history

12 Chapter 1: In the Beginning

12 William Ferris - My Grandfather

15 Rachel Johnston - My Grandmother

18 Rachel's sister Margaret - The Introduction and Engagement 1899

22 Chapter 2: The Boer War, South Africa; Oct. 1899 to May 1902

30 William Immigrates 1903

30 Chapter 3: Immigration to Canada 1903

36 Chapter 4: New Ontario and the Rise of Cobalt

44 Chapter 5: Cobalt circa 1905

50 Chapter 6: Cobalt's Silver Rush

56 Chapter 7: The Family Comes to Canada

56 Rachel's Brother Thomas

57 William's Brother Jack and Their Mother Elizabeth

60 Rachel Comes to Canada 1906

63 The Wedding 1906

65 Chapter 8: Cobalt 1906 to 1907

65 Early Cobalt 1906-1907

80 Chapter 9: The Ferry Boat Company and Cobalt Recreation

84 William's Boer War Pension

85 Recreation and Sports

94 Chapter 10: Cobalt Fire and the Cobalt Typhoid Outbreak 1909

100 Birth of Frank Ferris 1910

104 First Years 1911 to 1915

104 Chapter 11: Haileybury 1911 to 1915

115 Chapter 12: World War I, July 1914 to November 1918

138 Chapter 13: Back to Cobalt 1919 to 1928

138 Moving Back to Cobalt 1919

139 William's Employment 1919 to 1928

142 Chapter 14: Growing up in Cobalt in the 1920s

142 First House in Cobalt, a block from Silver Street

142 Second House in Cobalt, 24 Commission Street

145 Third House in Cobalt, 48 Nickel Street

151 Description of Cobalt

159 Schools

163 Church

166 Clothes

168 Food and Holidays

169 Recreation

172 Girl Guides and The YMCA

178 Music and Dancing

182 Great Fire of 1922

184 Bill

185 Tom

187 The Algonquin Rifles and the Decision to Move to Toronto

192 Chapter 15: Toronto 1928 to 1939

192 The Great Depression

208 The Relatives

211 Chapter 16: World War II: Sept 1939 to Sept 1945 and Afterwards

211 Tom

216 Ab

220 Bea

225 Bill

232 Doug

237 William and Rachel

244 Chapter 17: In Conclusion

248 Selected References