In response to the previous article recalling the loss of Dr. W.H. Mulligan’s house, the original home of the Red Cross Society, on Drinkwater Street, reader Wayne O’Neill lamented, “It’s a bit of a shame that we lose so much history by demolition.”
However, our readers came through (as always) to show us that even though our physical history can sometimes be lost, we can still immortalize it with our memories.
On the morning of Dec. 7, 1956 came the culmination of months of work by several volunteer groups as Sudbury's Red Cross blood donation clinic first went into operation at the centre on Drinkwater Street.
Mayor Joe Fabbro was the first of 28 donors to give blood that day. All of the other 27 donors were members of the Sudbury Hungarian Culture Society, who volunteered to be the first donors at the clinic opening, in appreciation for services accorded by the Red Cross during the refugee crisis of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Since the Red Cross Society was, for many decades, synonymous with blood donation, it was not surprising that the largest number of memories received were in relation to this activity.
Now, before diving into your memories, these excerpts from the 1961 report by Sudbury Red Cross Society Board Chairman and head of the blood donor service, Ray Jessup, gives us an idea of the importance that the blood donor program has always held in the community.
“During the past year, a blood transfusion service for the Sudbury area undertaken by the Sudbury Red Cross Society cost nearly $12,000 (out of $43,000 raised that year), which has saved many lives … . The cost of a bottle of blood here is much below that of the national service, it was disclosed … . (While) Helen MacLaren, administrator of the blood clinic, reported that during the year, 3,743 bottles of blood were collected; 2,373 at clinics held in Sudbury, 715 at Burwash Industrial Farm, 250 at mobile clinics held in the surrounding area, and 405 emergency donors brought in to the Sudbury headquarters.”
Wayne O’Neill remembers donating blood at the old house on Drinkwater back “when you got a shot of brandy after giving blood. You’d sit and socialize a bit before being on your way.”
He also recalls the day that he was drafted as a one-time volunteer for the Red Cross.
“I remember one day,” he writes, “as I was sipping my brandy (and) being asked to pick up a donor that needed a ride. No sooner said than done.”
Reader Biff Pilon recalls a similar donation experience with a few bonuses. He donated blood at this location “28 times (and) always enjoyed a shot of brandy, a cigarette and cookies there and always got a smile from Mrs. Faddis.”
He also shared with us a nice ashtray souvenir that he possesses engraved with the Red Cross donation motto: “Give a Gift of Life. Become a regular blood donor”. This item and its accompanying reminiscence had another reader Marc Pleau point out the interesting dichotomy of “give blood … have a smoke.”
Fran Proulx pointed out that times eventually did change though as she and her husband donated blood, she only “remember(s) the brandy and the sweets but (not) the cigarettes.”
In addition to giving a pint of life-saving blood, all donors would receive a card with their own blood type, which in itself could be a lifesaver. The card was to be kept on the person, so that if they are in an accident there isn't a half-hour lost in typing and cross-matching blood if a donation is needed to save a life.
Reader Richard Runnalls gave his first blood donation in that building in 1956.
“I nearly passed out after,” he remembers. “And little Mrs MacLaren whisked me back to a bed.” This did not deter him, as he “continued donating whole blood until they began taking plasma (with) up to 160 some donations (before I) had to quit donating after having a heart attack.”
One last reader, Kathryn Thomson, has memories of “going with my dad when he donated blood. I got to watch the entire procedure every time. Afterwards, we would sit at the small table in the kitchen. Donuts on the table. Small bottles of Coke in the fridge. It was an elegant building. When it was demolished my heart was broken.”
Now, speaking of the demolition of the building, many readers did comment in regards to its loss. Reader Linda MacKinnon recalls “as a teenager, I was appalled at the destruction of this beautiful building. I could not understand how anyone would want to demolish it.”
Beverly Guthrie stated that it is “a shame that this historic building could not be saved.”
Lee Walker was nine years old “when this beautiful structure was torn down. Even at that young age, I was devastated that this could happen to our Sudbury history, not to mention a disservice to Dr. Mulligan. Yes, it is important to have the Red Cross, but more thought should have been made to what they were destroying.”
Upon publication of the previous article, I also received an email from a reader of memories of the original owner of the home, Dr. Mulligan, providing a window into a different era of medicine in our city.
Gerri Grogan Kusnierczyk, Dr. Mulligan’s granddaughter, shared several memories of the now-vanished historic home.
“He and his wife lived there with both of their mothers and their children. My mother, Monica Grogan (Mulligan), used to tell me that she was born in that house and also informed me about the children’s two grandmothers who also lived there.
“She also used to tell me about accompanying her father on horse and buggy out to the Valley to care for patients at home. She told me they would have a fur blanket covering them in the cold. She remembers him getting paid for his visits with chickens or other farm food. She talked about a stained-glass window that was on the north side of the house. We used to wonder what happened to it during the demolition.
“I gave blood once when it was the Red Cross Centre. So sad it was not kept as a heritage place in Sudbury.”
In his 1961 report, Jessup, the local Red Cross chair, also announced that “a first aid course has been started with 33 students from Nickel District Collegiate forming the first class.”
Two of our readers confirmed their participation in this course at one time or another, including June-Marie Charlwood who lived not far away on Cedar Street and may have taken it in conjunction with her school (Prince Charles Public School).
For many years after, local schools and government departments relied on the local Red Cross to provide excellent First Aid training to their staff and students. In 1976, Joanne Derks, chairman of the First Aid Committee, noted that “32 Ministry of Natural Resources workers, 23 students at Garson-Falconbridge Secondary School, 35 Capreol High school students and 13 persons at Algoma Sanitorium had passed the standard first aid tests.”
Now, one final (and wholly unexpected) memory was shared by multiple readers that did not involve the interior of the Red Cross building, but its grounds. For the youngsters living in that area of town, the grass around the home became “Drinkwater Stadium” during the warmer months. (Apparently, they preferred to punt rather than donating a pint.)
As Gerry Laforge wrote (much to this author’s surprise), “That was where we played football in the 1960s. We were two houses from there on Cedar Street (playing) four-man teams of tag football.” He added that they “never got in trouble (and) sometimes had a cheering section” made up of staff or visitors at the centre.
Brenda Edington, who grew up nearby on Drinkwater playing football and other games on the lawn, considered it “sort of the neighbourhood playground.” And, they never had problems as they “knew some of the staff and board of directors.” (No mention was made by any of our readers about whether any blood was unintentionally donated on the Red Cross lawn.)
Well, dear readers, this week’s edition of Memory Lane has come to an end. Thank you for sharing with us your memories of the Sudbury Red Cross Society and its home on Drinkwater. I hope we didn’t bleed your memory banks dry.
Although we lost this structure to demolition more than 45 years ago, it is great to see that the memories which it once contained have not been lost to the wrecking ball of time. See you here again in two weeks for another trip back through time.
Jason Marcon is a writer and history enthusiast in Greater Sudbury. He runs the Coniston Historical Group and the Sudbury Then and Now Facebook page. Memory Lane is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.