Ernie MacDonald would walk up to George Pring’s sawmill from time to time when he was 15 years old; he learned enough from John and George Pring to get his steam engineer’s papers. When he could afford to buy a steam engine, he bought one from Mr. Metz of Wanham. Once the steam engine was in place, he and Bob Currie were able to set up a small sawmill in October of 1939. Ernie joined the Army on February 6th, 1941. He went overseas and served in NW Europe. He was wounded in action in Germany in 1945. When he was discharged at the end of the war, he left with the rank of Staff Sergeant. During the war he married Josie Murray, they went on to have four children. Ernie established the Nighthawk Lumber Company in the Saddle Hills in the mid-1940s. He also continued to farm. Ernie was instrumental in organizing the Woking Legion Branch 199, he also became the president until he moved to the Yukon. He was very active in the Whitehorse legion as well. Ernie had a fatal accident in October 1979; he owned a sawmill and planer at Pelly Crossing at that time.
– Burnt Embers, 1985, p. 31, 166-167
