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     Flin Flon in the 1950s was a great time. This website will feature pictures from then and perhaps the odd story which may rekindle memories of a time when life was simpler, a time before TV, when the Winnipeg Free Press or Winnipeg Tribune arrived a day later!
     The purpose of this website is share photos and perhaps stories of a town with the most unlikely name, and peopled with characters worth remembering. Contrary to what the title implies, there will be photos and stories of other decades as well.
     Once a Flin Flonner, always a Flin Flonner.     Latest main page update: November 11, 2013

  The town of Flin Flon with its infamous smelter smoke. Who can forget damp fall or spring days with a west wind which brought the pungent, sharp smell of sulphur dioxide down over the town. It must have been truly difficult for those with asthma.

  This photo likely taken between 1955-58.

  Looks like 1954 or thereabouts. Right mouse click for a much, much larger image.

  1952 or 1953, Main street looking South, before the first big hotel fire?

University of Alberta collection

  Photo 1953-54, where many of the Bombers bought their clothes.
  Remember when a Bomber scored a hat trick, Eli would throw his hat on the ice which indicated the player could go to Ross' and get a new fedora - a true hat trick.

  And across Main and down a 1/2 block was Dembinskys.

  Wasn't the bowling alley in the basement next door?

  1937 - Sonny & Frank Dembinsky

April '12 - Davilyn reports that:
"Dad (Frank) is alive and well and living
in San Diego. At 90+ he is as alert and spry as ever"

Courtesy Davilyn Eyolfson

  1937 - Gerry Allen & Frank Dembinsky

Courtesy Davilyn Eyolfson

     Almost as iconic as the 2 smoke stacks or the red headframe, the 100 Steps are etched into the memory of growing up in Flin Flon.
In the summer you could get the best chips (French Fries to the newer generations) served in those little light coloured heavy paper trays, shake on lots of vinegar and salt - almost chip heaven!

     Once in the winter, maybe 1953, I remember a couple of us kids throwing snowballs at passing cars until we actually hit one and the driver got out and (I swear) came up the steps 4 or 5 at time. Lucky for us we had a good head start. Never did snowballs from there again, too scared!

     Looking East, down the steps - pretty good view of Flin Flon. Note changes to the two storey house on the bottom left. It is in this and the photos below.

Photo courtesy Adelle Koczka

     I'm going to guess 1944 or 45. The two cars in the picture are very old.

Maybe the summer of 1953 or 54 (check out the car grill in the lower left corner)

     Likely 1946. Click on the thumbnai for a very large image.

  Amazing place - one of the pool tables required that you almost kneel and the other end of the same table you needed to be on your tiptoes
- but the table was level!

  Main Street, at least 1957

  
A Christmas Tradition in front of the Post Office building

  
The annual Trout Festival - 1958

  
2nd dock or floating dock, at Phantom Beach. Tom "Jackfish" McDougall could dive off the #1 dock and swim around the 2nd dock - UNDERWATER!

      The best looking event in the Trout Festival - always!

  Ross Lake School - Ron Gilmore writes: " - note the fire escape down the centre of the building - it was a steel spiral slide - we only got to use it during a fire drill but it was a blast!"

  Winter of 56/57

That`s Louis Tusz digging out,

Ken on the roof

and Del just watching...

  An oops near 15 Hapnot, winter of 1958 perhaps

  Not sure of the year, 1959 perhaps. Looks like George Barker on the right.

  I'm sure almost everyone in Flin Flon knew Dr. Johnson

Photo courtesy Adelle Koczka

  >> August 1956, Royal Canadian Legion annual Provincial Command.
From Larry Brown: "I remember being at the parade before the Dominion President (who was present) and started at the HBM&S main gate and proceeded to the Legion Hall where it was dismissed."
This image is both large and quite detailed, taken by a high quality camera for that era. No doubt sharp eyes will recognize someone in the parade or in the '51 Ford on the right.

Helena (Lawton) Gies estate

The same day but this photo is not nearly as sharp.
Makes me think a tripod was used for the previous photo.

  << At least from an exterior shot, not a great deal different from 1958 to 2000. The original drilling company contracted to HBM&S (known locally as "the company") , McIsaac Diamond Drilling Co.

   Main public school, between the hospital and the arena, was renamed to McIsaac about 1954 or so, after Rod. Son Rod took over the business and it became Midwest Diamond Drilling and then Midwest Drilling and in the early 60's opened another business in Winnipeg.

  This is one of those photos that needs some explanation.

  I think it was taken in 1956 of the Mystic Creek between Flin Flon and Cranberry Portage. At one time people used to net suckers in the spring and use them for fertilizer in their gardens. You can sort of see the small weirs and where nets were placed as the river flows down towards the highway. I can just imagine the smell once those fish began to rot.

  At least the cats would be happy...

  Unwelcome visitor.

These pictures were taken the '50s at Mile 86. Seems this black bear found a smoke house to be just too attractive. That's Lyle Balfour's dad Chet on the left and a glimpse of his mom Helen behind him.
From Lyle: "The fellow on the right is a neighbour, Art Mawby. The bear had been regularly visiting an old bachelor, Gilbert, who lived north of us in the boondocks. Gilbert was worried the bear might try coming in the house as the dog and a big fire had not worked to keep it away, he claimed the bear just came up to the fire and warmed itself."

  A great skyline photograph given in 1961 to Fae Kinsley by her parents.

  The thumbnail is of the original after 50 or more years. When you click on the photo to get the LARGE image, it has been photoshopped to restore some of its original beauty.

