Ayers family connections

My dad and his dad worked for Ayers. The company eventually packed up and went to Florida but that was quite a while after my dad and my grandfather had both died.

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I was watching the program about the actor who plays Hercule Poirot - David Suchet - as he took a trip on the Orient Express. He got to drive the train.

I could not help thinking about one of the Ayers family. He loved trains and had a large setup in his basement - for his two sons or for himself? Sometimes he was allowed to drive the train that went from Lachute to Montreal.

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I have in my house several Ayers items.
A coffee mug
A key chain
Some dishes

Of course I have some Ayers blankets. I actually found some on sale on Ebay.

A long time ago when I was at a horsy store in Ottawa there were some woollen horse blankets with the Ayers crest.

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I remember going to my dad’s office and sitting in his swivel desk chair.

My mom was much impressed by the telex machine that could receive messages when no one was in the office.

I remember Christmas parties for the children of the staff and Santa being there to give out the presents.

I remember their elaborate Christmas decorations - a full sized crèche and a Santa and his reindeer display.

I remember the railroad tracks that went into the mill yard. They went behind the house on Princess Street.

I remember one expedition to Montreal to Belmont Park to go on the rides. There was a train arranged from the mill yard and families went off together for a day of fun. I found this wonderful web site which brings back some memories.

http://cec.chebucto.org/ClosPark/Belmont.html