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The Last Spike Coffeehouse - The Spike Coffeehouse
Location
Corner of McIntosh St and Pacific Ave. East, at the base of the Pacific Ave Bridge
History and Description
The building , which has been replaced by a small park, was first ocupied by the Slovak Legion. When the Legion constructed a new facility, the city became custodian of the building, though the Parks Board. Cambrian Players occupied the main floor and in September 1967, the Lakehead Folkguild opened The Last Spike Coffeehouse in the basement, where the Legion's bar had existed.
The Last Spike Coffeehouse started with Lakehead Folkguild concerts at Chippewa Park on July 1-2, 1967. Weekend concerts lead to creation of the coffeehouse at the corner of McIntosh on Pacific Avenue, just below the East End Bridge off Fort William Road. The building has since been demolished, leaving a park in its place.
The Spike was opened September 10, 1967 by the Lakehead Folkguild who operated it until 1969 when a small group of people ran it, lead by co-managers Jim Squier and Bert Lindstrom. It was eventually closed in March 1972.
The Spike enjoyed good audiences until July 27, 1971 when the legal age for drinking was lowered from 21 years to 18 years of age.
Lakehead Folkguild
Performers
This is the current list of groups and performers that have played at the Spike from Sunday, September 10, 1967 to Sunday, February 06, 1972. I have tried to name the vocalists and musicians in each of the bands shown, but am missing a lot. Please send me an email at bertillindstrom@shaw.ca if you remember who was in the band, or any other comments.
- 5th Column (John Dolce, Don Jewitt, Ben Syposz, Cheryl Halverson, Glenda Gurney)
- Andy Woishwell
- Bill Houston
- Black Lightening (Joel Stapansky, Randy Lyght, Tom Pickering)
- Cathy Stirrit
- Chuck Tracey
- Cliff Redden
- Colleen Cumbers
- CPR Blues Band (Robin Sparrow, Jesse, Zeek)
- Dan Matheson
- Darcy Legros
- Dave Gibb
- Dave Lyght
- Don Mimms
- Don Sponchia
- Electric Church (Allen Smith, David Dubick, Kevin O'Neil, Rod Peltonen, Grant Babion, Terry Northway, Kevin O'Neil, Bev Holbrook, Don McRae, Tom Yule)
- Elizabeth Johnson
- Ernie Dojack
- Flipper Flanagans Flat Footed Four (Bob Balabuck, Jamie Gerow, Brian Thompson, Jack Wall)
- Frank Shoemaker
- George & Myrna (George Gregorovich & Myrna Carniato)
- George Gregorovich
- Gerolyn Cizmar
- Gravechild
- Orchid
- Grease Band
- Hans Hansen
- Hemlock
- Huck Heerema
- Jean Le Blanc
- Jerusalem (Orville Santa, Bill Godfrey, Rick Caputi, Mike George)
- Joel Stapansky
- Keith McKie
- Ken & Company
- Ken Chambell
- Ken Moore
- Kwitlum (Myron Danylenko, Bob Kyryluk, Dennis Siren, Rod Peltonen)
- Lakeview Kids
- Leaf
- Margret Lancok
- Mark Muller
- Mary Mckim
- Mel Henderson
- Michael and Company (George Gregorovich, Jim Squier, Rick Mortensen)
- Michael & Marney (George Gregorovich, Myrna Carniato)
- Michael George (George Gregorovich)
- Mike Abraham
- Moreen Munn
- Pantavus
- Pat Greer
- Rick Mortensen
- Something Special
- Sparrow (Robin Smith)
- St Burbages Dream
- Sunshower (Rick Mortensen, George Gregorovich, Ken Campbell)
- The Board of Control
- The Freemen (Ken Rusnak, Darcy Legros, with Jim Squier on bass)
- The French Kids
- The Jarvis Street Revue (Tommy Horricks, Tom Cruickshank, Wayne Faulconer, George Stevenson)
- The Melindra Singers (Bill & Ben Bogaart Of Edmonton)
- The Muse
- The Noblemen
- The Rambers
- The Travelers
- The Tweed (Bob Kyryluk)
- Thunder Bay Stage Band
- Tom Higgins
- Tom Kelly
- White Fire
- Wishing Well (Huck Heerema, Mike Coughlin, David Decker, Garth Vogan)
Other events include ...
- Lakehead Folk Guild Concert - Atikokan (Thursday, December 07, 1967)
- Lakehead Folk Guild Concert - Chippewa Park Pavillion (Monday, July 15, 1968)
- Lakehead Folk Guild Concert - Marathon (Thursday, June 06, 1968)
- Thunder Bay Sound Festival (Sunday, November 30, 1969)
- North Festivals (Friday, August 06 to Sunday, August 08, 1971)
- More to come ...
Tombstone Signs
Tombstone Signs was the name of our poster enterprise. Glenda Squier and I Bert Lindstrom created poters on tracing paper, that I was able to print on my company blueprint machine.
North Festivals
The Spike staff participated in creating a "Woodstock" style music event called North Festivals at Boulevard Lake Park on Cumberland Street. It was held on Friday through Sunday, August 8, 1971. The Spike staff ran the concession and the music event on the Saturday & Sunday.