home from the war - stories from st.catharines wartime neighbourhoods

Home from the WarStories from St.Catharines Wartime Neighbourhoods

St. Paul St - VE Day, May 8, 1945

St. Paul St - VD Day, August 15, 1945

The War Years – Armed Forces

The Lincs and Winks getting ready to board the train.

Lincs and Winks, No 4. Platoon Bren Gun Carriers in August 1941

The War Years – Armed Forces

HMCS Merrittonia

HMCS St.Catharines

The War Years – Armed Forces

The War Years – Armed Forces

The War Years - Industry

McKinnon Industries – A Division of General Motors

The War Years - Industry

Thompson Products Grouts

Foster Wheeler

The War Years - Women

Hayes Dana Blood Drive

Grouts Factory

The War Years - Women

The Neighbourhoods

The Houses

The Houses

The Houses

The Houses

The Houses

The Houses

The Families

The Families

The Fricks – 44 Doncaster St.

The Fricks – 44 Doncaster St.

The Faulds – 21 Doncaster St.

The McArthurs – 3 Sandown St.

The McArthurs – 3 Sandown St.

The McArthurs – 3 Sandown St.

The Girl in Brighton

I met a girl in BrightonShe was pretty, blonde and tall

I told her of my cattle ranchBetween King Street and St. Paul.

I told her I was a cattle KingWhere the grass grew green and tall

And the city was built around my ranchBetween King Street and St. Paul.

I told her that the rolling hillsWas the prettiest scene of all

And we would gallop up and downBetween King Street and St. Paul.

I touched upon the beautyOf maple trees in fallOf my cattle at the water holeBetween King Street and St. Paul.

For miles around my grazing herdAwait my beck and callAnd she would be my cattle QueenBetween King Street and St. Paul.

I wonder what she’ll think of meWhen she comes out next fallTo look for me and my cattle ranchBetween King Street and St. Paul.

The McArthurs – 3 Sandown St.Rehabilitation 1946

I closed the door of the office,And I slowly turned around,I shook my head in wonder,

As I looked the factory up and down.

I went there looking for a job,And here’s what I was told,

“There’ll be an opening shortly,But, I’m sorry you’re too old.”

From one factory to another,The same thing I was told,

“We need a man for heavy work,But, I’m sorry you’re too old.”

One year ago I walked a mile through mud,For twenty miles or more,

And helped to keep the Germans,From breaking down your door.

We fought for every inch of ground,And time and time again,

We cleared a house or took a hill,With hardly any men.

And as we fought both day and night,Hungry, wet and cold,

No one came up to me and said,“I’m sorry you’re too old.”

Down Through the Years

Our lives were like a coin you tossWe have won, our friends have lostAnd now they sleep beneath a cross

Down through the years.

Side by side they fought their wayThat we may vote, our children play

And now they sleep until Judgment DayDown through the years.

Many friends we knew have gone beforeAnd now they’ve reached the distant shore

Their memory lives forever moreDown through the years.

Home from the WarStories from St.Catharines Wartime Neighbourhoods