Click on photos to enlargeSore shins and aching backs were a dime a dozen around Midland last week following this broom ball battle between Branch 80, Canadian Legion, and the Midland Lions Club. The Legionnaires emerged victors 2-O. The game was part of the big “final night” for Midland’s Little League hockey youngsters. 

“Open House” at four Midland schools this week drew exceptionally good attendances, according to the principals of the schools. At Regent Public School Tuesday, Principal M. O. Lewis noticed one especially encouraging note in the attendance of around 600 visitors. “It was noticeable that there were a lot more fathers out than usual,” said Mr. Lewis. A short program of square dancing and “P. T.” was provided, along with classroom tours. James Robinson, the principal at Parkview Public School, termed the turn-out at his school Wednesday “very excellent.” “We had around 400 visitors, considerably more than last year,” said Mr. Robinson. No special entertainment was provided this year, giving parents the opportunity to interview teachers. Principal L. M. Johnston said he was very pleased with attendance Wednesday at the first open house ever held at the new Midland Penetang District High School. About 750 persons registered in the afternoon and more than 400 visited the school in the evening. [We would appreciate receiving the names of people in the three photos above. Known, in the second photo are chemistry teacher Warren Jacklin with the couple to the left being Harold and Ann Humphries. Dr. John S. Corcoran and Mrs. Corcoran (Helen) in the first.]

Tiger mascot didn’t prove lucky for Miss Kay Gawley as her Midland rink dropped a 7 – 6 decision to Mrs. Jean Murphy’s Orillia four in the finals of the main event in Midland Women’s 11th annual bonspiel this week. Midlanders in the front row are, left to right, Miss Gawley, Mrs. R. Newton, Mrs. Stan Burton and Mrs. Jack Moss. Seen in the back row, the winning Orillia rink was, left to right, Mrs. Murphy, Mrs. M. Holmes, Miss L. Mulcahey and Mrs. F. G. Barton. 

“Signs of spring” welcomed visitor to Mrs. Robert (Francis) Bell’s Grade 2A room at Regent Public Schools open house Tuesday. One of her pupils, Diane Rutherford, explains the exhibit to her parents Mr. & Mrs. Harold Rutherford. 

This apron counter attracted both attention and customers at Regent Public School’s “Open House” Tuesday night. Proceeds from the sale of the aprons, made by girls of the Grade 8 class, went to the Junior Red Cross. The students are, left to right, Peggy Jones, Kay McMann and Elizabeth Cowan. (Names are needed for the three parents on the left. 

