Today is the 60th anniversary of the closure of the Bell Island mines.

Mining interests on Bell Island took shape in the 1890s, and really flourished from the 1920s to the 30s.

However, on June 30th, 1966 the final shift at the last mine on the island clocked out – marking the end of an era.

Teresita McCarthy, the executive director of the Number 2 Mine Museum, says the ripple effect of the closure has been felt by the community “for generations.”

McCarthy recounts the impact of the situation on her own family, including her father who had worked there for 42 years.

She says her dad started working in the mines at eight years old, and when they closed down he was in his 50s, with a grade two education, and “functionally illiterate.” She recalls her mom being “frantic” when her dad had to go to Ontario for work because he had to navigate an airport with signs he couldn’t read.

When it comes to the 60 year anniversary, McCarthy can’t help but think of her father.

She gets emotional when talking about him and other family members, and wonders what they would think about how the island has bounced back.