1

Maria Costello (Character representation)

Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

2

My name is Maria Costello . When my Mother arrived in Drumheller from Salerino, Italy, she didn't know one soul and her English was worse than poor. She had three kids in tow and was looking for her husband who had immigrated to Drumheller 2 years earlier. Finally having saved enough money, our father sent for us and we sold everything including our cow and made the trip to Canada.

3

Ada Mary Crittall taken the year after she immigrated from England. Worked on a farm in valley.
1928

Credits:
Carla Powell

4

Ada Powell holding David Powell
1947

Credits:
Carla Powell

5

Halahuric's first house
1941
Cambria, Alberta

Credits:
John Halahuric

6

Finally after our long journey and even longer wait we were reunited with our father. In the letters, he had told us about the house and the valley, but he didn't mention how small the house was and how barren the surroundings would be. Our house was tiny... smaller than tiny. The house, or should I say shack, was 13 by 13 feet. It was small! There was a small living room/kitchen area and two rooms. In the beginning, when we were young, our family (mom dad and the three of us) slept in one room, and two boarders slept in the other. No matter how you slice it, it was cramped!

We lived like this until we were a bit older and there were a few more additions to our family. Even though our borders were gone there was no more room than there had been in the past.

7

Hygrade #2 Surface Plant
Between 1934 - 1950
Drumheller, Alberta

Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

8

My father worked as the fireboss at the Hy-grade Mine and he often brought young bachelors over for dinner to "get a good meal in them". One of my older sisters had already been married off to one of the prospective young bachelors that my father brought home. None of them really interested me until, John Sawchenko. My father came home and announced that later that week we were going to have a visitor for dinner. Miners were a special breed and they had a lot of pride in the work they did. I admired that.

9

Mrs. Yez with chickens
Circa 1935
East Coulee, Alberta

Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

10

The night our visitor was to arrive Mother had us all preparing dinner for our guest. Although we were preparing the meal, it was customary and polite for the guest to bring a little extra for the meal. In this case John had brought a fresh chicken.

My mother was so delighted! As was I with his company!

11

Woman (Helen) in backyard with chicken
1935

Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

12

John Sawchenko (Character representation)

Credits:
Atlas Coal Mine Historical Society

13

I couldn't think of what to bring to dinner. I wanted to make a really good impression, but I didn't have any money. Luckily, there were chickens pecking around the Costello's yard. So I scooped one, ducked behind the shed, and did it in. Then I knocked on the door.