The two newspapers this week featured photos from the recent Penetanguishene Winterama and we are fortunate to have some of the original negatives of the event. 

Click on photos to enlarge Winning float in the Penetang Winterama parade was this flower be-decked entry by the Penetang Bottling Co. Catharine Dubeau is holding the rose bowl trophy presented following Saturday’s parade. Thousands lined the streets to view the parade. 

Huronia Motors hunting camp scene, complete with dog and washing hung out to dry was judged second best in a tie and will receive a trophy donated by a Toronto newspaper through Ralph Cowan, one of the parade judges.

All set for a journey into space, the P. Payette Co. entry in the Penetang Winterama parade took the judges fancy and was awarded a second-place, tie.

Most of the prizes at the Penetang Winterama went to out of town entrants, and the “mutt race” was no exception. Stephen Alexander from Toronto is shown here with his boxer who pulled him over the course to win the trophy. 

Don Mortimer of Mortimer’s Point, Lake Muskoka, is shown here with the scoot race championship trophy presented Saturday afternoon. Don had just completed building his scoot the previous night and brought it to Penetang on a trailer. (Need names for the gentlemen on the right) 

R. Livingston, Collingwood, holds the eight-inch perch that won him this boat and outboard motor, first prize in the Penetang Winterama ice fishing derby Saturday afternoon. Karen Robinson, Winterama Queen, presented the prize and holds the fishing stick while he displays the fish. 

The rod and reel, second prize in the Penetang Winterama junior ice fishing derby, was much longer than the six-inch perch which won it for Claude McMahon, Penetang. 

Ingo Schaus, Midland, shows the perch which brought him the first prize bicycle in the junior fishing derby Sunday afternoon at the Penetang Winterama. Rene Lesperance, Penetang Jaycee member, made the presentation.

Square dancing by pupils of Grades 2 and 3 was one of the features of Regent Public School’s open house in Midland Tuesday, March 4. Other youngsters gave a demonstration of “P.T.” work as part of the evening’s entertainment. 

This foursome from Elmvale won the CSL bonspiel Wednesday night at the Midland Curling Club. Tim Bate, Win Ellis, skip Fred Ritchie and Harry Rowley. They won all three of their games and had the highest point total of the 36 rinks entered.

Mrs. J. Bonner, right, was one of those attending open house at Sixth Street School. She discussed the progress of her son Billy with Grade 3 teacher, Mrs. G. Scott. 

 Thieves escaped with $1,100.00 after knocking this hole in the side of a vault at Walkers Store Ltd, Midland, early Sunday morning. The same gang is believed to have tried a similar theft at the Walkers store in Peterborough the previous night. 

Presiding at the tea table during ‘open house’ at Sixth Street School last week were these members of Midland Home and School Association: from left to right, Mrs. A. Herron, Mrs. A. Brooks, Mrs. L. Reynolds, Mrs. A. Bligh, and Mrs. E. Jardine. 

