Axel got work at Mackay, working for the Corser Brothers who had a sawmill. Axel drove a truck loaded with ties from the bush into Mackay. Trucks those days didn't have heaters or any conveniences. It was a cold and hard job, but he made enough money so we could get married that fall, November 4th, 1931. That same day we took up a homestead, and started our life together. Dick and Shirley were born there.
Our first winter on our homestead we lived in a small log cabin 8' by 14', and had no well. So, I melted snow all that winter, and Axel hauled water the next summer. He then dug a well by hand. I emptied buckets of dirt at the top, which I pulled up by a windlass.
It was a real thrill when Axel finally struck water. It was hard digging as there was sand
stone to get through, but finally at about 50' there was water. He lowered me into the well so I could see the water coming in, in one corner. That was a queer sensation down in that 50' deep hole, looking up to the top. I was glad to get out of there again, but so thankful for the water.
Those days Axel made our living sawing wood into blocks for stove wood by the carload. Walter Williamson handled many car loads of wood for us. Walter also gave a lot of people a chance to earn money nailing coal doors, etc. Even kids earned a bit of money that way.