Armstrong, ON
Photographs

Thank you for all you have done to bring our Armstrong, Ontario radar site to life. I was alerted by George Watson, from Alberta Canada. He was the 7 year old son of the Hudson Bay store's manager while we were there. The manager's name was Mac Watson.

I admit the web page was like opening a "time capsule". Fifty years of memories flooded over me.

It was understood that dependents would not come to Armstrong. I was in Wisconsin with our two children, 1 1/2 years and 4 1/2 years old. However, when fire destroyed the trailer I was living in, Joe was allowed to bring us to Armstrong. We arrived in April 1953.

Our time in Armstrong was pleasant. The children were out daily in 30 degrees below zero. They never had a sick day while we lived there. During our stay, Armstrong was the coldest spot in North America on two occasions. It was 54 and 57 degrees below zero.

We learned the game of curling and really enjoyed it. I am submitting pictures of some of the airmen who curled with us.

Because Armstrong was so isolated - no roads - we could only reach it by rail. Consequently the many lakes rewards us with many fish. We had many fish fries at our home as the airmen wanted to eat their own fish instead of taking them to the mess hall. Joe became very proficient at filleting them.

On Christmas, the fire truck came from the base with Santa Claus. He was Mr. Bannister, the train master. He was dressed in a beautiful velvet suit, compliments of the Hudson's Bay store. He knew all the children in town, so he had very personal conversations with each one.

Some of the town's people had cabins at Lake Mackenzie and generously shared them with all of us.

Because of the isolation, blueberries grew wild. You could sit in one spot and pick for hours. They were so big. I canned some or no one would have believed the size of them, like grapes!

My husband, Joe Boyd, retired in 1964. While in Armstrong, hw was assigned to supply. It was a challenge as Canadian nomenclature was so different from our own.

Joe modernized our home in the village of Armstrong making use of the equipment from the base for our telephone lines. They did this as we were leaving Armstrong by rail.

Our son spent his first day of school in Armstrong's one room school with Molly as his teacher.

Thank you for keeping our memories alive.