BY JAMES FORTIN
There are many stories to tell about the village of Creighton and the people who lived there. But I am going to let someone who was there in the Â?good old days,Â? tell it, as it was.
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The song, Creighton Mine Is Good Enough For Me, by A.R.A. Barrett, was printed by the Progress Store in Creighton Mine around 1916.
Here are the words:
You have wandered perhaps in cities, in towns or boroughs small,
Where high life is a tonic for which the wearied fall,
You may have seen Niagara or perhaps Jerusalem too,
But if you havenÂ?t seen the Creighton Mine itÂ?s yet a treat for you
The Nickel Range is a pasture, from which many mouths are fed,
Without Copper Cliff or Creighton old Sudbury would be dead,
It supplies the world with nickel and Copper Cliff is the key,
Yet, a little home in Creighton Mine is good enough for me.
ItÂ?s here you find the Dardanelles and Spanish town as well,
And from the many languages heard youÂ?d think, here Babylon fell,
Every nation is represented from the man, who picks the tea,
But no matter where they come from Creighton Mine looks good to me.
To see the Police in Creighton Mine parading up and down,
YouÂ?d think you were in Chicago or little New York town;
But a visit to the jail house, without a said fee
Make the sleeping camps of Creighton Mine look good enough for me.
We have our daily jitneys, with a charge that is so fickle
Your fare on a car to Sudbury makes a dollar look like a nickel.
Our athletes are famous though they do not draw a fee,
Yet, a little game in Creighton Mine is good enough for me.
We have our balls and parties with an orchestra sublime,
And our band of forty members are employees of the mine.
Our sporting club is organized and you can plainly see
We need a club house in Creighton Mine and thatÂ?s a tip from me.
We spend our dough on amusement or sports most anywhere,
And youÂ?ll find the sports of Creighton Mine always on the square.
We do not live for lustre, with me you will agree,
But, a bank account in Creighton Mine looks pretty good to me.
The Mines are run with a system never equalled anywhere;
The officers, Captains, and foremen use precision and daily care
To give their men safety and comfort, and whoever you may be,
To be on the pay-roll of Creighton Mine is good enough for me.
CHORUS
For everyone sings of Creighton, for itÂ?s a big mark on the map,
Where copper and nickel come from and good things from a tap.
Its streets are rough and sidewalks scarce and Cabarets are few,
But itÂ?s Creighton Mine with a good old stein and thatÂ?s the town for you.
(Sung to the tune of MacNamaraÂ?s band)
James Fortin is the curator of Sudbury museums. Be sure to watch Ghost Towns of Canada, Creighton Mine, on the History Channel, cable 38 this Saturday night. Check your local listings for time.
