South River Seniors Telling Their Stories
A community-made collection of stories, anecdotes, aural history and reminiscences told by Seniors who live in South River, Ontario created from weekly Storytelling circles that are edited into individual stories, podcasts and online radio shows.
NAISA realized a previous storytelling project in 2017 when it first moved to South River. More stories and conversations about South River can be heard in the collection Re-Collect / Re-Told: Your Stories of New And Old.
Tell Us Your Story
Weekly storytelling circles happen every Wednesday at 6:30 pm (UTC -4) at The South River Friendly Circle (10 Isabella, South River). Admission is Free. If you live in South River or any of the nearby townships then we welcome the opportunity to add your memories and experiences to this ongoing archive.
Explore the Story Archive
1/ Early Settlers of Sundridge Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom shares the early history of Sundridge, Ontario, including how the village got its name and some of the experiences of the early settlers.
2/ Playing in the Myca Mine – Cows in the forest Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom relates two memories of growing up on the Paget Farm on Forest Lake Road in Sundridge.
3/ Favourite student… Dad’s Coyote story Audio & Info
4/ Long walk to Magnetewan for shopping Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom describes an early settler walking to Magnetawan to buy a stove and carry it back to South River. Nadene Thériault-Copeland also related settlers in Lount having to walk to Magnetawan to shop.
5/ Forest Lake Road – how to get to the gorge Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom explains how to find a hidden gorge off Forest Lake Road.
6/ Frost Pocket in Machar Audio & Info
Nadene Thériault-Copeland shares the story of a community of US draft dodgers that lived on a property that was called Frost Pocket in Machar.
7/ Remembering Marg and Dave Steen at Friendly Circle Audio & Info
Keitha Redmond and Myrna Hickingbottom remember Marg and Dave Stein from the South River Friendly Circle.
8/ South River and Sundridge shopping, rivalry Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom and Keitha Redmond recall shopping in South River and the rivalry between South River and Sundridge.
9/ Women driving back in the 50 Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom talks about her mom learning to drive and how that was rare for women in the region in the 1950’s and 60’s.
10/ Eight gas stations in Sundridge and Five in South River Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom and Keitha Redmond remember the many gas stations there used to be in Sundridge and South River which profited from the Highway 11 running through both towns.
11/ Fox Theatre Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom remembers taking the school bus on Saturday nights from Sundridge to the Fox Theatre in South River.
12/ Trips to the Dentist Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom remembers memorable trips to dentists as a child.
13/ Red Cross Hospital in Burk’s Falls Audio & Info
Myrna Hickingbottom and Keitha Redmond share memories of the Red Cross Hospital in Burk’s Falls which had a surgery.
14/ Criteria for Kinship Audio & Info
Linda Bass relates a humourous anecdote about becoming a member of the Schneider family in Wattenwyle and Lount Township.
15/ Reflections of South River in the 1970s Audio & Info
Keitha Redmond shares her early impressions of South River after arriving from Bancroft in the 1970’s and after having grown up in New Market. She relates the friendly nature of the community and how wonderful the bus drivers were.
16/ Murphy’s Lodge Audio & Info
Bill O’Hallerin tells the history of Murphy’s Lodge in South River, a boarding house and Inn established by his Mother’s family in the 1940’s. He also mentions that one of the frequent guests of Murphy’s were the Carter brothers whose parents were among the first families to settle in South River.
17/ Deer Lake Lodge And Other Lount Stories Audio & Info
18/ South River Area During WWII Audio & Info
19/ Lount Cemetaries Audio & Info
20/ Rural Community Gatherings Audio & Info
21/ A serendipitous connection to the land Audio & Info
Listen to Story Radio/Podcast Episodes
Stories are edited into radio/podcast episodes that are broadcast online on NAISA Radio every Saturday at 1 pm and can be heard on-demand at this link.
1/ Podcast Episode 1 Audio & Info
2/ Podcast Episode 2 Audio & Info
Acknowledgments
“South River Seniors Telling Their Stories” is produced by New Adventures in Sound Art as part of the South River Storytelling Project for Seniors. The project is funded by the Government of Canada through the New Horizons for Seniors program.
