Flin Flon in the '50s

- Flin Flon's Past -

Wayne Warren collected many photos during the 2010 Flin Flon Megabash. Descriptions and credits will be provided where possible.
If you've not visited this page for a few days, press F5 (function 5 key) as photos are added often.
Main Street has it own section now. Latest update: November 11, 2012

This picture is described as "before 1930". Appears to be taken from the North, looking Southeast.

Lila Stevens estate

The caption reads "looking Northwest", taken in 1929. The main structures are almost finished.

Lila Stevens estate

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The Hughes. The wood stave pipe line that brought water from Trout Lake to the reservoir which served the mine and the town.

Lila Stevens estate

Unknown person on the water pipeline from Trout Lake.

Lila Stevens estate

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The Flin Flon Music Miners.

Flin Flon archives

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Mile 86, 1930. Just a great picture capturing winter conditions and the hard work required to create a mine - and a new town!

Lila Stevens estate

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Don't You Just Love a Parade !

Great spirit; rocks and a sort-of-road, just enough to have a parade.
Description says "Bill Noice & 'Battleship'" - fantastic!

Lila Stevens estate

Even less road! circa 1930

Lila Stevens estate

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4th Street Bridge. Hapnot High School on the left side, in the background.

Lila Stevens estate

Bellvue street, 194?
Of the many images of Flin Flon, this one really captures the stark landscape.

Imagine settling there if you were raised on a farm or place where you could grow a garden.

Lila Stevens estate

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Foot bridge across Ross Lake near present 3rd Avenue, the 1st hill at Ross Lake. Sure looks different today!

Arnold Williams collection

Ross Lake bridge but it's before my time so I don't recognize where it was located.

Arnold Williams collection

From the top of 3rd Ave hill looking SouthEast - Sipple Hill road rises up on the right.

Arnold Williams collection

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The iconic North main shaft hoist building. Red in real life, it was a sort of talisman and could be seen for quite a distance.

Flin Flon Archives

The curling rink attached to the bigger hockey rink and then in the background, Main school renamed in the early '50s to McIsaac school. You can also see the company cottages and just the top of Elks Hall.

Flin Flon Archives

Aerial view of Flin Flon and in the bigger photo you can even discern the old Elks Hall.

Flin Flon Archives

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M a i n S t r e e t
Every town has a main street, that avenue which often defines the town's character and Flin Flon was no exception. A great mixture of different businesses owned and run by different nationalities drawn to the lure of hardrock mining.

This street/store layout is an excellent resource for finding/identifying stores on Main Street.

You can locate Gateway Drugs as seen in the picture on the right.

Lila Stevens estate

This picture likely dates from the early '30s

Ken Allen collection

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Caption reads `Looking South, Flin Flon Mainstreet, 1930

It is likely only a few of those buildings would have survived into the '50s. Perhaps the restaurant in the forefront became the Flin Flon Hotel.

Lila Stevens estate

I really like this photo, captures the era and area quite well. I wonder who the beauties are?

Ken Allen collection

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On the West side of Main Street, the Northland Theatre.
The movie "Happiness Ahead" was released in 1934
so this picture is likely several years later.

1946-"Conquest of Cheyenne" and 1948-""Jungle Patrol"

Flin Flon archives

Flin Flon
And on the East side of Main Street, the competition, the Rex Theatre

Flin Flon archives

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Milt Young's Sweet shop - great spot.

Flin Flon archives

I had my first malted milk at Milt's.

Flin Flon archives

  Noorduyn Norseman Mk.IV (CF-BFT serial #17)

  This aircraft was delivered to Hudson Bay Air Transport, Flin Flon, Manitoba, February 21, 1939 and was in steady use until it was sold to Sioux Narrows Airways on April 25, 1958. BFT retired in 1998 and is now a proud member of the Canadian Bush Plane Heritage located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
  I believe this great photo was taken in the 1940s on Schist Lake just before spring breakup. In that era a round trip from Channing to Island Falls took an average of one hour and ten minutes air time, using 30 gallons of fuel per round trip.

  The Norseman played a vital role in opening of Canada's North. Can you just imagine the adventures BFT experienced!     Flin Flon archives

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"... the 100 Steps, a latticework of timbered stairs mounting still another massive outcrop. This crazy corner typifies the craziness of the town's geometry. On the left side you meet the lopsided church;
on the right side, narrow boxes run parallel to the street, up another small hill, up another small hill, and smaller boxes snake out at right angles into the houses...
the people of Flin Flon walk on their own water." bes