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Senseless vandalism seems the only way to describe this scene, taken in D. MacNabb’s garden at 157 Fifth Street, Midland. Numerous tomato plants and many hours of work were ruined by the invaders, who also uprooted cabbage and flower plants. Marks on the ground indicated the vandalism was the work of adults. 

These two men, Kenneth Price, left, and Kelvin Ward, are in charge of the paving program now underway at Port McNicoll. Mr. Price of Toronto is an engineer for 0. A. Meadows and Associates Ltd., while Mr. Ward, from Barrie, is foreman for the Disher-Farrand Co. Portions of three village streets are getting new paved surfaces. 

It’s quite a mess right now, but Port McNicoll’s Fourth Ave will be a much-improved thoroughfare in a few weeks when badly-needed new paving is installed. Seventh Ave. and Third Street will also be paved in a program which also includes ditching, curbing and the laying of some sidewalks. 

Deep in delphiniums is Arthur Rollinson, whose Pacific Hybrids add color to the many gardens blooming in Waubaushene these days. Mr. Rollinson is secretary of the community’s bustling Chamber of Commerce. 

A good time was had by all apparently, according to the girls returning from Camp Kitchikewana on the S.S. Dover August 27. Despite mediocre weather for the past two weeks, the young campers sported good coats of tan to show their waiting parents. The event also marked the end of camp “Kitchi” for another season. 

Load of lumber bound for Penetang Tuesday, Sept 2, was too high to go through the CPR subway about five miles east of Midland. When driver Bert Bridges tried to turn around and find an alternate route, his vehicle became stuck while straddling Highway 12. 

Making sure of the ground rules before Monday’s OBA playoff game in Midland are Indians’ Murray Yorke, umpires A. MacLean and R. Horne, and Bowmanville manager Fred Cowle. Indians won 2-0. The second game of the best-of-three intermediate A playdowns is slated for Bowmanville Saturday. 

Heroes in Midland Indians’ 2.0 win over Bowmanville Harvesters Monday were Gord Dyment, left, and Larry Greene. Dyment allowed only one hit and fanned 18 batters. Green produced the needed runs with a homer with one mate aboard in the third inning. 

 The new overflow storm sewer being constructed from Penetang’s Main Street to the bay, alongside Fern Shoe plant, approached completion this week when the contractor finished laying four-foot tile to the street line. Work started Tuesday morning to tear up the pavement for the huge excavation which will be necessary to join, the new line to the existing trunk sewer. The plan calls for the new line to enter the main hole at a lower, level than the sanitary sewer. The top portion of the existing sewer will be cut away, allowing it to overflow during flood conditions with water being carried away in the overflow sewer. 

 

 

(I wonder if Doug can bring back the .50 cent 2×4 to go with the 1.00 beer?)

