tobacco harvest in southwestern Ontario.

[retired2]

Here is a graphic picture of the tobacco harvest in southwestern Ontario. In the 50's and 60's
At the end of July, transient field workers move in for a brief bonanza when the plant is ripe.
The tobacco harvesters call it "the back-breaking leaf."


http://www.nfb.ca/film/the_back-breaking_leaf

[observer]

I remember seeing this some 20+ years ago - but it was fun having another look anyway!

Thanx retired!

[Rick Wisson]

Yeah thanks Retired.

[observer]

Sorta cute that $14 a day was considered excellent money. NOW, $14 an hour is not much above subsistent wages!

[retired2]

I had also seen it years ago before I had high speed, Took all day to watch it.

[Cuttin Bait]

You know you are old when you can say you primed tobacco still walking and using the horses to pull the boat . I will never forget that summer I was 14 , young , dumb and money hungry . thank da lord thundering for the priming machine,
And the Turkey Point Hotel ,The Belgian hall and the Summer Gardens

[kishgo]

How about The Highlands Dance Hall in Long Point? Kind of on the wild side, I've been told!

[Slowfood]

I recognized some of the people in that film.
There was a camp down swimming pool road where you could drive by and see the workers.
We had a lot of 8mm home movies of harvest time that were converted to CD and given to the Teeterville Bicentennial people.We hand tied until 1962.
I was only 4 at the time , but I remember the influx of Hungarians after the revolution , many many hanging out at the Hungarian Hall.
What a life growing tobacco in the 50's!

[retired2]

Saw a farm doing stick kiln last weekend. I thought they were all gone.

[kishgo]

Funny that you should mention the Hungarian influx as I was thinking exactly the same thing! My father was an OPP who spoke fluent Hungarian. Simcoe was his first posting and he often said it was because he was bilingual.

[Slowfood]

Interesting, I remember some Hungarian Officers.
If you went to the Hungarian Hall in the 50's and 60's no doubt we have crossed paths.

[kishgo]

My parents would have been at the HH but I was just a wee little lass in the 60's.

[retired2]

Interesting, I remember some Hungarian Officers.
If you went to the Hungarian Hall in the 50's and 60's no doubt we have crossed paths.

yes our path might have also crossed in the 50's. Not so much in the 60's

[kishgo]

Due tell...and why did your paths cross with the law?????? "Inquiring minds want to know"!

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