• The headline, Midland Free Press, March 5, 1958; Two Hospitals to Receive $33,600.00 from Province.  Two North Simcoe hospitals will share to the tune of $33,600 in the $6 million being granted by the provincial government to Ontario hospitals this year. The grants $21,000 to the 105-bed St Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, and $12,600 to the 63-bed Penetang General Hospital — were contained in the budget tabled in the legislature by Premier Leslie M. Frost Feb. 26.
• The headline, the County Herald, March 7, 1958; Province Boosts Grants for Elementary Schools.  Increases in provincial education grants for approved  1957 expenditures may mean in this area increases of at least 12 percent for most elementary schools in towns the size of Midland, and a minimum of 10 percent for most rural and urban municipalities with populations under 6,500.
• Eighty-four-year-old Septimus Lowes of Midland, employed at Midland Simcoe elevator, reported that he saw a crow at the elevator about 7.30 a.m. Saturday. He said it is the earliest he has seen crows return in years. The bird apparently had been feeding on grain spilled about the elevator. [My backyard crows returned on the second week of February this year, they sat in the oak tree and demanded their handouts.]
• Midland – Penetang District High School students copped three firsts, a second and a third in the recent Kiwanis Music Festival in Toronto, instrumental music director Wm. Bartlett announced yesterday. “I was very pleased with their showing”, he said. Bill Bates won first in the open bassoon class, with 80 marks; Danny Richardson, with 82 marks was first in the French horn competition for students under 19. Another first went to Lois Cowan in the cello class, under 17. She had 85 marks. Robin Benson, with, 79 marks, was second for viola under 17. The MPDHS string quartet, with 80 marks, was third in the open class. It is composed of Catherine McAllister and Marion Miller, violins; Robin Benson, viola, and Lois Cowan, cello.
• Ten Years Ago This Week; A booklet, outlining the elementary principles of magic, written by Midland’s Chris Gardner, had been accepted by the Grand Council of the Magic Circle, with headquarters in England, Mr. Gardner was notified of the honour in a letter from the Duke of Somerset, president of the Magic Circle. * *  *  The National Employment Service office in Midland reported that, as of Jan. 31, 1948, there were 437 unplaced male workers registered for employment— 125 fewer than for the same period in 1947. * * * Simcoe County Assessor Eric Simpson urged Midland council to have a re-assessment made of town properties. He held there were many inequalities and discrepancies in existing assessments. * * * After many years of effort by various Penetang organizations, federal government officials announced that a lighted buoy would be placed at Pinery Point as a navigation aid for boat operators entering and leaving Penetang Bay. * * * Victoria Harbour council accepted the tender of Sylvester J. Sutter, Port McNicoll, for the construction of the Harbour’s water system. Mr. Sutter’s bid amounted to $49,196. * * * Following a six and one-half inch snowfall, temperatures throughout the district plunged to a low of 36 below zero March 5 and to 27 below the following day. * * *  Canada Steamship Lines announced that it had equipped four of its older ships with radar.  The new equipment, a later adaption of the type installed on the Lemoyne in 1947, was fitted in the Gleneagles, Stadacona, Donacona, and Goderich. The work was completed at the Midland Shipyard.
• Obituaries; [These notices are abbreviated; more information is available from the museum.] A veteran of World War II, Raymond George Denis died Feb. 5 at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland. Born March 8, 1914, at Penetang, Mr. Denis was educated at Sixth Street School and Midland High School. In 1934 he married Norah Dowling in Toronto. After joining the Canadian Navy Feb. 6, 1941, and serving on convoy duty in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean, he was discharged Nov. 15, 1945, with the rank of CPO. A mariner on lake freighters, he held a first mate’s ticket and had sailed until he became ill on the S.S. Laketon in November 1957. * * * A well-known resident of Port Severn, Joseph Cadeau died at Penetang General Hospital Jan, 14 after a brief illness. Born at Port Severn 78 years ago, he was the eldest of a family of eight children of whom only three survive. He married Florence Bressette 53 years ago. * * * One of Elmvale’s pioneer citizens Charles Grigg, died Jan. 25 at his residence in Elmvale. Funeral service was held Jan. 28 at the home of his son, Clifford, of Allenwood. Mr. Grigg was born Feb. 24, 1882, at Con. 6, Flos. He was the only son of the late Edward Grigg and Mary Ann Chapman. Mr. Grigg was instrumental in founding the first Co-operative Packers of Ontario. He was the first president of the Copaco board of directors from 1930 to 1936. Besides his wife, the former Eva Webb, he is survived by one son, Clifford, and one sister, Mrs. Percy McConnell of Flos Township. * * * Godfrey Moreau, a resident of North Simcoe district all his life, died Feb. 17 at Penetang General Hospital following a stroke. He was in his 74th year. Mr. Moreau was born May 15, 1884, at Perkinsfield. In 1904 he married Josephine Asselin in Penetang. Predeceased by his wife in 1944, he is survived by children, Elzear and Marshal of Midland; Mrs. Elmer Kelly (Delvia) and Norbert, both of Toronto. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren.
• Second Street near Yonge, good brick house, 3 bedrooms, oil heating, hardwood, garage, beautiful kitchen. $8,500 or best offer. Phone LA. 6-67??, Midland. [We removed the phone number so that a gentleman on William Street with that same number wouldn’t receive any unsolicited offers.]
• There are growing indications that Ontario motorists will soon be compelled to purchase auto insurance before they will be permitted to obtain drivers licences and licence plates for their vehicles. Additional evidence that the move is underway is provided in the requirement this year for drivers, who cannot show proof of financial responsibility, to pay $5 instead, into the unsatisfied judgment fund. Its effect has been to induce the uninsured to take out the necessary protection, returns from insurance companies reveal. Compulsory auto insurance, while a novel departure as far as Ontario is concerned, is far from new in many parts of the world.
• At the annual meeting of the Midland Community Concert Association Tuesday night, it was decided to disband the 10-year-old music group. In spite of an extra membership campaign this season, the number of members dropped to 302 adults and 76 students—barely enough for a three-concert season. Of this number, only five attended Tuesday’s meeting.
• From the March 3rd, 1927  Midland Argus we have two public notices regarding work to be done on town streets. The first notice informs us that to have your street oiled required a petition from the residents of that street. The second notice is regarding the paving to be done on the streets listed and how much the residents will be charged on their taxes over a twenty-year term to cover their share of that paving.