Post by Steve on Mar 19, 2009 22:40:29 GMT -5
My late grandfather, Clarence (Ken) Catton, was an avid amateur photographer most of his life. Recently, my mom brought over a few of his slides. I had known my grandfather was into photography, but I had never seen any of his slides before. Mom knew I was into local history and while looking through the slides, had found some she thought I might be interested in. What an understatement!
It turns out, my grandpa had taken over 8000 35mm colour slides, spanning the years 1957 through about 1990! These slides are stored in 12 metal cases. Every one of them was numbered and meticulously indexed in small diaries, with a short description of the subject.
While the vast majority of these slides were of family, friends and vacations my grandparents took outside of Lambton County, about five percent - maybe 400-500 images - were of local subjects; many of which have long since vanished.
Many of these slides - taken when amateur colour photographs were much more rare - are, in many cases, the only colour images I've ever seen of the subjects they record.
Although, it's going to be a big job, I plan to scan these slides and share them with the world. I consider these images a part of my grandfather's legacy and one of his gifts to future generations.
Here are just a few samples from the year 1957...
All photos below ©1957 Clarence Catton
This is the newly opened Twilight Haven nursing home in Petrolia. It's since been replaced with a new facility. Love the new old cars!
The Ferris Wheel at Brigden Fair.
One of the last classes at Sombra S.S. #17 (Terminus). My grandfather attended this school in the 1920s and seems to have maintained an affection for it, as he returned to photograph classes there right up until it's closure in the early 1960s. I have also found some personal recollections in the Lambton Room that he compiled. I never knew he had done this and only found them by chance.
Overlooking the CN rail lands and freight sheds (now the Point Edward Casino) from the Bluewater Bridge. You can also see the abandoned rail ferry dock in the lower right.
Dominion Salt Company on Sarnia Bay. Now Centennial Park.
The Alexandria Apartments on London Road behind Our Lady of Mercy R. C. Church. My great grandfather, Charles Chambers was the building manager here. This building was originally the Forsyth mansion, then a convent. Hence, the gothic windows in the additions.
The original Sarnia Waterworks building. This was another place my grandfather's father-in-law, Charles Chambers, worked at for many years.
There are many more excellent images, but I'm waiting until I aquire an archive quality film scanner before I continue... Stay tuned.
It turns out, my grandpa had taken over 8000 35mm colour slides, spanning the years 1957 through about 1990! These slides are stored in 12 metal cases. Every one of them was numbered and meticulously indexed in small diaries, with a short description of the subject.
While the vast majority of these slides were of family, friends and vacations my grandparents took outside of Lambton County, about five percent - maybe 400-500 images - were of local subjects; many of which have long since vanished.
Many of these slides - taken when amateur colour photographs were much more rare - are, in many cases, the only colour images I've ever seen of the subjects they record.
Although, it's going to be a big job, I plan to scan these slides and share them with the world. I consider these images a part of my grandfather's legacy and one of his gifts to future generations.
Here are just a few samples from the year 1957...
All photos below ©1957 Clarence Catton
This is the newly opened Twilight Haven nursing home in Petrolia. It's since been replaced with a new facility. Love the new old cars!
The Ferris Wheel at Brigden Fair.
One of the last classes at Sombra S.S. #17 (Terminus). My grandfather attended this school in the 1920s and seems to have maintained an affection for it, as he returned to photograph classes there right up until it's closure in the early 1960s. I have also found some personal recollections in the Lambton Room that he compiled. I never knew he had done this and only found them by chance.
Overlooking the CN rail lands and freight sheds (now the Point Edward Casino) from the Bluewater Bridge. You can also see the abandoned rail ferry dock in the lower right.
Dominion Salt Company on Sarnia Bay. Now Centennial Park.
The Alexandria Apartments on London Road behind Our Lady of Mercy R. C. Church. My great grandfather, Charles Chambers was the building manager here. This building was originally the Forsyth mansion, then a convent. Hence, the gothic windows in the additions.
The original Sarnia Waterworks building. This was another place my grandfather's father-in-law, Charles Chambers, worked at for many years.
There are many more excellent images, but I'm waiting until I aquire an archive quality film scanner before I continue... Stay tuned.
