Celebrating 100 years of Glory

Norma-Jean Johnston
Special to the Record

Editor’s Note: The Knox United Church is celebrating its 100th Birthday during Railroad Daze this year. As part of that celebration Norma-Jean Johnston has offered to write several features on long time church members. Her first piece is on Clinton and Doris Park. Clinton, who himself was born in 1904, is the same age as Rainy River which was incorporated in 1904.
Clinton and Doris Park are the church’s longest serving members.
Clinton recalled how his family came to the area, “Grandad Miller and family came out to Rainy River in 1898. My grandfather, Robert Miller, farmed west of Miller’s Creek and his brother Stewart Miller farmed the east bank.”
Clinton’s grandmother Miller was on the church committee before it was built. At the time it was Presbyterian and there was a Methodist Church at the corner of Third St. and Mill Ave. Eventually it became the Rebekah Hall and is now apartments. “I remember going to Sunday school in the Methodist Church when I was 7 or 8 years old with some other friends.”
Doris said that she boarded in town when attending high school. “It was too far to come three miles into town, especially in winter. My parents, the Williscrafts, were Anglican.” Doris began visiting Knox with one of her high school friends who was teaching the primary Sunday school class.
From that visit on she was hooked. “I remember church picnics in the summer (and one in particular where) one of the men got a barge and we went up the river. It was hard to get mom out of the house and onto the
barge. I don’t know if she ever enjoyed it. There was a place near John
Trenchard’s farm, owned by George Sleeman, where the river runs just like a park. It was so beautiful; it was the site for many picnics.”
Things that the couple remember as being special include the baptisms of their children and both remember a day in 1933 that was very special to them, although they differ on what the weather was like. “We were married on October 10, 1933. It was cold,” said Doris.
“It was not too bad, fairly decent for October,” said Clinton.”
“It was a small wedding. In those depression days there were not very many weddings. Most people just went to the manse to be married. Florence and Vic Croxford were married and it was 3 years later before there was another wedding; ours!” said Doris. Rev. Spence married them. Mrs. D. Cameron sang and one of Doris’ chums played the organ. Someone’s little black and white dog got into the church. It sat down beside the best man with his short tail rapping on the floor. “The flower girl was my 4-year-old niece with one of those short frilly dresses. She was at the opposite end of the line and when she bent over to see the dog her dress went up behind. I almost laughed.” said Doris.
Their daughter, Deanne’s, wedding was also at Knox United. “She had a beautiful wedding dress. I know because I made it. It was white satin with blue net and white net. It had a circular skirt and French Lace.
Doris was a member of the East End Women’s group along with her best friend, Arlene Shatford. They were friends since high school and she was her maid of honour. Mrs. Doane was another member of the East End group.
The group met once a month, worked at bazaars and raised money. At that time there were a lot of women’s groups as the town was much larger.
Mentally walking through the United Church neighbourhood Doris said, “I remember my friend, Violet Hoffman. Norma and Al Aikenhead’s house was the Hoffman house. Mrs. Solomon, who lived in the house where the Burnst home now stands raised Violet. The Hoffman family is still in Fort Frances. The McQuarrie family were another Rainy River family. They had a grocery store in Beaver Mills and they moved it to the site across from Lifestyles. The McQuarrie Family reunion was here at Knox just a few years ago. Anne Mailloux’ house was the Lawson house, owned by Myrtle Robinson’s parents. Myrtle was the church organist for many years.”
Rev. Peden served here two times before moving to the Lakehead. Doris’ niece, Marilyn Foster, took training to be a nurse in Thunder Bay and, Doris recalled, “The Pedens were very good to her. Rev. Peden came to the Knox United 80th Reunion.”
Clinton said, “It’s hard to participate in church these days. We can’t stand up fast enough; we can’t sit down. The pages of the hymn book are thin and hard to turn. We can’t hear and we can’t see.”
However that hasn’t stopped them from being an active part of the congregation. They appreciated the Church’s celebration of Clinton’s 98th Birthday.

Doris had friends stop by for her birthday on March 1st and they worked on quilting panels for the 100th anniversary. “It was difficult working with felt, enlarging and cutting patterns and sewing it all by hand. I had the space and the quilting frame and enjoyed having them over.”