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The following is a summary of the oral history transcript of Camillo
Bridarolli, in which he describes his early life in
Italy; reasons for emigrating to Canada; life and
coal-mining work in Coalhurst and Lethbridge; importance of
family and education.
Early life in Italy:
- came to Canada 1924
- Italy (WWI) after 2 years in refugee camp went back to work
land (1917); was "hell"
- 1921 Mussolini came on the scene;animosity between Fascists and Socialists;
was afraid of another war
- had a good hydro-electric system, but lots of political
confusion,
Arrival in Canada and work in the coal mines:
- left Trento 1924, May 22 - arrived in Halifax 6 June, 1924;
after 6 days on train (11 June) arrived in Lethbridge where
uncle was waiting for him
- strike was on; no work
- Coalhurst - never worked in a mine before, but got used to it
& liked it
- very good money $7-$8/day (not salary but contracted based on
tonnage extracted)
- paid more and worked less hours than farming
- 7 years (1924-1931) at Coahurst mine
- worked for 2 years at 'gopher hole' coal mine - a
new mine between Lethbridge and Mickalot (Migula?)
- operated a mine with an Italian partner for 15 years and
then sold out to him
- some Italians worked for them - it was a small mine;
pick & shovel (no machinery); everything by hand
- goes on to describe coal industry details; $, where
used, before '29 stock market crash
- after crash, no vehicles used (fuel shortage); horses
used again - too far to go to Lethbridge for coal
using horses, so farmers came to their mine;
sold coal for $2.50/ton between 1931-39.
- coal used for heating & cooking - there was
nothing else (no natural gas until 1942; was brought in
to army training base nearby)
- 1944 - sold to partner
Move to Lethbridge:
- sold mine and moved to Lethbridge for sake of family
- had three girls and one boy; too far to go back and forth to school;
desired good education for children
- bought& operated bakery for 4 years
- 1948 took trip back to Italy; bad time there, unemployment
-
- probably worst time to go there, but mother-in-law wanted to go
back home before she died (died 6 months later);
he has never returned since. He said people were bitter there.
- one daughter got married and lives in Hawaii; prefers to go
there instead of Italy
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