Life and Times of Labrador West's Pioneers - 3

The town was very small, we stayed on Grenfell Drive. To make a complete circle around town, we would walk down Bartlett, up Drake, onto Hudson, then down Matthew, onto Bartlett and back to Grenfell. The perimeter of town at that time was about one mile.
Three streets, cafeteria and bunkhouses.
The row houses and a few semi-detached homes had been built and were being lived in. We lived in the old campsite while awaiting our house.
In 1960, it looked like a large mining company campsite. In 1966, when I moved here permanently, it had become a town with a shopping center, churches, schools, hospital, library, movie theatre, the Ashuanipi social club, the Royal Canadian Legion, a golf course, arena and curling club.
The town was small but well laid-out.

The biggest change is the size of the town today. It was a delight to watch the town grow, and, of course, seeing how fast the houses were put up and people were moved in. Now we even have a Tim Horton’s and a McDonald’s.
The whole development of the town, especially the schools and churches helped create a family atmosphere.
The way this town has grown in size and population.
The opening of Industrial Parks, the Labrador Mall, the Bruno Plaza and other shopping/business complexes, the Carol Lodge/Inn, the Two Seasons Inn; the introduction of live off-air and cable television; the arrival of fast food outlets; postal carrier service; construction of the Arts & Culture Centre; completion of the Freedom Road and the Trans-Labrador Highway; plus the addition of a variety of other entertainment and recreational facilities. On the negative side, airline service has deteriorated over the years.
The town grew and the population stabilized and became more or less permanent.

We spent 34 years in Labrador City before retiring. Therefore, Labrador City is home, even though we own a house in New Brunswick. We go there often, but it is always good to come back home.
Simply this: It is the home where we raised our family and the community where we were involved.
Having lived here for so many years, it was home.
This is home ... there's nowhere else I'd rather be.
We decided to stay because our children are here and we like living here.