Beachburg, Ontario.

In his early years grandfather farmed, later he managed the Union Hotel in Beachburg. From that hotel I still have the Cylinder Music Box. It is marked SUBLIME HARMONEY, patented in the U.S.A. dated March 23, 1875. It operates well and it is a pleasure to listen to arias, hymns, marches, and waltzes of that era.

It was amazing for me to find a picture of the view on the hill where my ancestors’ lived in Ireland and then to see a very similar view my grandparents had looking from the Pretty Farm Homestead, down into the valley. The view was similar but generations and countries far apart.

Pembroke, Ontario

My grandparents moved to Pembroke in the late 1920’s where they bought a city block of land and

built a large two storey brick home. Grandfather was a loyal Orangeman and the family belonged to the Presbyterian Church. They raised four daughters here. My mother was the baby Etta Irene. This is also the home where I was raised.

Living and growing up in Pembroke one knew that hockey and Pembroke were inseparable. Some form of hockey was played there as early as 1837. Pembroke Seniors first hockey game was played Dec. 28th, 1893 in Ottawa. Over the years my father, brother David, many uncles, cousins and sons all played hockey with our women folk cheering on every generation.

Now fast forward to the 2011-2012 NHL San Jose Sharks roster, number 72 Brandon Mashinter is a centre player. Brandon is a great grand nephew of my mother, Etta Irene and her sister, my Aunt Olive’s great grandson. If they were alive, both would have been overjoyed and very proud of this wonderful young man of his generation. Therefore, Brandon, is the great-great-great grandson of John, born in 1821 in Gilford, Northern Ireland.