• Free Press Herald headline of September 3, 1958; Volunteer Fire Fighters Launch Bicycle Safety Plan. Midland Fire Brigade will start a “bicycle safety program” in all Midland primary schools next week, both public and separate. Firemen Dave Hudson and Fred Grigg are in charge of the program which will seek the co-operation of teachers and parents as well as the young bike riders. The brigade hopes to have at least two firemen visit each school next week to explain the program to the children. Teachers will provide further instruction, it is hoped, following the initial visits. The young bicyclists will be divided into four groups, including Grades 3, 4 and 5, and 6, 7 and 8, both boys and girls. Each child will be given a written test in school, and have his bicycle inspected for mechanical faults. Climaxing the instruction, the boys and girls will cycle through a test course to be painted on the municipal parking lot on Second Street. Each child who passes the course will get a colored decal for his bike. Trophies will be presented to the winners in each group, and badges to those finishing a bit farther down the list.
• County Herald headline of September 6, 1958; Increase in Enrolment Crowds MPDHS Classrooms. Things are a bit too crowded for comfort at the new Midland-Penetang District High Sçhool on Hugel Ave., west. And, until the proposed new addition is built, it is going to be even more crowded in the next few years, according to L. M. Johnston, principal. It all began a couple of years ago, said Mr. Johnston, when the Grade 9’s started getting larger. Now, these larger classes are beginning to show up throughout the entire school. Some of the classes now have 37 pupils. Mr. Johnston and Department of Education officials feel that 35 is about the maximum load for best results. Increase in the number of pupils attending school this year, 32 would make a good-sized class in itself. Enrolment Wednesday was 812 pupils, compared with 780 last year. Department of Education officials say the ratio of pupils to teachers should be around 25-1. There are 33 teachers at present on the MPDHS staff. This would mean they could handle 825 pupils only 13 more than Wednesday’s enrolment figure, the MPDHS principal said.
• Dame fortune refused to smile on the Avro Marine Club, so far as weather was concerned, when the club held its first annual regatta on Penetang Bay over the holiday weekend. With events scheduled to get underway at 1 o’clock Saturday, and a full program to follow for the next three days, officials were constantly kept on the run changing the program to suit the weather. At the scheduled time of opening, rain was falling, so a one-hour delay was announced. The rain stopped, but a south wind was blowing the bay waters into whitecaps. So it was decided to carry through the opening ceremonies and call off marine events until Sunday. With C. J. Thomson, an Avro executive at the microphone, Jack Denton, president of the Marine Club was introduced. Officials of Tiny Township, the town of Penetang, and Penetang Chamber of Commerce were introduced as well, and each welcomed the visitors to this area. Low clouds, wind and scattered showers continued to dog the regatta through the following two days. The committee, however, managed to squeeze most of the competition in between showers, and heavy winds.
• An attractive red-haired woman, believed to be acting as a front for a gang of bond thieves, was able to cash nearly $10,000 in bonds in banks in Midland, Orillia, and Ottawa valley centers before she was nabbed by police in St. Catharines last week. A woman swindled banks in Midland and Orillia of $2,700 and took banks in Perth, Arnprior, Carleton Place, and Trenton to the tune of $5,000, police in that area said. It is understood one other Midland bank was victimized the same day as the Bank of Montreal, by a woman who used forged passports to identify her as the person in whose name the bonds were registered.
• The old bridge on Highway 103 across the narrows at Waubaushene had a lot of motorists talking to themselves Monday afternoon. En route to Southern Ontario points after holidays in the northland, the motorists had been overjoyed to find much of the 26-mile stretch of the new Trans-Canada Highway north of Waubaushene freshly paved. Their joy turned to something else when they became part of a line reportedly two miles long waiting to cross the bridge. Heavy trucks which damaged the structure many months ago have resulted in the bridge being limited to one lane traffic, regulated by a stoplight. A new bridge is slated to be ready by Thanksgiving.
• Dr. C. A. Talbot said Monday he credits the Volunteer Fire Department here with saving the life of Linda McArthur Sunday evening when she suffered an attack of asthma, causing a severe lack of oxygen and convulsions. Linda, 9, is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Neil McArthur of Port McNicoll, and has been subject to mild attacks of asthma from birth. She was playing with friends Sunday evening and had just returned home when the attack struck her. Dr. Talbot was called and had administered necessary drugs and was waiting for the arrival of the ambulance when Police Chief John Magnus suggested the resuscitating equipment of the fire department. He immediately went after Fire Chief Lloyd Cameron who brought the equipment to the scene and administered oxygen to the unconscious Linda during the ambulance trip to St. Andrews Hospital, Midland. Dr. Talbot said it was mainly the foresight of Chief Magnus and the prompt response by Fire Chief Cameron which saved the girl’s life; as the drugs, while effective, take a certain length of time to relieve the patient. Linda will celebrate her tenth birthday today.
• Ten Years Ago This Week – Temperatures the last week of August and early in September hovered between the 93 and 95-degree mark during the day with lows at night of between 62 and 64 degrees. * * * The Department of Highways announced that it planned to start construction on a $100,000 road from Lovering to Severn Falls. * * * When Midland Public Schools opened for the fall term, they included kindergarten – primary classes for the first time in their history. * * * Port McNicoll officially launched its new municipally owned waterworks system. Man mainly responsible for the project was Reeve George Patterson.  * * * Prompt action by the residents of Waverley area, headed by Herb Hornsby, saved many acres of timber in a reforested area near the village when a fire broke out in a bush nearby. * * * Three hold-up men invaded a bank at Elmvale, slugged the manager on the head, lifted the contents of 11 safety deposit boxes and fled. All three were masked. * * * Victoria Harbour council was requested by petition to submit to a vote the question of the sale of beer and wine within the village. A total of 180 persons signed the petition. It was the second time in seven years that a request had been made for a vote. * * * Eight gasoline vendors in Penetang had submitted a request to Penetang council to rescind the existing bylaw which restricted the sale of gas after 7 p.m.
