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Timmins history: The generosity of Frederick W. Schumacher lives on to this day

Since early in the history of the Porcupine Mining Camp and to this day, at Christmas, thoughts turn to Frederick W. Schumacher.

The Ohio pharmacist whose investment in mines and other holdings made him rich was excited that Schumacher was named for him.

He’s been gone since 1957, but as Timmins Museum director-curator Karen Bachmann reminds us his philanthropy lives on.

“Right now,” she says, “we know the Christmas tradition, which goes back to probably about 1916, where every student in Schumacher received a Christmas gift.”

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Bachmann says they weren’t chintzy, either.

“There were wonderful toys. You got bicycles and dolls and doll houses and for the older students, there were silver pens and writing sets.”

Now, the Schumacher Foundation funds gifts for Schumacher Public School students, with logistics handled by the volunteer fire brigade.

Next week: Other gifts to the schools themselves and the wider Schumacher community.

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