Another Passing

Back ground
In 1971 we received our first cabin at Lake Pelletier through the trade of a boat for a lake front lot with 2 granaries on it. We took the little building to the east and Harvey's brother took the one to the west. It was just one room with metal bunk beds, a small double bed and an old McClary No 45 Quebec Heater to warm us. ,,oh yes and a few mice under the floor boards. We built a small addition to the front about 6 x 8 , added windows,and that became our kitchen. We bought a wonderful double hot plate with an oven under it and thought we were in heaven. A plastic pink tub bathed our little ones and we bathed and washed our hair in the lake. We had a fine two- hole outhouse that we shared with Don, Denise and girls.


A few years later when we built a new cabin on the lot behind this, the old Quebec Heater moved with us and warmed our bones on many a cold morning when our feet nearly froze to the floor. If we came out in the winter (as we often did), Harvey would come out early and fire up the old stove and within 3 - 4 hours the whole place was warm and toasty. One night we filled it with coal and at about 3 am it was so hot we could not breathe, Harvey got up and found it red hot and amazingly, it survived a bath of cold water to cool it off. During numerous power outages it even was used to cook our food and to heat water, to steam the place when someone had a cold.
When we built on to our cabin and made it our full time home, our dear stove was the one thing I really wanted to keep, but somehow in the wisdom of our insurance company, we could keep it and use it if it was still just a seasonal place but if it was our full time home they would not insure us...so we had to buy a new Jotul heater. There was no way our dear Quebec Heater was going in to the garbage so I put it in the garden, over our well with a nice circle of flowers at its feet where it lasted for 7 years. The harsh winters, rains and sun finally took its toll on it and it started to rust and became very feeble. I was concerned that it could collapse on one of the little ones as they played around it. It was cast iron and very heavy and could certainly hurt someone...so the decision was made that this fall it would be broke down and taken to the dump, and today was the day. A small piece of the lid was thrown over near where our Chico lies buried as he had spent much time enjoying its warmth as well.

The front plate was removed and that will be screwed on to our wood shed with other mementos.....

After 38 years, it was hard to say goodbye to such a faithful friend that warmed us all these years. It was even harder when I checked on google and found that these stoves when restored sell for about $1500. Oh well I am sure he enjoyed his time in the garden slowly rusting away instead.

Demolition Photos