• Editorial – Wise & Otherwise – W. H. “Bill” Cranston, vice-president of the Shoe Corporation of Canada and the chairman of the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board has been given a free hand by the Ontario government, it seems. At least Ontario Minister of Transport M. D. Dymond said at the unveiling of the historical plaque at Epletts’ mill in Coldwater the other day “that anything Bill Cranston does is all right with the Ontario government”. With one of its citizens given this carte blanche authority, Huronia should be sitting pretty. The line for those with requests forms to the right.
• Obituary – George F. Walmsley a resident of Port McNicoll for 40 years, George Finlay Walmsley died August 24 at Toronto following a heart attack. Funeral service was held August 29 at Nicholl’s funeral home and interment was in Lakeview Cemetery. Rev. George Johnson officiated and the service was under the auspices of the LOL. Pallbearers were Michael Kelly and Herb Richardson of Port McNicoll, Wm. Bowen, Leslie Ney, Robert Davis, and George Richardson. Mr. Walmsey was born July 17, 1871, in Glasgow Scotland, and was educated in Glasgow and Gamebridge, Ont. He married Mabel Maughan in Midland. Mr. Walmsley was employed as a grain distributor at the CPR Elevator Port McNicoll, until his retirement and since then had kept a large vegetable garden. He had served with the 42^nd Black Watch during World War II. A member of the United Church, he belonged to the Orange Lodge and the Black Knights in Midland. He was a life member of the Black Watch Association and president locally, as well as being a member of the Black Watch Association in Toronto. He was also a life member of Branch 80, Canadian Legion, Midland. Predeceased by his wife in August 1948, he is survived by one son, William S. Walmsley of Toronto; two daughters, Mrs. C. J. Duncan (Jesse) of Galt, Mrs. R. B. Duncan (Florence) of Port McNicoll; and seven grandchildren.
• (A letter to the editor that will be of interest to our marine historians.)  Dear Editor: The single-screw wooden freighter C. N. Pratt, official No. 80574, was built at Walkerville in 1681 by Jenkins for C. N. Pratt and others of Windsor. Oak was used throughout, except for her cabin and pilot house. She measured 127 feet 26.6 feet and 9.9 feet depth, gross tonnage 385. In 1890 she was sold to Beck and Co., Windsor. The International Wrecking Co. of Windsor installed a fore-and-aft compound engine with 18 and 32-inch cylinders having a 26-inch stroke and Scotch boiler measuring 10 feet by 11 feet. She was renamed C. W. Chamberlain, a steam barge of the type popular in that era for transporting lumber and coal, besides towing schooners and log rafts. In 1908 she was sold to Charles Beck, lumber manufacturer of Penetanguishene, and in 1913 to the late Capt. Edward Francis Burke of Midland and during 1913 she was sold to Midland Transportation Co. of Midland. In 1917 she passed to the joint ownership of James Henry Milnes, James Herbert Milnes, and John Percy Milnes, all of Toronto. In 1919 her registry was transferred from Midland to Kingston. In 1920 she was sold to James Swift, James Swift Jr., Harry J. Martin and James Martin, joint owners, all of Kingston. The same year Harry J. Martin became sole owner and he sold her to Alphonse Arsène Larocque of Montreal, and her registry transferred from Kingston to Montréal. In 1920 also she was sold to Sencennes McNaughtan Limited of Montreal and, in 1923 to the Consolidated/Sand Co. of Montreal and in 1928, to Consolidated Oka Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd., of Montreal. In 1929 her name was changed to Glenarm. Her registry was closed Sept. 16, 1932; after she had been sunk in the St. Lawrence River by order of owners and direction of Marine Department because she had become unseaworthy. W. R. Williams.
• Textile Workers Union of America (CLC-AFL-CIO) was certified by the Ontario Labor Relations Board yesterday morning, to represent employees of United Shoe Plastics in wage contract negotiations. About 16 employees of the Midland firm, a division of the Shoe Corporation of Canada, are members of the union, it was stated. No opposition to the union certification was presented by United Shoe Plastics at the hearing held in the OLRB offices on Harbor Street, Toronto, Tuesday morning. The firm manufactures plastic shoe components such as heels; counters, lifts, and soles used in the production of footwear.
• COLDWATER — As contractors are at work in the area paving the Trans-Canada Highway link from Waubaushene north, Lloyd Letherby, MPP, considered it advisable if possible to persuade the Highways Department to hard-surface the old road into Port Severn which will be by-passed by the new highway. Last weekend, successful representations were made by him and assurance received from officials of the department that the old road would receive hot mix paving, which includes a stretch from the southern approach to Port Severn, near the schoolhouse, to the junction of the new highway near the Roman Catholic church. At the same time, Mr. Letherby said, the department also agreed to surface the short link on the old highway from the point on a hill where Highway 103 merges with Highway 12, to Russell’s store, in Waubaushene.
• Marriage – Verna Merle Lambie, daughter of Mrs. Winnifred Lambie, became the bride of Kenneth John Webb, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Webb of Midland August 16 in Knox Presbyterian Church. Rev. Alex MacLean of Toronto officiated. The bride was given in marriage by her brother, Raymond Lambie. Her gown of heavy white taffeta was trimmed around the neckline and bodice with an overlay of floral lace inset with tiny seed pearls and sequins. The sweeping skirt with bustle back fell to a chapel train. A sequined tiara held her finger-tip veil and she carried white sweet peas, stephanotis, and red roses. Thelma Lambie, matron of honor, and bridesmaid Mary Webb wore short gowns of turquoise and mauve taffeta with matching headbands. They carried nosegays of coral and yellow gladioli. Flower girl in a pink nylon dress over taffeta was Lynn Lambie, niece of the bride. Groomsman was Daniel Webb, brother of the groom. Murray Reid and William Jarman ushered. At the Midland Golf and Country Club, the bride’s mother received wearing a dusty rose, lace-over-taffeta dress, and pink accessories. The groom’s mother chose a blue shantung dress and pink accessories. For their honeymoon trip to Eastern Canada, the bride chose a chocolate brown and white shantung sheath with brown shoes and bag and white feathered cloche hat. Out-of-town guests came from Toronto, Buffalo, Owen Sound, Victoria Harbour, Penetang, Vasey, Detroit, and Sturgeon Bay.
• While he could not guarantee the continuance of the Conservation Farm at Hillsdale, Hon. Ray Connell, Minister of Reform Institutions, said Wednesday he was both interested and impressed with the unique project. Mr. Connell addressed Flos, Medonte, Tay and Tiny Township officials at a dinner in Hillsdale United Church Wednesday evening, following an inspection of Conservation Farm work. “As far as I am concerned, a project like this will have my support although problems can crop up, we hope they won’t,” he said. It was the newly-appointed cabinet minister’s first visit to his department’s Conservation Farm, where carefully screened inmates serving short terms have been doing conservation work in Medonte and neighboring townships for the past three summers. Mr. Connell was not left in doubt as to local support of the camp.

