A Preface…

It is with genuine pleasure that I write a brief preface for the book compiled by the young men and women of the Soo Junior High School in this our 300rd Tri-Centennial Year, telling how the streets of Sault Ste. Marie acquired their names.

It is astounding that this task has never been undertaken heretofore. The work should have been done many years ago and it will serve not only all who live within the bounds of the city presently but future generations to come. I’m sure that it will grow in value as the years go by.

Much local history is disclosed in the names of the streets. I congratulate Mr. Steven Malmberg and Mr. Robert Aldrich, the two teachers who had the discernment to steer the pupils onto such a worthwhile project. It is a valuable asset to everyone who loves this historic city.

Every street in the city has a tale to be told. They are interesting tales with many chapters and some surprisingly significant twists and turns, romance and tragedy as any good novel unfolds. What couldn’t Stevenson or Dickens have done with the rich background afforded by the names of the streets of Sault St. Marie?

And there is triumph and disaster interwoven in the telling of the story of how the streets of Sault St. Marie acquired their names. Also there is a relationship with the rest of the world. I was more than amused to discover something that I had not thought of before. And that is that Sault St. Marie has streets with names similar to those in New York City, Chicago, New Orleans, and as far reaching as San Francisco, Minneapolis and Boston.

So I congratulate the students of the Soo Junior High School on the completion of this most valuable project. It is a remarkable book. It represents some expert sleuthing, discovery, diligent study and is a truly excellent project.

JAMES ROBERTSON, Mayor of Sault Ste. Marie (1952 – 1955)