Click on Photos to EnlargeThis is great fun says Jay Ellis, one of the youngest visitors who attended the motor and fashion show sponsored by the Midland Junior Chamber of Commerce in the armoury on the weekend. Jay is the daughter of Ken Ellis, public school inspector for the area and Mrs. Ellis. 

Completed at a cost of nearly $200,000.00 for building and furnishings, Midland’s new municipal building will be officially opened this afternoon, Wednesday, November 27th, 1957. The open house will be held this afternoon and evening. Thursday night, in the new auditorium, nominations for candidates for mayor, Reeve, deputy-reeve, public school board and public utilities commission for 1958 will be held. 

“Well and truly laid” the cornerstone of Midland’s new municipal building on Dominion Ave. is set in place by mayor Charles Parker at a ceremony held Wednesday. Alderman Clinton Smith, program chairman looks on. 

One of the outstanding features of the new Midland municipal building is the large room on the west side that serves as a courtroom, council chambers and auditorium. 

Typical of the fine appointments in Midland’s new municipal building is this lounge in the main rotunda. Public school inspector Ken Ellis looks on while Marion Wilcox, left, and Miss Diane Anest try out the new sectional furniture. 

One of several outside organizations with offices in the new municipal building is the Georgian Bay Development Association. General manager Neville Keefe is seen going over some work with his secretary, Mrs. Lillian Chilcott. 

Happy in his new office at the new municipal building on Dominion Ave. is clerk-treasurer Bill Hack. 

Firemen are well accommodated in the new municipal building. Chairman of the fire committee, Alderman Bill Orr examines the very latest in resuscitators. With him are Jack Small on the left and Chief Arnold Tippin. 

Good police facilities are one of the features of Midland’s new municipal building. At work in the general office are Sgt. Ernie Bates, Sgt. George Wainman and Chief Robert Cameron. 

 

A hen owned by Jack Deschamp of Cedar Point really went overboard on the production line last week. The result was the two eggs in one, shown above. The smaller one, about the size of a normal egg, although more round in shape, was inside the big one, which measured three inches in length and was two inches thick. The egg was among two dozen Mr. Deschamp delivered to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Valliear, Midland. The other 23 were of normal size and shape. 

 

Last weeks successful fashion and motor show sponsored by the Midland Jaycees was a big occasion for the ladies as well as the males interested in the latest in motor cars. The sponsor of the fashion show, Mrs. R. B. Moffatt of the Wool Shop, on right, goes over details with her commentator Mrs. Josie Tersigni of Penetanguishene. 

Mrs. Norman Ladoucer of Penetanguishene won the jackpot of $280.00 worth of silver dollars on her theatre program at the Pen Theatre last Thursday night. She is shown here receiving the silver from Bill Belrose, manager of the Pen Theatre. Mrs. Ladoucer said she would use the money for Christmas shopping. 

[A spiced up version of the classic Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara movie]

 

IOOF officers of Midland Lodge Number 274 for the coming year are; front, Stuart Glassier recording secretary, John Sharp financial secretary, Charles York noble grand, Percy Smith vice grand, Albert Bowie treasurer; middle, Archie Campbell conductor, John Eakley LSS, Eric Heels RSNG, I. Rumney chaplain, Ed Collins warden; back row, Ernie Bates JRPG, Ellsworth Collins RSS, Allan Cameron OG, Albert Blythe IG, Omery Caudle RSNG, Garfield Steer RSVG. 

 The above photo was one of a series of safety ads that ran in the newspaper in 1954 and 1959, the people and locations are all local.