Hon. Ray Connell, at left, found time for a joke Wednesday when, as Minister of Reform Institutions, he visited his department’s conservation farm at Hillsdale. With him is W. H. Cranston of Midland, center, an early backer of the project; and Lloyd Letherby of Coldwater, MPP for Simcoe East.

Sleeping tents used by inmates of the Reform Institutions conservation farm near Hillsdale were inspected yesterday by department officials. Left to right are Lieut. C. Clarke, officer commanding the camp; E. Griffin, superintendent of Mimico Reformatory, where men are chosen for the North Simcoe project; and Hon. Ray Connell, minister of Reform Institutions.

The 36 men of the conservation farm of the Ontario Department of Reform Institutions near Hillsdale have completed 21- projects so far this season. Lieut. C. Clarke said Wednesday almost all the projects were in the townships of Tiny, Tay, Flos and Medonte and were completed since the camp opened this season on May 22. The men are all short-term prisoners who have committed such offenses as petty theft and minor liquor infractions. They are carefully screened before being transferred to this district from Mimico Reformatory. Projects completed are as follows: Medonte— Planting 4,000 Austrian Pine. Medonte—Cleaning and brushing conservation lot. Cutting fence posts for Mimico Reformatory. Medonte — Hillsdale Community Park; brushing and cleaning, building pavilion and tables. Cutting fence posts for the Ontario Hospital, New Toronto. Midland Kiwanis — Planting 15,000 Austrian Pine. Medonte— Vasey Park; brushing, cleaning, and picnic tables made. Tay — Waverley Park; brushing and cleaning, children’s swings erected. Tay — Excavation at Iroquois village on Forget site. Flos—Brushing and cleaning on 9th Concession. Cutting and loading 1,000 cedar poles for Burwash Industrial Farm. Erecting new buildings on the campsite. Flos — Picnic tables made. Flos-Medonte tables made. Park — Picnic Medonte — Thinning out timber on reforestation lot at Coldwater. Tay — Brushing and fencing at McKenzie Park, Victoria Harbour. Medonte — Brushing between rows of pine on Reforestation lot. Tay — Brushing and cleaning at Waubaushene. Tay — Brushing and cleaning at Scott’s Line. Tay — Midland Park; new extension; brushing and clearing timber. Midland Kiwanis — Picnic tables made for Crippled Children’s camp.

 In addition to the 21 projects already completed by the conservation farm workforce in North Simcoe this summer, officials hope nine more will have been finished when camp closes for the season late this fall.