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.
Storytelling Celebration on Art’s Birthday
At 1 pm on January 17, come to the NAISA Café and Gallery for free cake and an opportunity to listen to stories from this collection. January 17 is also Art’s Birthday, a celebration of Art around the World, and we will be sharing the stories and highlights from our party with online listeners.
Explore the Story Archive
Click Here for Podcast Episodes
156/Heat in the old log cabin (that’s now in Sunridge)Open
155/Recordings of Birds and hearing aidsOpen
154/Cat sees a deerOpen
153/Deer Hunting and Listening to WildlifeOpen
152/Hunting with the Forest Lake Gun ClubOpen
151/Television and newspaper made a huge differenceOpen
150/How music was experiencedOpen
149/Black Fly Festival and Art GroupOpen
148/Photos at the damn, disc golfOpen
147/How did the Tom Thomson park come to be, making the signOpen
146/Deer population in Lount, McLaren Farm, Rye Post OfficeOpen
145/Moose have no upper teethOpen
144/Population in the Area, most worked for the millsOpen
143/Forest Fires In The AreaOpen
142/Nipissing Road First Survey, Lount Fire Towers, Stover’s DollsOpen
141/2002 annexed the homes from Laurier to South RiverOpen
140/Became self-employed and how Swift Canoe got started in South RiverOpen
139/Gettin hydro to Keith’s dad’s cottage, pigeon and rabbit stewOpen
138/Big Box stores change the way we shop, Sunday shoppingOpen
137/What became of the South River TheaterOpen
136/Summer vacation in our teens and going to the moviesOpen
135/Living in what is now the Strong Heritage building, then moving and in 83 the house fireOpen
134/The region in the 50’s and how Keith met Bernice his wifeOpen
133/When Keith arrived in the 70’sOpen
132/We didn’t ask our grandparents enough questionsOpen
131/Curious mind made me an historian.. searching titles for facts… a chain is 66 feetOpen
130/Mean and Smart PonyOpen
129/Lived in the farm in Joly that is now the museum in SundridgeOpen
128/Early pictures of South River done by Strong found at a farm in JolyOpen
127/Good survey made for insurance in South River… bakery in South RiverOpen
126/How you heated your house… warmest place was the cookstoveOpen
125/Holdich Hotel And the Office for Standard Chemical… Murphy hotel.. houses made of lumberOpen
124/What is that tower_ Griffith Industries, Rainbow towers, Vaneer PlantOpen
124/What is that tower_ Griffith Industries, Rainbow towers, Vaneer PlantOpen
123/Standard Chemical 1907.. added railroads built.. Standard Chemical later was demolishedOpen
122/Hotstams, Whiteheads… wooden dam was demolished 1910… 1886 is when the train was builtOpen
121/Survey for the Railroad, Dunbar falls, Booth’s millOpen
120/All the camps had a CommisaryOpen
119/Hard finding a job…going through the middensOpen
118/Lumber floating down river… The Chemical, shotgun carriage, Fraser logging, the BrinnonsOpen
117/Nahmanitinggon means red river..original survey in 1855 and 1859… Forest Lake (Khauchu lake)Open
116/Thornborrow family story… when they came to live in the areaOpen
115/Garnet Luxlton – Guiny henOpen
114/Elliott’s Lodge opened up to service people visiting the QunitsOpen
113/Deer Hunting and Bird Watching from Deer StandOpen
112/Cleaner AirOpen
111/Talk To EverybodyOpen
110/Cottage – Wait, Where Are You?Open
109/Griffiths.. Rural Over City DrivingOpen
108/Accident In LountOpen
107/Going Too FastOpen
106/Nice Living Up HereOpen
105/Barrie – A Serendipitous ConnectionOpen
104/Everyone’s Looking At Their Phone Open
103/Comparing Life Elsewhere To South River Open
102/Looking Back Open
101/The Legion Open
100/The Importance Of Volunteering Open
99/NAISA Open
98/Questions Are Healthy Open
97/Cursive Writting Ellie The Carpenter Open
96/Founders of Sundridge Open
95/Mailboxes in rural places Open
94/Learning how to drive in South River.. Perception of Distance Open
93/Eating everything on your plate Open
92/highlights of taking care of mom Open
91/I hear a train – the train is coming Open
90/ Married on Nov 4th deer hunting seasons Open
89/ Hunting stories wrapping up the meat after the hunt Open
88/ What do deer sound like Open
87/ Veery Thrushand peepers in South River Open
86/ 50 new things move to Lount Open
85/ Algonquin Wolves teaching pups how to howl Open
84/ Walking’s great in South River – trails except when there are bears Open
83/ Keitha’s out walking every day – even in the snow Open
82/ Megan sees a youth from Europe walking near the Old Nipissing Road Open
81/ Deer yard moose Open
80/ Bears on deck Open
79/ Beautifill Apple grown ourselves Open
78/ Even the birds are friendly and foxes Open
77/ Dave Steen Open
76/ The Importance of Hats Open
74/ Ruth Drummond, always answer the door with a hat on, lunch bucket chronicles Open
73/ South River had many entrepreneurs – John Dyke was one of them Open
72/ Tough mills, and other mills in the area Open
71/ Charcoal dust – Steel Drum Band kicking up dust Open
