Karl H. Wubbenhorst

The Nelly left Bremerhaven, Germany on July 11, 1951. I had a good voyage aboard the Nelly. In order to be processed by immigration at Pier 21, I stayed on board the ship overnight and disembarked the following morning. I received landed immigrant status. I was part of a group of Germans sponsored by Forest and Mining Companies. I boarded CN train for Ontario with transfer to the CO station and train embarkation in Montreal for continuation of trip westward. My final destination: a bush camp near Hurkett at Black Bay, a Bay of Lake Superior, after 3 days and 2 nights of train travel.

Great Lakes Paper Co. sponsored and paid for trip with the proviso of repayment within the 18 months of work contract with them. The conditions of camp were very bad; very swampy. Canadians refused to work this area. After training and pay on a daywork basis, which lasted about two weeks, I was put on piecework. I stayed about 6 weeks then moved to another bushcamp, located at Beardmore and run by a Ukrainian contractor, where the conditions were better. Most workers were Russian and Ukrainian and few spoke any English. After a hard day's work in the bush felling and hauling with horses, the workers attended English classes organized by the contractor. By spring I had paid off my overseas fare to the Great Lakes Co. and had a little over a thousand dollars saved as well.

This is how I began my life in Canada, my chosen country.