• The Free Press headline from November 27th, 1957. Two-Way Mayoralty Fight in the Offing for Midlanders. Mayor Charles Parker told this newspaper yesterday he plans to make another bid as mayor; if he is nominated. Although they did not wish to reveal the name of the “dark horse” candidate, two sources indicated the incumbent mayor would likely be opposed. Both Reeve W. H. Keller and Deputy-reeve R. J. Pinchin indicated they would stand for nomination again this year. There were reports, too, that these two seats might be contested. In the aldermanic race, all four aldermen on this year’s council, have signified they are willing to stand again for the nomination. They are Clinton Smith for Ward 1, Wm. Orr for Ward 2, Herb Beauchamp for Ward 3 and Douglas Haig for Ward 4. Other possible candidates for alderman are William Wilcox, former, alderman for Ward 4, and Ozzie Downer, former Ward 2 alderman. Of the school board members up for re-election this year, at least one has indicated he is dropping out, Dr. John Corcoran, a public schools board member since 1949, said the pressure of business and reserve army work made it necessary for him to withdraw this year. Still considering the proposal is Tim Nesbitt. Harold Wilcox could not be contacted at press time to determine whether he would offer himself for re-election. It is felt, however, that he will stand. Public utility commissioners O. H. Smith and Alex Macintosh said they would let their names go before electors for service on the PUC. Mr. Smith is chairman of the PUC this year.
• The County Herald headline from November 29th, 1957. Board Boosts Ward Rates – Hikes Range .50 to $1.00. Informed by the Ontario Hospital Commission there was no hope of further financial assistance from government sources, St. Andrews Hospital Board Wednesday night decided to put into effect one of the recommendations of the commission — an increase in rates. Proposed new rates for St. Andrews are $7.50 per day for standard wards of over four beds (up 50 cents on the present rate); $8 for standard wards, four beds up $1) ; $10 for two-bed semi-privates (up $1) ; $9.50 for three-bed semi-private (up 50 cents). Other increases are $11, $12 and S16 for private, as compared with $10, 12 and $15 at present; $7.50 children’s ward (up 50 cents); $3 for the nursery, the same as at present; $4.50, for nursery after the mother has left the hospital (up 50 cents).
• Struck by a car on Main Street, Penetanguishene, early Saturday evening, Joseph Geroux, 70, of Port McNicoll, was instantly killed. A widower, Mr. Geroux lived alone in a small home in Port McNicoll, where he had been employed as a teamster and a labourer for many years. There are no children, village officials said.
• Penetanguishene’s now famous winter carnival is suffering “growing pains”. To help alleviate these, a change in name was decided on last week on the suggestion of Marcel Bellehumeur, chairman of the committee responsible for the event. As of now, the big winter fun event is to be known as Penetanguishene Winterama. The committee hopes this name will gain favour until the old winter carnival designation is forgotten, and Winterama will be synonymous with Penetanguishene. The queen contest, which was first added last year, will again be a feature of this year’s Winterama.
• An unidentified Penetanguishene pedestrian had a close brush with death from electric shock Saturday night when he failed to heed the warning of police, and stepped on a live wire carrying 2,300 volts. Constable Art Lizotte said several live wires were lying in a maze along Main Street near the Rural Hydro office after a car driven by Orville Tremblay had collided with a pole, snapping it off and scattering the wires. The constable said he saw the man coming and warned him of the danger, only to receive some “back talk”. Immediately the man stepped on one of the live wires and was lifted about three feet off the ground. Fearing to go into the mass of wires, the police officer stood for a moment and watched the victim lying on the ground. Within a short time, the pedestrian apparently recovered, got to his feet and walked away, apparently unharmed by the stiff jolt.
• Comments of residents of this area who attended the Whitby-Russia hockey game at Maple Leaf Gardens Friday night were almost unanimous in favour of the more wide-open game played under international rules. Several fans said the absence of vicious board-checking, a prominent feature of the Canadian game, was one of the most pleasant features of Friday’s game.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – Mayor and council of Penetanguishene for 1948 were elected by acclamation. Mayor-elect was William D. Hunter. The only newcomer to the council was Gerald V. Martin. * * * Midland had to call a second nomination meeting to obtain sufficient members for its new public school board. Only four of 11 candidates nominated at the first meeting signed qualification papers. * * * Four Kiwanians—Dave Haig, J. H. Cranston, Francis Beer and V. G. Edwards — debated the merits of a town planning commission at a meeting of Midland Kiwanis Club. The debate ended without a final decision being taken. * * * Dr. James Small of Midland, Rev. R. L. McLaren of Penetanguishene and Rev. George Morrison, Wyevale, were among a group of 12 men appointed to study the possibility of establishing a juvenile and family court in Simcoe County. The committee was to submit its recommendations to the January session of the county council. * * * Simcoe County council favoured the establishment of a county health unit. One of the men spearheading the proposal was Reeve George Patterson of Port McNicoll. * * * Ten members of Coldwater Home and School Association attended a council meeting in the village to discuss the appointment of a village representative to the Orillia High School Area Board. Mrs. Robert MaConachie was asked to accept the appointment.* * * North Simcoe farmers were warned by Ontario Department of Agriculture officials to feed carefully to make their hay supply last through the winter. Wet weather had resulted in considerable spoilage of the 1947 hay crop.
• Vasey — The annual meeting of the Sunday School was held at the home of Mrs. Geo. Hawke, Nov. 13, with 15 in attendance. Ross Faint read the 23rd Psalm and prayer was offered by Miss Eleanor Edwards. Mrs. Orville Edwards acted as secretary the evening. The report showed an enrolment of 85 including the Cradle Roll, with an average attendance of 56, for the 41 Sundays of Sunday School. The treasurer, Ken Robinson, reported a balance of more than $70.
• St. Andrew’s Hospital Board Wednesday evening accepted “with regret” the resignation of its administrator A. E. “Andy” Davidson. Mr. Davidson, who is accepting a position with  Pillsbury of Canada Ltd. asked that his resignation become effective at the earliest possible date.