Christmas at the Dionnes, 12/25/1943. This year the  Dionnes family had a very special Christmas--the first spent in new home built for all fourteen of them, including the quintuples. Shortly after the birth of the five girls on May 28, 1934, the Canadian Government took charge of them and in 1935, they were made wards of the King by an act of the Ontario Legislature. A special nursery was erected across the road from the Dionnes homestead, near Callander, and there the children lived under the direction of guardians. Oliva and Elzire Dionne were not in favor of having five of there children separated from the rest of the family and they carried on a legal fight for more than six years, until the Canadian Government returned the children to the control of their parents on September 24, 1941. The family moved into their new home a few weeks ago. It stands on property adjacent to the nursery, on the other side of the road from the former Dionne home. This picture shows all the Dionnes together for Christmas in the new house. The two youngest boys, Oliva Jr. and Victor, are sitting on the Floor. Ernest stands behind the chair who are [left to right] Yvonne, Annette, Marie, Cecile and Emilie. Then comes Daniel, Pauline, Father Dionne, and Rose, with Mother Dionne and Thersea seated.  (News Colorfoto by Warnecke and Cranston. Copyright, 1943, King Features Syndicate, Inc.)
Item PR9501  -  Price $95.00