70/ Tom Thompson Park: 14 acres of land given to the town for a $1 Open
69/ Happy Landing Property and Gas Lines Underground Open
68/ Many Gas Stations Because of the Quints Open
67/ Highway Businesses and Attractions – Nancy the moose, Peter the Bear Open
66/ Building Houses and Running a Farm Open
65/ Standard Chemical Camps, Camp Wendigo, Getting logs from South River to Ottawa Open
64/ Keith Anderson, Jim Lang, Standard Chemical, POW Camp and Log Camp Open
63/ The Gorge Open
62/ The River Driver Open
61/ Collecting Stories Open
60/ Calling Square Dances Open
59/ Calling at the Sundridge Fair Open
58/ Learning to Dance for the Prom Open
57/ How did we meet? Open
56/ First Date with Warren Open
55/ First Date with Warren, Part 2 Open
54/ How did we meet? – Part 2 Open
53/ Keitha Moves to South River Open
52/ Small Town Person Open
51/ Small Town Folks Talk to Everyone Open
50/ Playing the Piano to Pass the Time Open
49/ Getting stuck on the side of the road – help is always there Open
48/ Getting used to South River from Toronto Open
47/ People’s Value Store Open
46/ Quilters Open
45/ First Time Driving In South River – Bears At The Machar Landfill Open
44/ Bear Walking Down Lincoln Street Open
43/ First Impressions Open
42/ Three Cars Seem Like Heavy Traffic Open
41/ People From All Over SouthWestern Ontario Open
40/ Reflections On First Impresions Of South Riverin The 60’s Open
39/ Married the Milk Man Open
38/ Getting Free Ice Cream Open
37/ Delivering Milk Open
36/ Tractor Won’t Start Open
35/ Moose on Camera at Mapleton Village Open
34/ South River Stores, Hotel and Dentist Open
33/ What was the Weather Like in South River Open
32/ The Chicken Story Open
31/ Finish immigrants in South River Open
30/ Finding relatives here Open
29/ ABC lumber Open
28/ Camp Dare… Chance Encounters Open
27/ Four-legged monsters, Garnet shoots a bear Open
26/ Bears at the dump Open
25/ Moose stories Open
24/ Moose rolling over Corolla Open
23/ Woman alone in wilderness Open
22/ Sprays and Mothballs Open
21/ Early Settlers of Sundridge Open
20/ Playing in the Myca Mine – Cows in the forest Open
19/ Favourite student… Dad’s Coyote story Open
18/ Long walk to Magnetewan for shopping Open
17/ Forest Lake Road – how to get to the gorge Open
16/ Frost Pocket in Machar Open
15/ Remembering Marg and Dave Steen at Friendly Circle Open
14/ Eight Gas Stations in Sundridge and Five in South River Open
13/ Fox Theatre Open
12/ South River and Sundridge shopping, rivalry Open
11/ Women driving back in the 50’s Open
10/ Red Cross Hospital in Burk’s Falls Open
9/ Trips to the Dentist Open
8/ Criteria for Kinship Open
7/ Reflections of South River in the 1970s Open
6/ Murphy’s Lodge Open
5/ Deer Lake Lodge And Other Lount Stories Open
4/ South River Area During WWII Open
3/ Lount Cemetaries Open
2/ A serendipitous connection to the Land Open
1/ Rural Community Gatherings Open
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.
12/ Podcast Episode 12 Open
South River Seniors Telling Their Stories is a community-made collection of stories, anecdotes, aural history and reminiscences told by Seniors who live in South River, Ontario.
The stories were collected in a weekly storytelling circle at The South River Friendly Circle and are broadcast on NAISA Radio every Saturday at 1 pm. The stories are also available as a podcast or as individual audio segments on @naisa
“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.
11/ Podcast Episode 11 Open
South River Seniors Telling Their Stories is a community-made collection of stories, anecdotes, aural history and reminiscences told by Seniors who live in South River, Ontario.
The stories were collected in a weekly storytelling circle at The South River Friendly Circle and are broadcast on NAISA Radio every Saturday at 1 pm. The stories are also available as a podcast or as individual audio segments on @naisa
“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.
10/ Podcast Episode 10 Open
South River Seniors Telling Their Stories is a community-made collection of stories, anecdotes, aural history and reminiscences told by Seniors who live in South River, Ontario.
The stories were collected in a weekly storytelling circle at The South River Friendly Circle and are broadcast on NAISA Radio every Saturday at 1 pm. The stories are also available as a podcast or as individual audio segments on @naisa
“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.
9/ Podcast Episode 9 Open
South River Seniors Telling Their Stories is a community-made collection of stories, anecdotes, aural history and reminiscences told by Seniors who live in South River, Ontario.
The stories were collected in a weekly storytelling circle at The South River Friendly Circle and are broadcast on NAISA Radio every Saturday at 1 pm. The stories are also available as a podcast or as individual audio segments on @naisa
“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.
