Eric and Emmy Aspling were born in Sweden and immigrated to Canada in the mid 1920’s. During their first few years in Canada, they lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba where they owned and operated the Grill Café. During this time, their son Frank was born on January 23rd, 1929.
In the early 1930’s they moved to Ontario and settled on a homestead midway between Amesdale and Richan. Their first home was built out of logs. A barn and hay shed were also built. The land was cleared, fences were put up and soon after there were cows and chickens roaming the property. Occasionally there would also be a couple of pigs in a pen. Gardens provided fresh vegetables and they would pick blueberries and raspberries to preserve for the winter.
Eric began working for the CN Railway. For several years, before purchasing a vehicle, he walked, cycled and would ski after a winter snowstorm, five miles to his job in Richan.
Eric and Emmy were pleased when a Norwegian family, Magnus and Sara Rud and their two children, Peder and Edith settled on a nearby homestead. Now there would be playmates for Frank and their daughter Gertrude (Gertie) who was born on September 17th, 1935. A larger house was built on the property in the mid 1940’s. Amid their busy lives, the family took time for entertaining and visits with neighbouring families. They enjoyed the Amesdale and Richan’s annual picnics, baseball games, concerts, dances and whist drives. In later years, they would often take a drive to Dryden to watch movies in the Strand and Royal Theatres.
Emmy joined the Women’s Institute who met once a month in the members’ homes. When Gertie was old enough, she also became a member. Emmy had the opportunity to travel to Toronto to attend the World Wide Women’s Institute Conference held at Maple Leaf Gardens.
In the mid 1950’s Eric and Emmy sold their home and property and bought a home near Richan.
On December 1st, 1956, there was a tragic event in their lives when their son Frank was killed in a car/train collision at the Dinorwic railway crossing.
Eric retired in 1962 and in 1966 they sold their home and bought a house on Glengoland Road near Oxdrift. A year later, on August 15th, 1967, Emmy had a stroke and passed away.
Their daughter Gertie worked at Booi’s store in Richan in 1951-52, then moved to Dryden to work. In 1959, Gertie married Tom Maunsell and they have 3 daughters and seven grandchildren.
After Emmy passed away, Eric eventually moved to Dryden. He travelled to Sweden a few times to visit family and spent a few winters with friends in Arizona. In 1978, Eric married Nora Nymark and they lived at 10 Victoria Apartments. Nora passed away on Christmas Eve in 1996.
On August 26th, 1997, Eric passed away shortly after celebrating his 100th birthday.
Written by Gertie Aspling Maunsell
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