Name/Title
Comerford, Ross: Video InterviewEntry/Object ID
2021.08.04Scope and Content
VIDEO INTERVIEW
Interview date: June 11, 2013
Interviewer: Marilyn Snedden
Ross was born on July 4, 1940 at the Almonte Hospital. He went to school in Carleton Place. His career began at the mill in Appleton in 1957 shortly before it was bought by the Collies. He mainly worked maintenece repaitring machines but also worked in the dye house. Ross started maintenance under Lester Ford. He also worked for 10 years in the dye house. He described the process of preparing dyes and how they treated wool in the dye house as well as the layout of the building. He tells the story of a chemical explosion that took place outside the dye house while he was there at night. He describes the poor working condions in the dye house and says it was extremely hot, especially in summer. He talks about how the mills would dump toxic waste in the river including dye from the dye house and the cesspool at the Appleton mill. He also describes the mill's steam engine which was used to heat the building. After leaving the mill he worked for the township.
Ross also talked about people did for entertainment when he was young including going to dances at the old cheese factory in Blakeney which was turned into a dance hall. He was married in 1960 and has 5 grandchildren.Collection
Mill Workers Memory ProjectCataloged By
Natalia PochtarukLexicon
Search Terms
Collie Mill, Rosamond Mill, community life, dye house, maintenance, shift work, Marilyn Snedden, mechanics, engineering, working conditions, dye, danger, steam, collie, rosamondLegacy Lexicon
Object Name
Comerford, Ross: Video InterviewLocation
Category
PermanentDate
November 7, 2023Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Comerford, RossPerson or Organization
Snedden, MarilynGeneral Notes
Note
Status: OK
Status By: Cameron HillCreated By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
August 5, 2021Updated By
UnknownUpdate Date
February 6, 2023