8/ Podcast Episode 8 Open
South River Seniors Telling Their Stories is a community-made collection of stories, anecdotes, aural history and reminiscences told by Seniors who live in South River, Ontario.
The stories were collected in a weekly storytelling circle at The South River Friendly Circle and are broadcast on NAISA Radio every Saturday at 1 pm. The stories are also available as a podcast or as individual audio segments on @naisa
“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.
7/ Podcast Episode 7 Open
South River Seniors Telling Their Stories is a community-made collection of stories, anecdotes, aural history and reminiscences told by Seniors who live in South River, Ontario.
The stories were collected in a weekly storytelling circle at The South River Friendly Circle and are broadcast on NAISA Radio every Saturday at 1 pm. The stories are also available as a podcast or as individual audio segments on @naisa
“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.
6/ Podcast Episode 6 Open
Episode 6 is from a recording made on October 16th, 2024 at the South River Friendly Circle. It features stories collected by Keith Thornborrow – including the Cadger and the River Drivers and Nancy the Moose. Those stories sparked discussion about the many highway businesses that sprung up after the birth of the Dionne Quintuplets. Those businesses reached a peak in the early 2000’s before the Highway was re-routed to bypass South River in 2011. Other businesses have played a part in the life of the village, such as Standard Chemical, logging camps, lumber mills and the many roadside attractions that faded away after the highway bypass opened. In today’s episode you will hear the voices of Keith Thornborrow, Myrna Hickingbottom, Keitha Redmond, Sandra Train, Nadene Thériault-Copeland and Darren Copeland.
5/ Podcast Episode 5 Open
Episode 5 of South River Seniors Telling their Stories is from a recording made on October 9th, 2024 at the South River Friendly Circle in South River, Ontario, Canada. The first part of the conversation centers on social occasions for meeting life partners such as Square dances, prom dances and first dates. The second part is about the spirit of small town life in Northern Ontario. In this episode you will hear the voices of Myrna Hickingbottom, Keitha Redmond, Nadene Thériault-Copeland and Darren Copeland.
4/ Podcast Episode 4 Open
Episode 4 of South River Seniors Telling their Stories is from a recording made on October 2nd, 2024 at the South River Friendly Circle in South River, Ontario, Canada. The conversation begins with Ian Bishop and Jacquie Lockhart comparing life in South River to their previous home in Southern Ontario and Sandra Train relating her first experience coming to the region in the 1960’s. Following that Joan Pinkerton will tell us about marrying the milk man from Johnson’s Dairy and the deliveries she would do in the region. She also relates other stories from the past including getting the tractor to start along with recollections of the commercial area that once existed in South River. Through this episode you will also hear from Myrna Hickingbottom, Keitha Redmond, Peggy Parent, Nadene Thériault-Copeland and Darren Copeland.
3/ Podcast Episode 3 Open
Episode 3 of South River Seniors Telling their Stories is from a recording made on September 25th, 2024 at the South River Friendly Circle. It includes the voices of Lila Davies, Myrna Hickingbottom, Sandra Train, Keitha Redmond, Nadene Thériault-Copeland and Darren Copeland.
The conversation begins with Lila Davies relating the immigration of Finnish people to the area. They settled in places like Kawiwamog Lake and other locations in the bush close to what is now the South River paddling entrance to Algonquin Park. It is hard not to talk about life in the bush without a few moose and bear stories and we have included some of those in this episode along with some insights on dealing with mosquitoes, flies and other insects.
2/ Podcast Episode 2 Open
South River Seniors Telling Their Stories is a community-made collection of stories, anecdotes, aural history and reminiscences told by Seniors who live in South River, Ontario. In today’s episode we will hear the voices of Myrna Hickingbottom, Keitha Redmond, Nadene Thériault-Copeland and Darren Copeland that was recorded from a conversation at the South River Friendly Circle on September 18, 2024.
The episode begins with the early founders of Sundridge in the 19th Century and how Sundridge got its name. Sundridge is a village to the south of South River. Its population like South River is around a thousand people. There is a lot of integration between the two communities. Residents will often shop, work and visit in either village on a regular basis. You will also hear in this episode recollections of early travel routes, businesses and hospitals in the region around South River and many reflections on growing up in the 1950’s and other memories over the past seventy years. The episode ends with a comparison to today and how some of the vibrancy of Ottawa Avenue in South River has diminished in recent years.
1/ Podcast Episode 1 Open
In the first episode of South River Seniors Telling Their Stories we join a very lively meeting on September 11th 2024 with Keitha Redmond, Bill O’Hallerin, Linda Bass, Peggy Parent, Deborah Saunders, Sandra Train, Nadene Thériault-Copeland and Darren Copeland.
To provide a bit of context, South River is a village of 1100 people established in 1906 and located about half way between the cities of Huntsville and North Bay in Ontario, Canada. The village is surrounded by the rural communities of Lount, Machar, Laurier, Ballentyne, Sundridge, Jolly and Strong.
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.
