Neil Hill

Neil Hill (1912 - mid 1990s) was a Canadian blacksmith, naval veteran, and labour activist from Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was the husband of Myrt Hill and the father of Loraine Currie.

Early life

Neil Hill was born in 1912 in Thunder Bay (formerly Fort William). His parents had recently immigrated to Canada from Finland. His daughter recalls him describing his upbringing as "austerish" and physically demanding. He had two sisters; one died in childhood, and the other was named Saimi. Both of his parents passed away before the birth of his daughter Loraine in 1943.

Career

Hill served in the Navy and was stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. During his service, he repaired ships and learned the blacksmith trade. Upon his discharge, he returned to Ontario and became the last blacksmith employed at the provincial paper mill.

Hill was a staunch advocate for workers' rights. At a previous workplace, he organized and led a strike to protest poor wages. Although the strike successfully resulted in a wage increase, Hill was fired for his involvement. His fellow employees refused to return to work unless he was reinstated, leading to his rehiring.

Personal life

Hill married Myrtle "Myrt" Smyth (born 1911) in Montreal. They were considered older parents for their generation, being in their mid-thirties when their only child, Loraine, was born on 12 September 1943.

The family initially lived at 812 Pruden Street in Fort William. Around 1950, they moved to a rural property along the McIntyre River (now Ridgecrest Road), where they lived next door to Myrt's brother Harvey Smyth and his family. In approximately 1961, the family moved to 16 Rupert Street in Port Arthur, where they remained active in politics and social life, often attending events at the Elks Club.

Interests

Hill was described by his daughter as "booky and broody." He had a deep appreciation for classical music and literature, often reciting poetry by William Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Robert W. Service to his daughter. He was an amateur astronomer who enjoyed showing his family the stars through his telescope. He was also a skilled archer and formed a local archery club where he taught his daughter to shoot.

Politically, Hill was involved in various social issues and identified as a Communist for a period of time, a fact the family kept private during his daughter's childhood. He also maintained a still in his basement where he brewed "dandelion whisky."

Later life and death

In his early 80s (c. 1992), Hill suffered a stroke that left him unable to live independently. He and his wife moved to Fort Frances, Ontario, to be closer to their daughter, Loraine.

Following his stroke, Hill suffered from Aphasia, which limited his speech, though he remained lucid and communicated effectively through non-verbal means. His doctor noted his exceptionally expressive eyes. He lived for several years in Fort Frances before passing away.

References

• [1] Letter from Loraine Currie to Michael Currie, February 2019.