Today's research has put me in touch with members of a family that have been friends of my family for 3 (going on 4) generations. The Berdusco's and the Morrison's were neighbors on Station Road when they first moved to Wawa in 1939-40. My Grandmother Hilda often talked about Grandma and Grandpa Berdusco...I even remember visiting with them in their home on Broadway. I thought it was the coolest thing that they lived up a flight of stairs over a store and had a view of both Wawa Lake and Broadway Avenue.
My Father John and Aunt Madeline grew up with the long list of Berdusco kids...and then of course my brother Matthew and I loved our Berdusco visits to Orillia, the annual summer visits with Paul, and attending high school with Elaine and Sheila.
Today's research brings back all those warm memories...but my true intention is to focus on the oldest 2nd generation Berdusco boy...Atillio. With the help of some members of the family I am starting to pin down a life history of this charismatic man for inclusion in a local mining heritage project later this year. The dramatic focus will be on the 1955 Block II Pillar Blast at the New Helen Mine which he was instrumental in coordinating.
When Tillio flicked a switch on September 24, 1955, 153 tonnes of dynamite exploded 1 MILLION tonnes of rock. This blast was the largest controlled underground blast of its kind in Canadian mining history. Worthy of mention don't you think?
My Father John and Aunt Madeline grew up with the long list of Berdusco kids...and then of course my brother Matthew and I loved our Berdusco visits to Orillia, the annual summer visits with Paul, and attending high school with Elaine and Sheila.
Today's research brings back all those warm memories...but my true intention is to focus on the oldest 2nd generation Berdusco boy...Atillio. With the help of some members of the family I am starting to pin down a life history of this charismatic man for inclusion in a local mining heritage project later this year. The dramatic focus will be on the 1955 Block II Pillar Blast at the New Helen Mine which he was instrumental in coordinating.
When Tillio flicked a switch on September 24, 1955, 153 tonnes of dynamite exploded 1 MILLION tonnes of rock. This blast was the largest controlled underground blast of its kind in Canadian mining history. Worthy of mention don't you think?
Courtesy of David and Ron Berdusco.
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