Submitted by:
Kari Olavi Martikainen, Finland

Story:
Year 1901-02 eight young men immigrated to Saults Ste. Marie ON / MI from a small Parkano village, Finland. My grandfather Alexander ALAKIRJANEN was one of them, but he came back to Finland later and built a farm and had 10 children. Grandfather's brother Oscar b1874 and Victor b 1876 ALAKIRJANEN and cousins Manasse b1874, Nestor b1877, Hiskias b1879 and Viktor b 1883 YLIKIRJANEN moved to Soo. Have you heard about them? They wrote maybe their familyname briefly KIRJANEN.
Happy 100 anniversary. Best regards!

Story:
This year 2012 the Halfpenny Family celebrated very significant wedding anniversaries. Ron and Eileen celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on August 18, 2012..our older son Patrick and his wife Brenda celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary on September 12, 2012 and our younger son Brian and his wife Alana celebrate their 15th Wedding Anniversary on December 23, 2012. It's been a very good year of celebrations during the City of Sault Ste Marie's 100 th year.
Story submitted By Eileen Halfpenny

Story:

I was born in Sault Ste. Marie in 1966, left when I was 1 year old to Portugal, then returned to Toronto in 1984. This year was the perfect time to visit.

I rode my bike there August 28, (took me 8 hours), and then rode 5 to see my first house, where I was baptized, the old hospital and the outskirts; nice City.

On Wednesday, when I left I was a little choked up; I'll go again.

Can't believe I was there almost half of century ago!!

story submitted by Nelson Jacinto

Story:
This is back in the mid 1930's during the era of streetcars - I lived on Second Street which was at that time inside the Steel Plant. In order to reach our homes you went over what was called the 'High Line' where you could look down through the cracks on the boards to see trains below. I remember when the car barn (streetcar) caught on fire and the men on our street were called out to help put out the blaze.

Back during this time, I remember the houses were very nice. There were black shingles on the roofs of houses and everyone had lovely front and back yards. Our area was also called Tagona, we had great neighbours, everyone did.

There was a gas station in the area of where the street car stopped, a confectionery store, and a two or three story red brick building which I think held the offices. The houses were sold later on and relocated. Today people can't believe we lived there but we sure did.

story submitted by Joan Shannon

Story:
Many years ago some old timers told me the story of how the artisian well pump house on Second Line was built. They told me that in the early 1900's horse drawn diggers were used and the horses often had a tough pull through the mud...
story submitted by Gordon Shaughnessy

Story:
During the building of the Open Hearth furnaces for the new steel mill around 1900 a village in the West End on what is now Essar property was established.
It was called Tagona Village. The first construction workers lived there in tents. Mostly Brick Layers from all points including Chicago and Italy. No doubt the forerunners of our large Italian populace in this city.
story submitted by Gordon Shaughnessy

Story:
The Honourable Patrick FitzGerald, retired Superior Court Judge "orated" a poem that he had just coined--it wasn't on paper, but by memory. He is 94 years old and a good friend, smart fella, and fun to be around. Here it is:
ODE TO AN ICON: by Pat FitzGerald
Oh to be Roberta Bondar
To walk in space away up yonder
To see our planet from afar
As if from some celestial star
And then to leave us much to ponder.
story submitted by Marg Simpson

Story:
Hello Sault Ste. Marie, I would like to add mention to the Italians of Soo, and their many contributions to our culture, in particular my father (Mr.Don Sforza) who contributed a lot of his time and energy in promoting the italian culture, ie; Soo soccer, fundraising Mount Carmel church, MC/Host events at Marconi/Verdi club and 25 years of Italian Broadcasting on ckcy/cjic/chas/,to which he continued in BC till his passing in '94. It is still broadcasting over 50 years. Thank you italians of the Soo/Dad.
Story submitted by Mr. Lorenzo Sforza
(see photos submitted - image gallery link then photos submitted by the public)

Opened in 1895 as the world's longest lock and the first to be operated by electricity, the Sault Canal completed a national transportation network over 3500 km in length. Traffic through the new system increased steadily and the canal was reaching its peak by 1912, with millions of tons of cargo passing through the lock. The innovative Emergency Swing Dam had proved its worth during the accident of 1909 and a post office had opened in the Administration Building in 1910. A site beautification project was underway by 1911 and the results of this effort can still be enjoyed by visitors today.
Story submitted by Parks Canada