Originally Posted by
cooker
Back in the 1930's when he started working in the mines it's likely most workers didn't have cars, so either the town is built right at the mine site or the company had a shuttle bus or something like that. As well if you google New Waterford, it's a pretty compact town so it's highly feasible he could walk to the grocery store, church, the legion hall etc. without needing to car pool.
Also he had a lot of kids, who were probably expected to help with shopping and other chores. Some parents today won't even let their kids go outside alone for various reasons, but it wan't like that when his kids were young.