MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES

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Matt and Helen Komar

Taken from "Our Treasured Heritage-
A History of Coalhurst and District
Pages 387-388
by John L. Komar, Jr.

Grandparents Matt and Helena Komar along with their three
children Matt, John and a daughter, moved from
McKeesport, Pa. to Staffordville in Lethbridge in 1909.
Grandfather and Uncle Matt worked in No. 3 Mine for
about one year for wages of $1.00 a day. The youngest
son Michael was born in Lethbridge. He later worked in
the Coalhurst mine.

Mothers in those days worked very hard. Most families had at
least one cow, chickens, and also had a big garden. Each
neighbourhood had a herdsman who took care of all the cows
during the day and brought them back at evening milking time.

John and his sister began their schooling at Westminster School
and later attended the new Galbraith School where John was
the original drummer boy in the Galbraith School band.

The family moved to Coalhurst in 1916 and remained there
until 1918 when they moved to Diamond City. Grandfather,
Matt, and Dad worked in the coal mine. Living conditions
there were very bad, good water was scarce and Typhoid
Fever was prevalent. As a result, the family moved back to
Coalhurst in 1919.

About 1924 the family enjoyed the use of three
automobiles; Grandfather owned a new Chev, Uncle Mat
owned a Model T, and Dad owned a Chev.

There were 875 men working in Coalhurst mine in 1924.
Many of the miners lived in two large Boarding houses.
Some of the town's needs were provided by Mathers
Bakery which also had a coffee counter.

All of the Komar family decided to move to Michel, B.C.
when the mine began laying off workers. They were
fortunate to find accommodation in one of the Mine
Company houses, situated at the foot of a high mountain.
I was later born in this house. This location close to nature
was ideal for fishing and hunting which the family enjoyed.

Uncle Matt Komar moved back to Pittsburgh in 1929 with
his family. He lived there until his passing on Dec. 12, 1969
at the age of 82.

Uncle Mike moved to Chicago about 1929. He lived there
until his passing on March 29, 1971 at the age of 56. He
left two daughters and a wife to moum his death.

Grandfather Komar passed away in the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester in 1928 and Grandmother Komar passed away
in Chicago on December 10, 1934.

John, passed away on Feb. 8, 1984 after a lengthy illness.

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Mary Tollestrup