From the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Center:
While this Christmas season will look different, we can look back at the past and enjoy what celebrations were enjoyed throughout the holiday and winter seasons of the early days. Mr. Mulheron planned a day of fun for the children every year. Sounds like the one of 1917 was a memorable one for many of the children.
Mr. H Mulheron, in 1917, was busy planning and organizing a special treat for the community. Friday, March 16, 1917, he planned a winter surprise for all the school children of Timmins – a sleigh ride and afternoon of fun for 700 children.
The sleigh ride started at the Goldfields Hotel at 1:30 pm and every child from the public and separate schools were welcomed. There were 30 to 40 teams of horses needed for the entire afternoon – which Mr. Mulheron promised to obtain.
When he was asked what he would do if he couldn’t get enough horses he answers, “Then I’ll get them in South End, or Cobalt, or someplace. But I’ll get them!” Many from the community volunteered to give their horse teams for free to help make this even possible.
Once the sleigh ride was over, the children were treated to a stop at the New Empire Theatre at 3:30 p.m. where, thanks to the management team there, they ran a free comedy film for the children.
Each week, the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre provides TimminsToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.
Find out more of what the Timmins Museum has to offer at www.timminsmuseum.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here.
