86 It Happened in Iona

to reside in Cornwall, Ontario to be near the older members of the family. Their leaving was a great loss. Near the church lived the widow Kate Maclsaac in her little one-storey bungalow with four-sided roof. The word “bungalow” was a new one for us then and her house represented the only such architecture for miles around. Her place was quaint and ever so tidy with a particu- larly shiny kitchen range. She always appeared old but was friendly and welcoming. Not a bad seamstress, she did oc- casional sewing for the community. I fondly recall her doing renovations for me and it was exciting to enter there for fittings and to retrieve the finished product, a little coat or jacket.

Joe Kelly in the Valley was probably the area’s best known comedian. He was strong and supple, could kick the ceiling it would seem. He loved dances and was extremely lively and vocal on the floor, his antics sure to bring loads of laughter to most people. He possessed a marvellous voice and could relate events or tell stories with a rare gift of expression. Referred to mostly as “Josie” or “Big J 0e”, he worked in the gravel pits and among the farmers most of his life, being known far and wide. He was ' also a bit naive and at times became the target of innocent pranks at his expense. Big Joe lived with his mother, Mrs. Helen Kelly, on their Valley homestead. She was a woman of deep hospitality and joviality and her home was a welcome mat for a wide circle of people. She, too, had a marvellous voice and was an outstanding conversationalist. She talked about ordinary things with a flair and could tell stories with unusual rhythm and charm. Many a fine cup of tea and generous meal were shared at her table until shortly before her death at a good old age. ‘

Mike Byrne was a kind of contrast to the regular Iona folk. Leaving home at fourteen, he joined the Christian Brothers in New York There he completed his formal education and taught in their schools. In due time he left the Brothers and entered the American Army, spending many of those years in the Philip- pines and attaining the rank of major. After completing his career in the Army he came back to Iona in the 30s to retire. It was probably his military background that rendered him awkward in fitting into the Iona lifestyle. "Known generally as Major Byrne or more commonly as “the Major”, he found that most residents did not have a similar outlook on things as he did. Loafing on the job, cutting corners or laziness were habits extremely distasteful to him. He engaged Dad and Watty Roche to build his house in 1938. Hour after hour he would stand in