Ocean Falls Museum - Personal Recollections

Agnes Zimmerman - Resident (mid'50's)

by Agnes Zimmerman

Karl Zimmerman, an immigrant of three years to Canada from Switzerland, found work at the Crown Zellerbach Pulp and Paper Mill in Ocean Falls, through an ad in a Vancouver newspaper. He arrived in Ocean Falls in the spring of 1956 and got work in the Finishing Room at the Paper Mill. In the fall he could transfer for work in the Sawmill. All the while he had good lodging at the Martin Inn. Near the end of August 1956, Agnes Schmidiger arrived in Ocean Falls direct from Switzerland by airplane.

The Airport in Ocean Falls

Ocean Falls Harbour, 1956

Agnes writes:

When Paul and Elisabeth Strebel had come home to Switzerland for a visit, they invited me to come to Ocean Falls, promising me a good job. The last plane connection of my trip to Ocean Falls was in Port Hardy, at the other end of Vancouver Island. We took off from land in a small four-seater plane. I did not realize at the time that we would not be landing on the ground! As we approached closer and closer to the water, I searched the pilot’s face and then his companion’s face. They were completely relaxed and happy...this assured me that I had nothing to fear. And sure enough, we landed safely in the water, and I walked onto the boardwalk.

I gave the taxi driver Paul Strebel’s address and he promptly delivered me there. Elisabeth came to greet me and said she had gone three times to meet the plane today, and had no idea that there was one more to come later in the evening. But there was a lovely supper served to me and Paul and Elisabeth made me feel at home and secure in a strange country.

As luck would have it, one week after arriving in Ocean Falls, I found a job in the big Cafeteria at the Martin Inn, pushing a big cart and clearing tables three times per day, for two and a half hours at a time.

The Cafeteria at the Martin Inn

I also had an ID card to punch for free meals while working there. It was a good start and a good life! The hotel manager, Mr. Schmied, was also Swiss, and spoke my native language. He could easily explain all the work that was involved for my job. There was also a Swiss lady, Trudy Waltenspuhl, working behind the steam table. She made sure I understood all the ins and outs and made me feel at ease in my new adventure.

Later on, as my English improved, I too found work behind the steam table, dishing out meals. I must say there were some really good meals served there. It was there that for the first time I tasted a freshly baked pizza from the Hotel kitchen, and loved it! Also the stuffed green peppers were very delicious and were something I had never tasted before. Another new taste was celery sticks filled with Cheez-Whiz.

The days off were spent shopping or walking with friends to the Martin Valley. On the way we shared the daily happenings or what’s new in the movies, or who won the latest bowling game.

A walk to the Martin Valley: Elisabeth Strebel, Agnes, Trudy Waltenspuhl with baby buggy

The line up at the movies

I also had a weekly English language lesson at the home of Mrs. Dorothy MacDougall. Elisabeth Strebel had ordered a free book for me from the B.C. Government in Victoria: “English for New Canadians.” Dorothy was a very good teacher, for only three months after landing in Ocean Falls, I was ready to go on my own.

I moved into the Women’s Dormitory not far from the Martin Inn, also known as the “Chicken House!”

The Women’s Dormitory, or Chicken House

While boarding at the dormitory, another Swiss girl arrived by the name of Rose Marie, who became my room-mate. She also found work at the cafeteria. Her boyfriend, Kurt Bornhauser, who worked at the sawmill, had sent for her. They later got married and moved to Glendale, California.

Rose Marie and Agnes at the Dormitory in waitress uniform

Kurt Bornhauser tells a great story to his Swiss friends

When Christmas was nearing, I was asked to attend a Christmas Staff Party and Dance. I was supposed to bring a partner. Since I was single, my girlfriend told me, “Why don’t you ask and invite Karl Zimmerman? He comes to our church and speaks the same language. That’s a big plus!” So that’s what I did, and from then on, I had a steady boyfriend. The following summer we got restless. I really wanted to see more of Canada than just Ocean Falls.

Leaving Ocean Falls for Lytton, Summer 1957

Karl and I moved to Lytton, B.C., and got into a partnership with another family to start a small sawmill there. Karl and I also got married there on a sunny day in mid November. Now, 52 years later, we are retired in beautiful Creston, B.C., and we have a son and two daughters with families of their own.

Karl and Agnes, 50 years later

We still look back to Ocean Falls with very fond memories. Especially when Paul and Elisabeth Strebel took the little Swiss community across the lake in their boat on a sunny Labour Day, and treated us to a fine barbecued beef on a bun, and a fun afternoon.

Labour Day weekend at the Lake with the Swiss group, 1956

Labour Day weekend at the Lake with the Swiss group, 1956

Labour Day weekend at the Lake with the Swiss group, 1956

Shooting at beer bottles, like in the movies!

Or, when they invited the Swiss group into their home for a home-made movie and served us their prized home-made Root Beer and home baking.

Watching a homemade movie at Paul Strebels, 1957. The scene shows a fellow stealing a tomato and eating it...then the movie is played backwards and he puts the tomato back on the vine.

By the way, we also had the honour of being God parents to Lucy Strebel at her baptism. She is the fourth child born to Paul and Elisabeth.

Karl and Agnes are Godparents to Lucy Strebel, 1957

(l to r) Elisabeth Strebel, Trudy Waltenspuhl, Karl Zimmerman holding Lucy Strebel, and Paul Strebel. Christmas Day, 1957