Murney In Retrospect: A Century of Memories at Murney Tower
If Kingston could play an instrument, what would it play? Drums? Bass? Perhaps the city would sing loudly and proudly, hitting notes well beyond my personal skill set. Or maybe Kingston might be represented as a band – an amalgamation of different communities and histories playing together in harmony. Indeed, if artists such as The Tragically Hip, Bryan Adams, and the Glorious Sons have taught us anything, it’s that Kingston is bursting with musical talent both in the past and present, some more well-known than others.
In 1965, four high school students from Kingston decided to start a band – Paul Campbell, Tim Mavety (deceased), Wayne Scott (all who attended KCVI) I, and Mike Myers, who attended Regiopolis Notre Dame. Although each member was only fifteen years of age, the original The Growing Pains foursome were starting to become quite popular in the local Kingston music scene. Playing at KCVI high school dances and Christmas assemblies, the early days of this band closely resemble other Kingston musicians’ stories (Campbell). The original drummer of the band, Paul Campbell, remembers the group as having “great comradery,” one which continued into adulthood as the band members remained friends.
So how might a local band be related to Murney Tower? A few months ago, the Museum launched an online photo contest titled “Murney in Retrospect.” Over the course of four months between December 2020 and April 2021, we received a plethora of submissions from community members far and wide who have made special memories at our little tower. One incredible photograph – and one of the winners of our competition – was this photograph of The Growing Pains. When we asked the original drummer of the band, Paul Campbell, about the picture, he stated that “we thought it was cool to take photos at the tower.”
As it turns out, The Growing Pains were not the only people to think it “cool” to take photos at Murney. Through this successful social media campaign, Murney Tower Museum was able to acquire a substantial amount of photographs that we can now include in our photo archive. Learning of the experiences of past visitors, and seeing them depicted through photographs, was a really special moment for Museum staff, and we feel so grateful for our community’s willingness to share these stories with us.
Another particular story that caught our attention was that shared by Kingston local Isobel Gordon, an individual who just happens to share quite the connection with Murney Tower.
Isobel, pictured here at age five, remembers this day with vivid accuracy: “We had been at church and Sunday school at Union Street Gospel at the corner of Union St and Collingwood,” writes Isobel in our email correspondence. “[We] just stopped to have a wander around the park.” Pictured in the photograph (left to right) are Bill Earl, Isobel Gordon, her aunt, Ruth Wallace, Harold Earl, Isobel’s other aunt, Isabel Wallace, and Jack Earl. What really drew us to this image was Isobel’s age at the time of the photograph - five years old, the same age the museum would have been at this time. Although the Tower itself is much older, the newness of the space as a Museum was surely enough to draw a crowd. Today, it is the long-established museum and time-honored history of the building which instead captures the inquisitive minds of visitors.
The fact that Murney Tower was significant enough to take a photograph of in 1930 speaks to its long-standing history and presence within Kingston. This photograph has allowed us to recently connect with Isobel, and understand how Murney was viewed nearly a century ago. Although Isobel does not recall visiting the Museum after Church that day, she is certainly aware of her visits as a teenager. My curiosity and imagination lead me to wonder if Isobel might have run into some other museum-goers during her visits as a teenager...
Perhaps it could have been the woman photographed here, in the year 1944-45. Submitted by her granddaughter, this photo was taken during the woman’s time as an undergraduate student at Queen’s University. The photo, taken by a friend, perfectly captures the spirit of student life in Kingston - both then and now. The smiling face and candid nature of the photograph reflects the carefree attitude and naivety of young students with a lifetime ahead of them. Unbeknownst to the woman pictured here, her connection with Murney Tower would soon run much deeper than this photograph from the mid-40s, and well beyond her graduation in 1947. Sometime later, her granddaughter, Johanna, would submit this photo for our Murney In Retrospect initiative - and not on a random whim either! Johanna writes, “It’s a special photo not only because it’s my Nana but because it’s such a lovely piece of coincidence between her having taken the photograph there and then me working at the same tower so many years later!” Johanna spent three summers as a Historical Interpreter at Murney Tower Museum and completed her MA at Queen’s University. Just like her Nana, Johanna was able to make her own unique memories at the Tower, but decades later.
Murney Tower has not been a spot for just friends and family. Early lovers, sometimes even on their first date, have also been attracted to the familiar and permanent nature of the limestone Tower. Submitted by their son, Dan, this photo of Doreen (née Chase) and Robert Joyner pictures the young couple on what Dan recalls to be their first or second date. Although young in this photograph (only fourteen and fifteen, respectively) Doreen and Robert must have recognized a love for each other that would become as long-lasting as our little Tower.
Whether as a meeting place, a short stop on a long walk, a deliberate background for a photoshoot, or even a place to occupy the mind of a curious child, Murney Tower was - and remains - a fixed symbol of Kingstonian identity. A walk down the Kingston’s waterfront landscape is still an amiable escape from the hustle and bustle of city noise and traffic, as the pastoral and reminiscent landscape of Macdonald and Breakwater Parks recall simpler times. As the cityscape and community has evolved, so too has the Tower. Museum exhibits, collections and operations have adapted to suit the perpetual growth of our visitors, while remaining faithful to the values and images that have kept Murney alive for so long.
Our Murney in Retrospect project was a unique way to involve the community and highlight the importance of maintaining the history of our site. As the museum works towards reopening in the near future, we look forward to creating more lasting memories for years to come. Although our Murney In Retrospect contest has officially ended, we are never opposed to collecting more memories and stories from all audiences! As we work towards curating our space to be more inclusive and representative of all communities, we eagerly seek diverse stories, photos, and memories. These may be emailed to: staff@murneytower.com.
Special thanks to Paul Campbell, Isobel Gordon, Dan Joyner, and Johanna Strong for sharing both photos and stories.