Bill Barnes was born on 20 Dec. He was a Shift Supervisor in Caland Ore.

In early 1956 I contacted Clyde "Boots" Davis, who offered me a job working for Construction Aggregate. I traveled to Atikokan in the spring. At that time I had to take a train into town as there was no road cut through yet. I worked for a short time at the Steep Rock Mines and during the summer returned to get my family in Virginia.

After returning I worked at the Caland Mine as a shift supervisor for the Joseph L. Block and then later as captain of the dredge. I think the greatest challenge was dealing with the ice. We broke it up and then scooped it out with a big crane and then moved it with a bulldozer. The big pile of ice never completely melted all year long. Of course the weather and cold was a big change for a southern boy also, but I soon learned to dress warmly with wool underwear and thermal pack boots.

Any kind of work was dangerous at times. When I first went to work I was working on the Randall. One day we were making a lift and the cable broke. The end came apart and pieces of cable shot out like bullets. I was hit by two pieces in my right leg and another piece grazed the side of my head. I still have the scars of that occassion today.

Most of my dredging experience was on or around the ocean. The best part of this job was not having to worry about the tides, currents, or wind. I also really enjoyed the people I worked with, especially the Canadians. My whole family agrees that our years in Atikokan are a very memorable part of our life.

He was married to Lois Barnes. Bill Barnes and Lois Barnes had the following children:

   Linda Goodrich.
   Wilma Burgon.
   Clint Barnes.
   Carrolyn McCann.
   Mollie Ungricht.