• The headline from the Free Press Herald, March 12, 1958; Say Work for Over 500 on Gas Pipeline Projects.  Consumers Gas Company officials announced today construction of transmission lines and distribution systems to provide natural gas to municipalities in the Georgian Bay area will get underway early this summer. Officials said the projects will provide employment for more than 500 men in the communities concerned.  Communities to receive natural gas this year include Midland, Penetanguishene, Victoria Harbour, Barrie, Stayner, Collingwood, Thornbury, Meaford and Owen Sound.
• The headline from the County Herald, March 14, 1958; Rap Intersection Design, Groups Consider Protest.   Two North Simcoe municipalities and the Midland Chamber of Commerce may make a joint protest to Queen’s Park over what has been termed ‘‘alleged faulty design of the new intersection” at Firth’s Corners, a chamber announcement stated today. The newly-constructed intersection is at the junction of Highways 12 and 27, about one mile west of Midland.
• Effective September, every teacher at Midland-Penetang District High School will be receiving at least $600 more per year, following the salary settlement approved by the MPDHS board Wednesday night. The raises result from across-the-board salary increases, plus the $300 annual increment received by the teachers.
• Thieves who tried to break into the municipal building at Port McNicoll recently got nothing but exercise for their trouble. OPP Constables H. R. Banting and William Mohan, who conducted the initial investigation, said the thieves cut a hole in the roof over the main office of the building but did not enter. Slight damage was caused to the roof.
• An unexpectedly cold March wind chilled the ardor of thousands of visitors to Penetang Winterama Saturday afternoon. With an estimated 5,000 visitors in town, there was less than half of that number on the ice watching festivities at any one time. The small spectator crowd was evident in the fishing derby area where, in other years, there were at least two people watching for every person fishing.
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Merkley Jr., announce the birth of their son, Timothy Peter, (9 lbs. 5 oz.), in St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, on Sunday, March 9, 1950, first grandchild of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Merkley, Sr.
• Auction sale of valuable farm stock and implements for Luther Van Camp and Son, at Lot 4. Con. 3 Tay, 1 mile N., 2 miles E. of Waverley, on Friday, March 20. Sale to include 49 Red and Roan Cattle and an exceptionally good line of implements. Terms Cash. Sale at 12.30 noon. M. A. Trace, Auctioneer. Phone Elmvale 174.
• 25 Years Ago This Week 1933 the depression years – A Sixth Street man reported seeing a robin perched in a tree outside his home. The robin arrived on the heels of one of the worst snow storms to sweep the district in years. * * * Sir Henry Thornton, former president of the Canadian National Railways, died in New York after pneumonia set in following major abdominal surgery. *  *  * Midland Board of Education was considering a further wave of economy. At its monthly meeting, the board discussed the possibility of closing one of the town’s public schools and of making further reductions in teachers’ salaries. * * * A public meeting was called in All Saints parish hall, Penetang, to organize a horticultural society in the town. Three of those present at the meeting agreed to canvass the town for memberships. It was expected this work would be completed by early April. *  * *  The federal government budget called for an increase in personal income taxes and a reduction in exemptions; a two-cent per pound tax on sugar; five percent special excise tax on car tires and tubes; special excise tax of 10 percent on toilet articles and preparations. * * * Coldwater citizens had organized a ratepayers association. Officers of the organization were C. G. Millard, president; C. H. Eplett, vice-president; Mord Millard, secretary; J. A. Locking and James Kitchen, executive. *  *  *  The Ontario government announced it was anticipating a deficit of about $6,000,000 for the fiscal year ending Oct. 31.
• H. A. Kilroy, Bell Telephone manager for Midland said that 200 telephones were added during 1957 bringing the total in service here at the end of the year to 3,293.
• Probably nowhere in Midland Wednesday was there an employee or employer happier to see closing time roll around than Alex Macintosh. As the issuer of motor vehicle licenses and drivers permits, Alex apparently had lots of company throughout the province, as tardy motorists sought to get in under the deadline. On several occasions Monday Mr. Macintosh had to close his doors temporarily because his office was already jammed to capacity. Many of the last-minute “shoppers” came from out-of-town points, where the line-ups were even bigger and longer than they were in Midland, Alex was told.
• According to advice received by the Midland Chamber of Commerce recently, the Department of Transport intends to move its wireless station from Midland to Wiarton. A letter from F. G. Nixon, director of the telecommunications branch of the department, said it was found that communications with vessels could be very greatly improved by a move to Wiarton, hence a decision has been taken to effect this change in location.
• Outstanding performers in the Midland Music Festival are to present a “Stars of the Festival” concert in Midland-Penetang District High School auditorium tonight. The twelfth annual festival, which concluded its activities Wednesday night, set a new high in entries and caliber of contestants, festival officials said.
• Hans Albrecht of Penetang Road was employed Monday night as Midland’s new dog control officer. Mr. Albrecht lives on the old Girard turkey farm in Tay Township. He explained that he has room to impound dogs, and for destroying animals he would use potassium cyanide. He is to be paid out of funds collected through the sale of dog tags and licenses.
• A request from the Manson J. Bradley Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, for permission to hold its annual penny sale on Easy Street on the evening of July 25 was approved by Midland council Monday night.
• From Dec. 1, 1956, to Dec. 1, 1957, Canada’s population increased by 552,000 to a total of 16,860,000; growth in the period was at the record high rate of 3.4 percent.

We are working on the 1938 editions of the Midland Free Press, 80 years ago, and wanted to include a couple of items. 

This ad shows that Wagg’s have been in business for 116 years in our area. The list of businesses that old is short, I can think of H. S. Stamant & Sons, Penetang, and Sanderson Monuments of Orillia.