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The Colourful Five Per Cent Scrapbook: Yes, it is Andy Hooper

Many people recognized Andy Hooper in my column.He was a well-loved and respected person.It was good to get such a response to the picture; many…
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Many people recognized Andy Hooper in my column.

He was a well-loved and respected person.

It was good to get such a response to the picture; many people close to him also took the time to write.

I took the photo many years ago when he was very active moving buildings.

Many thanks to the people who wrote in.

Here are their letters…

Yes, the person in the picture in Jim Robb’s column is Andrew James Hooper (Andy Hooper).

I am so pleased to see he is still remembered!

I would like to thank Jim Robb for his attention to detail, as on February 14th it was the anniversary of his death.

Jim Robb is the person who graciously drew the picture of Andy’s headstone and cast it in granite.

Andy was born on September 7th, 1900, in Guelph, Ontario.

He came to the Yukon with the American Army and worked as a machinist in their shop! 

He was too young to join the First World War and too old for the Second World War.

Therefore, he worked for the army up at the airport because he could not enlist for our country.

While we moved and raised countless numbers of buildings throughout the years, I think the biggest job we had, shared with Chuck Morgan, was the SS Klondike, which now proudly sits where we used to live in Whiskey Flats.

Another building that was quite a big job was what we referred to as the “Queen’s Building” as she either stayed there/ or was to stay there when she came for a visit to the Yukon. (Jim would remember).

I always believed that there should have been a building or street named after Andy.

He also received a Commissioner’s Award.

I have the clipping, but the newspapers do have this article.

My name is Linda McNeil-Bobb (aka Linda Mease) and I am “Lindy” or Andy’s Little Girl.

While there were so many life experiences I had with Andy, it is very hard to pick and choose after all my (36) years that I was so blessed to have him in my life.

Thanks Again.

Love To All,

Lindy

Via e-mail

Your February 26 article asked the identity of the guy who “could move just about any building”

I can identify the man in the picture — I’m proud to say that he is my grandfather, Andrew James Hooper.

Born September 7, 1900, and passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 14, 1991.

He lived to be 90, but I wish he would have lived longer.

I am one of his granddaughters, but more often referred to as “his favorite.”

I am the daughter of Linda McNeil-Bobb (aka Linda Mease/Ellis)

My family and I were just up there for Rendezvous and the beginning of the Canada Winter Games.

We left on the 25th.

But before we left, my sister and I went up to the cemetery on the 24th and dug through two feet of snow to uncover his grave to place several roses around his headstone.

It took about 15-20 minutes to find it, but needless to say, it was worth it.

I got a really beautiful picture of the headstone with all the roses around it in the snow.

My sister wasn’t surprised that I was the one who found it — she even said, “I thought you’d find it, you were always his favorite.”

I sat there for 20 minutes before I made myself leave.

Typing this letter and thinking about him has brought tears to my eyes, not as much as when I was visiting his grave, but still.

It’s been 16 years since he’s passed on and I still have never gotten over it.

I still say, “Good night Papa, I love you,” every night after I lay down to sleep.

I was glad to see that that was posted so close to the anniversary of his death.

He will always be remembered.

Jim Robb was always so nice and considerate with our family when it came to my papa.

I will always be so grateful to him.

I just wish I could have met him again while I was up there.

Please send my thanks and appreciation to him for me.

I would really appreciate that.

Suzanne Ellis

Via e-mail

The man in the photo who was famous for moving buildings is Andy Hooper.

His former foster son is still around town, moving buildings. I think his name is Fred.

Patrick Royle

Whitehorse

My father John Storey has identified the gentleman in the Yukon News picture of February 26 as Andy Hooper.

I remember Mr. Hooper as the gentleman who moved the big house from on top of the cliffs down to town in the ‘60s and the same gentleman also moved the Old Log Church and the Anglican Rectory.

I hope this helps.

Thank you. And I love your work

Tara Storey McDonald

Via e-mail

Andy Hooper, what a man to work with. I  helped him on a few moves, including my father’s house. Twice.

Phil Todd from the Carcross Cutoff worked with him a lot, moving buildings and anything heavy.

Old Andy, as us teenagers called him, could work harder than anybody. He was quite an inspiration in my life.

No job was impossible, just the challenge of the day.

If only our youth had as much perseverance as I learned from him.

My memories of working with him will be with me forever.

Claude Rousseau

Via e-mail