Photo courtesy Fae Kinsley

  An aerial shot of both the HBM&S water base and the runway at Schist Lake.
HBM&S experienced a major hangar fire on April 3rd 1963. Otters CF-KTI and CF-JOR and Grumman Mallard CF-FLC were lost as well as all the mechanics tools, spare parts, spare engines and a lot of miscellaneous equipment. One Otter, CF-MIQ was parked outside and saved and the helicopter, a Sikorsky S-55, CF-HAB was away from base at a bush camp.    Information thanks to Pat Donaghy.

Photo courtesy John Hamilton

  << From a distance, perhaps Willowvale, the newer smokestack which replaced the older two stacks.

  >> View of the main shaft headframe taken south of the Midwest building displayed above.

Photos courtesy Adelle Koczka

  Two good photos taken by John Hamilton. I especially like the winter scene.

Photos courtesy John Hamilton

     If it can be said that Rock&Roll began in the 50’s and was a force for social change, then the Jubilee Hall played a substantial role in the life of teenagers in Flin Flon. It almost seemed as though the word “teenager” was created for the 50’s – a word that captured all that youth was experiencing. That confusing time when everything was important – especially the opposite sex.
     It’s hard to imagine now with satellite communications and the Internet, but Flin Flon was remote and television did not arrive until the 60’s. The outside world was presented on CFAR AM radio and by the Free Press – delivered the next day. Rock&Roll music? If memory serves CFAR played “that kind of music” only on Sunday evenings – the Top Ten. Otherwise “her nibs Miss Georgia Gibbs” or other light jazz was as close as it came to Rock&Roll. In fairness though, Elvis was played on the radio as country music, especially on Fridays before Rev. Horsefield’s “The Mailbag” radio program. So Saturday night dances at the Jubilee hall became a gathering place for teenagers as society in the 50’s did not present young men and women with many opportunities to get close to each other. In fact from September to June, school was the major place for social interaction. Parents did not easily grant privileges for the family car and teenagers with their own cars were in short supply. If the person you were interested in lived in another part of town or went the Catholic high school instead of Hapnot High, then it was Saturday night at the Jubilee Hall unless you could manage an encounter at the Rex or Northland theatres – limited opportunities indeed.
     The dance ran from about 9:30pm to 11:30pm and featured alternate song sets – three fast, three slow. Young women sat on chairs or were clustered in small groups around the hall, especially toward the south half. Young men stood in a large group near the middle just in front of the entrance. Their vantage point afforded the best view of the perimeter – where the girls were. Although many guys could and did jive, for the most part girls jived with other girls during the fast sets but the whole atmosphere changed for the slow sets. Young men had to appear casual enough so as to not care, but not too casual as to miss an opportunity or lose it to another “casual” guy. This slow dance atmosphere gathered in intensity as the evening progressed for the all-important “last dance”. This was the opportunity to ask or be asked to “walk home” together or go to the Doghouse for a coke, so the “last dance” became the focal point of the evening. It also was many times the precursor for “going steady” or at least an indicator that there was a significant relationship there. Ahh, the intensity and passion of youth...

  And speaking of the Dog House... A great teen hangout, the place to be in downtown Flin Flon, especially after the Saturday night dance at the Jubilee.

  Owner Ray was a big Bomber fan.

  Photo from 1957 perhaps.

     The colour photo was taken at the 2000 reunion.

Alas, the Jubilee Hall is no more.

   One of the best memories of Flin Flon in the 50's had to be walking by the P&G bakery on Main Street, especially after the cinnamon bun were just out of the oven. What were they; 10¢ or 15¢? To this day they remain for me, the standard by which all cinnamon buns are judged, and none have reached that high standard.
   One of the best things about good old memories is it that they get better with time! And the JICYWW...

Phantom Lake - North of 54 - Birk Ernest Sproxton
   "Sproxton explores the area's myths, legends, people, and history in Phantom Lake. He interweaves personal memories of family with present-day investigations, and meditations with stories of colourful characters from literature and life. Readers gain an understanding of not only the physical place, but also the emotional complexity of the people of Flin Flon and Phantom Lake. 'This is very much a Canadian book about traveling to the lake in summer'...says Sproxton."    Paula E, Kirman, Prairie Books NOW, Spring 2005.

   I have now read Birk's last book for the second time, quite possibly I'll reread it every two years or so, it's simply that good. I certainly can't speak for Paula, but "North of 54" evokes vivid memories of growing up in that remote, rocky landscape. Of course it helps if you personally know many of the people he writes about. Hard rock mining attracts a hardy bunch of individuals and the lure of the North is doubtless imprinted on succeeding generations. Quotes from this novel will be featured near the bottom of several pages on this website. Birk's initials "bes" will identify these quotes.

   On a personal note, I had re-established an email correspondence with Birk in the fall of 2006. His last visit to Winnipeg was in February 2007. I couldn't manage a meeting as my wife was undergoing cancer surgery the same day he came to Winnipeg - how ironic.

   The Flin Flon Heritage Project is up on the 'net, just a start mind you, but a good start. This is an ambitous undertaking, to document the history of a town both in picture and word - a merger of Doug Evans' vision and Richard Lyons' energy. The project team has grown with at least eight other members (as of Feb '13) adding their expertise to the website.
   Viewer's input is requested by way of comments so that Flin Flon's history can become more accurate and complete. So, if you have a picture or many, or you have a story send them along to the website or you can email them to me and I will pass them along.

The link to the Flin Flon Heritage Project