Among the recent donations to the Canadian Nuclear Heritage Museum (CNHM) is a copy of the front page of the February 23, 1950, issue of the Toronto Star.
The newspaper, donated by Nancy Carter, features a headline which reads “Deep River Sets Canada Record”. The record is question concerns “One hundred and thirty babies born last year at the hospital of the atomic energy village of Deep River.” It goes further to state “There are about 1200 employees there and 200 are single” and “the community birth rate is about twice that of any comparable community in Canada”. The article goes on to say “One of the great dangers of atomic radiation work is that persons exposed to these rays may become sterile. Officials here say there is no evidence anything like that is happening”.
The seventy-five years that followed this “record year” have seen not only a huge change in the age profile of the local population but also the demise of the maternity ward of the Deep River hospital. It is highly unlikely that the record for birth rate will be challenged by Deep River again. The CNHM welcomes donations of artifacts of many types including vintage newspaper articles. It also welcomes visitors and researchers to browse through our existing collection.
To make an appointment contact the Museum via info@nuclearheritage.com
