John Brunelle- aka, "JB the Elder"

[Patti Brunelle]

I faxed this great historical article to my Dad, soon to be 88, who faxed me back this response:

"I didn't know many of the things Andy mentioned. One thing: My Dad told me that when he won all that money he hired a horse and buggy to take him back to Murray. Also, I asked my Mother for a dime to see a movie and to see MIckey Daniels who had been in the Our Gang comedies. The only money she had was a dime that was partially melted in the 1910 fire. I won a silver dollar for being voted looking the most like Mickey Daniels. (This happened in 1938.)

Harry Voltolini and I cut down most of the trees that died in the fire near Woodland Park for firewood."

Thanks Andy-

Pat Brunelle

[Michael Brunelle]

That is Mickey Daniels sitting next to Mary Kornman. Born in 1916, so he would have been about 22 in 1938. He was known for his freckles. Did JB the Elder have freckles too?

[Patti Brunelle]

Hi Mike-Yes, JB the Elder had so many freckles as a young man that once while walking down the streets of Wallace one morning, the town drunk stopped him tand said that if Dad had one more freckle, his face would be one big freckle...and the cure would be to wash his face in home brew every morning. What a waste of home brew, Dad thought even at age 10.
The bars were as busy at 6 a.m. as they were at night because men met there to car pool to get to work at
the mines.


the mines.