1

John Corkery III with his father John Corkery II and his sister Nora.
1924
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

2

John was born at home on September 12, 1921 at 465 Gilmour Street. He was delivered by Dr. O'Reilly. He believes the doctor had his office on Hunter Street just opposite Anglesey Funeral Parlour, at the corner on the west side.

3

Scrapbook page containing information about the Knights of Columbus in Peterborough .
1922
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

4

John Corkery's great grandfather, Jeremiah Corkery, came to Peterborough from Ireland, and bought two houses on Perry Street in 1847. John is not sure what his occupation was but Jeremiah was a Justice of the Peace shortly after he got to Canada. His father and grandfather were born and raised in Peterborough. His grandfather, John Corkery, was a Justice of the Peace, who at one time served as an acting mayor and helped found the Peterborough Workmen's Building and Savings Society.

In his adult years, John was a co-founder of the Peterborough Canadian Irish Club. The club is 25 years old and the members still meet on Saturday mornings. He was good friends with Stan McBride who died in 2005. Stan was also involved with forming the club. He used to be known as ‘Mister Peterborough'.

John's grandmother was a Sheehy. Her brother was a builder and built Queen Mary School, Prince of Wales School and Sacred Heart School, as well as John's Gilmour Street house. The builder married a Kelly (related to Gene Kelly whose father had lived in Peterborough on George Street). John's grandparents both lived to a ripe old age. His grandpa lived to be 91and grandma lived to be 101. He still recalls she did a jig on her 90th birthday!

5

Credential Certificate for delegates of the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union Convention in Toronto.
1878
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

6

Corkery family photo, including John I, Kevin, Vincent, Emma, John II and Nora.
1900
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

7

John's father was a lawyer in Peterborough. According to John his father had to choose between law school and playing for the Toronto Argonauts. He remembers his father walking home from work while his mother waited to play bridge. His mom died of a heat attack at age 55.

John is the third John in his family. His father and grandfather were both named John as well. His son is named Christopher but his middle name is also John. John says the law is in his family, his father went to law school in Ottawa at the University of Ottawa. John got his law degree at Osgood Hall in Toronto, his son went to school in Ottawa but was called to the bar in Toronto.

8

John Corkery III with his brother Richard in front of their family's house.
1933
465 Gilmour Street, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

9

His parents owned the house he grew up in. He lived at the Gilmour Street home all of his growing up years until he went away to university. John had four siblings. The children in order are Catherine, Marney, Nora, John, and Richard.

John's family was Catholic. Two uncles were priests: Keevin and Vincent.

10

John Corkery III (third from left) and his sisters, from left: Nora, Catherine and Marnie.
1924
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

11

John Corkery III with his sisters Nora and Marnie on the occasion of the sisters' first communion.
1926
465 Gilmour Street, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
AUDIO ATTACHMENT


12

The Corkery family was Catholic and they attended church every Sunday. They would also visit with family and neighbours after mass.

13

John remembers some of his neighbours. He had a neighbour who worked for Quaker Oats; another neighbour named Phil Turner who eventually became mayor, when he was younger he would study on the roof. Some other neighbours, the Warrens, had a jewelry store.

Protestants and Catholics didn't socialize in Peterborough when John was growing up. The south end was considered the ‘tough area, the west end was created to get away from the smoke of the factories'. Homewood Ave. was filled with rich Protestants. The city ended at Monaghan Road and the population was around 20,000 to 25,000.

14

John Corkery III with his younger brother Richard.
1930
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada