Potter heritage (c1912)
The Potters settled in Dundurn in about 1890. This photo was probably taken in Saskatoon where they had a winter home (I believe Albert was the CPR station master there).
Seated in the front row (L to R): George, Eliza Mae Potter (nee Brawley), Thomas, Albert Edward Potter, Elizabeth (Lily).
In the rear, standing are: Mary Jessica, Allan, Albert, John, Doreetha, Hiram, Charles
Census information for the Potters is available online from the National Archives if you search under:
The Territories/Assiniboia West/District 204/Dundurn/Sub-District q/Schedule 1/
reference: RG31, Reel T 6553, Aid 33-36, p4. 
Dawson heritage (1960)
Here it is 9:30, time for Sunday school, and John (3) still in his pyjamas. Well, I guess he's still tired from ripping out the fence the day before. Again, this is the backyard of Albacore Place. It abutted the harbour back in the days when the rocks along the shore were black from oil discharged into the harbour (from the bilges of ships most likely). For the longest time that's what colour sea stone was supposed to be. Don't worry we couldn't easily get to the shore from the backyard - there was a chain-link fence separating young explorers from the toxic exploration grounds.
Dawson heritage (1960)
Penny celebrates her fourth birthday in 1960. My what lovely knees she has - and that hat! that must be a carry over from the Calgary days. Pretty as a picture that one (just what does that phrase mean anyway? - this is a picture, she is pretty, much prettier than a square of paper in black and white). This is the living room of 4 Albacore Place on the base at Shearwater.
Dawson heritage (1960)
James Keith is a naval officer, so it is only right that he assume this role while aboard the Grace F. John is doing what he liked to do when dad was around (to look up, mostly) and I am getting as close to the water as is safely possible. I look fairly relaxed for a kid who is uncomfortable in a punt on a pond, but then, this was a real fisherman's boat - one he built himself - it didn't tip when you wanted to look over the side.
Maritime heritage (1960)
I spent most of my summers with Edie and Wit on Prince Edward Island and, of that time, I think this was the most memorable activity I can recall - riding out to (what to my five-year old imagination was the) sea in Lawrence's boat the Grace F. In this rare gathering it appears that everyone came along for the ride. I believe this was the year that the whole Dawson family (minus those not yet born, of course - there were two more to come at this point) stayed in the cookhouse at the little harbour at Gasperaux (I'll post a photo of it later). In this photo are (L to R) Penny (seated) Edith Bishop (Edie) holding Kim, Patrick (seated), Louise McHerron, Cephina McHerron, Peggy McHerron, and John (seated). Dad, Lawrence and Wit would be in the back running the boat (probably hauling traps for a lobster feed - only if lobster was in season of course). In those days beer was about $2.50 for a case of 24. That made for some pretty good parties I imagine when combined with freshly boiled lobster and homemade bread. Here the boat is just exiting the passage from the harbour at Gasperaux and heading out into the Northumberland Strait - you can see the light that would guide the fishermen home on the right - on the left is one of the sheds where the men kept their equipment when it wasn't being used to earn them a living.
Dawson heritage (1960)
Penny begins her new hobby - looking after her brothers and sisters - in this case Kim who, in this photo, is about six months old. This sibling is easier to look after as she doesn't yet walk or, in a rare brief moment in time, talk.
Maritime hockey heritage (1959)
I remember this hockey sweater (my first - and last I expect). Wit was a Rangers fan - as many maritimers were in those days. The social connections between the maritime provinces and the New England states was a natural extension of the trade routes between the harbours of Halifax, Boston and New York. Since there were only six teams anyway, and a maritimer could get to New York or Boston faster than to Toronto (you couldn't cheer for a Quebec team, despite the Habs winning most of the silverware, in those days) it seemed natural to cheer for the 'hometown' team.
Dawson heritage 1959-60
This photo was taken sometime after Christmas 1959 in the driveway of Wit and Edie's house in Imperoyal Village. Kim is just a freshie (in Dad's arms - he is struggling to get into or out of Wit's car). John is distracted (on the left) by his new ball, Penny by her new friend, and Patrick by an apparently new hat and a hockey stick with which to adjust it. I can recall the evergreen pattern in dad's Mary Maxim sweater (grey with green trees) - it seemed everyone had one of those sweaters and somewhere I'm sure there is a photo of me in one matching my father's.
