My Maternal Grandfather Andrew "Gumps" Anderson's older brother Robert "Fess" Anderson is a name synonymous with hockey in Glace Bay. He grew up in the Coal Mining Village of Donkin Nova Scotia, one of 12 children, where apair, of skates was a luxury.
His older brother James "Fiddler"Anderson , who worked in Caledonia mine, bought a pair of skates. These skates were usually locked away but Fess and his brother Roderick "Roddie" Anderson, soon learned to pick the lock The first one home from school got to use the skates, and many fights were had over the skates. In order for their mother Elizabeth (Baxter) Anderson (1892-1979) to settle the problem, she would often give each boy a skate so they would play hockey on one skate. Early hockey was played on the ponds in Donkin At 16 years of age, Fess was playing with the Donkin Royals which won the Nova Seotia Intermediate Championship He then played with the Glace Bay Sonoco's of the Commercial League
In 1937-38, Fess was with the Glace Bay Miners who won the Nova Scotia Senior Title. Following this, he was asked to tryout with the Montreal Canadiens. They wanted Fess to play with the Montreal Royals of the Quebec Senior League. Like many Cape Bretoner, Fess decided to return home.
In 1940-41, Fess played with the Sydney Millionaires. This year, controversy erupted over the use of goaltending by Glace Bay in the finals Fess also played with Northside Victorias before returning to Glace Bay. He played until 1953 and afterward began coaching at the minor hockey level and refereed games, Fess was one of the participants for the first face off in the 1939. first game at the opening of the Glace Bay Forum in Glace Bay.
