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Lorna Murphy

Born in London, England in 1891, the daughter of Fred and Adele Browne, Lorna came to Canada in 1910. Two years later she married John Allan Murphy, who shortly after their marriage left for Kirkland Lake to become mine captain at the Tough-Oakes mine, where he shared a tent with Harry Oakes.

When she came North to join him, in February of 1913, she was expecting their first child, who became the first non-native boy born in Kirkland Lake. "She muffled herself in layers of winter clothing but when her husband met her at the train in Swastika, with a horse and cutter, she found that he had brought two coonskin coats and a supply of warming-pans. By the time they reached Kirkland Lake, the bride had nearly melted away". An interesting first impression of the frigid northern climate!

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Lorna Murphy
Circa 1910

Credits:
Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Image loaned from Lorna Murphy Family

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The family took up residence in what was then known as Slabtown, in the Federal area. Her daughter-in-law Elsie recalls how difficult life must have been for the young mother, living in a part of town where the homes were not insulated, there was no electricity, and water had to be hauled to the house. Between 1913 and 1924, Lorna gave birth to six children.

Elsie Murphy recalls her husband Allan telling of an incident when Lorna was walking downtown with all six children in tow. She met a man on the street who asked: "Are all these children yours and are you going on a picnic?" She replied, "Yes, they're all mine and believe me, it's no picnic."

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Lorna Murphy and her Grandfather
Circa 1905

Credits:
Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Image loaned from Lorna Murphy Family

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In 1929, Lorna became the town's first librarian in what was the second location of the library, on the corner of Duncan Avenue and Kirkland Street. Lorna held that post for twenty years, retiring to assist her mother, who was very ill. In 1937, Lorna's husband John had died at the age of 58, leaving Lorna with three children still at home.

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Front entrance to Library, corner of Duncan Avenue and Kirkland Street
Circa 1960
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Image from Museum of Northern History Collection

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Library in Kirkland Lake, corner of Duncan Avenue and Kirkland Street
Circa 1960
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Image from Museum of Northern History Collection

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A little further up the hill on Kirkland Street was a plot of land donated by Harry Oakes to build the first Anglican Church in Kirkland Lake. Lorna had arranged for residents of Kirkland Lake to meet Archbishop Thornloe on his first visit to Kirkland Lake, and from those two events, the Anglican Church was born. Lorna was an active member of the church, as well as the Order of the Eastern Star. In 1967, she achieved a "Women of Achievement" award as well as a Commemorative Medal for the Canadian Centennial Award.

She died in 1975, having been a resident of Kirkland Lake for 62 years.

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Lorna Murphy and sons Allan and Harry
Circa 1940, WWII
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Image from Museum of Northern History Auxiliary exhibit (Women of Kirkland Lake, 2012)
Image loaned from Family of Lorna Murphy

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"Mrs. John Murphy represents the wives and mothers who came north, settled here, raised their children, coped with primitive conditions, and ....helped found a church, St. Peter's Anglican, that people might have a place to worship publicly."