The dictionary defines ‘lively’ as “full of life and energy; active and outgoing; a place or atmosphere, full of activity and excitement; and intellectually stimulating.”
What better name for a new town?
But when Inco Ltd. began building the town of Lively in 1950 for employees working at the nearby Creighton Mine, it did not consult the dictionary. It named the town after Charles Lively, a mine superintendent who worked 35 years with the company, 25 of those years at Creighton Mine.
When making the announcement about the new company town’s name, "The Inco Triangle" (January 1951) reported, “Inco vice-president R. L. Beattie said the selection was made to honour Lively and also a tribute to the hundreds of men who, like him, have given long and faithful service toward making Inco what it is today.”
The Triangle wrote Lively was known as a “real straight-shooter and a champion of men. He has earned universal respect and admiration." Lively was born in Nova Scotia and first came to Ontario in 1905 to work in Cobalt.
The Triangle also reported the Wrights from Copper Cliff were the first family to move into their new "modern" home in the brand new town of Lively on Thursday, Jan. 18, 1951.
What was it like to be a mid-century pioneer settler in Lively? Sudbury.com invites readers to share memories of growing up in Lively in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s for the April 27 Memory Lane feature.
Before Inco bought 1,100 acres to build Lively, there were only two farms in Waters Township but the townsite is located close to some of the oldest settlements in the area. It is 14 kilometres from Whitefish, where a trading post was established in 1829 on Atikameksheng Anishnawbe lands, and about seven kilometres from Naughton, established in 1887.
During 1950, 125 new homes on 60-by-110-foot lots were built with the rest expected to be constructed by the end of 1951. Inco put in sewer and water services for 450 homes.
Several different layouts were available in bungalow or one-and-a-half storey styles.
"The Triangle" said 20 per cent of the homes would be of insulbrick, 40 per cent of stucco and 40 per cent of wooden sheeting.
“The dwellings will be of from four to six rooms and will have hot air furnaces, hardwood floors, all modern facilities, insulated walls and ceilings, and full concrete basements.”
Lively was incorporated as a town Jan. 1, 1953. A newspaper report at the time said the population of the town, almost 100-per-cent owned by Inco, was 1,790.
Many families moved to Lively from Creighton Mine, a few kilometres up the road. The original families rented from Inco for about $45 per month.
A visitor will notice how well-planned the community is with shops, schools, churches and houses exactly where they should be.
Charles Jacobson, reeve of Waters Township had meetings with representatives of the Ontario Department of Planning and Development and Inco to prevent "hit and miss" development, reported "The Sudbury Star (March 2, 1951).
"Streets of the townsite were laid out in a semi-circular pattern to fit the contours of the land. On the main street, the planners put a grocery store, a clothing and dry good store, a drug store, post office, a barber shop and a hair salon. There was room on the second floor of these buildings for doctor and dentist offices and apartments for teachers.”
Property was set aside for churches, a sports field and for children's playgrounds. A modern public school was built with seven classrooms and room for a 10-classroom addition.
The construction of Lively District Secondary School started in the spring of 1956. The official school opening was April 8, 1957. There were 120 students between Grade 9 and Grade 13 on the first day of classes.
The town attracted national attention when it was hit with a tornado in 1970.
Lively became part of Walden in 1973 when the Regional Municipality of Sudbury was established. Walden (or Walden Pond) is the name of a book by American writer Henry David Thoreau about a simple, back-to-the-land lifestyle. Coincidently, Walden, Ont., is an acronym of Waters Township, Lively, and Denison Township.
The first mayor of Walden was Tom Davies, who would become the chair of the regional municipality in 1981 and for whom Greater Sudbury’s city hall is named.
In the 1980s, Inco sold its company homes and got out of the real estate business.
Walden (Ward 2) became part of the City of Greater Sudbury in 2001.
Readers can send their memories of growing up in Lively to editor@sudbury.ca or vgilhula@gmail.com.
Vicki Gilhula is a writer in Greater Sudbury.
Sources
Globe and Mail, Home for Miners, International Nickel Co. Builds New Community, Aug. 6, 1951
The Inco Triangle, August 1951
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Memory Lane: Lively was named for a 'real straight shooter' - Sudbury.com
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