Click on Photos to EnlargeMany of North Simcoe residents, who are tired of wielding snow shovels during the constant snow storms, will envy Pat Dutton as he clears snow from around the tracks with a miniature snow blower in the CPR yards at Port McNicoll. The machine is of special value as the deep snow is now hard-packed by recent . . .(Caption damaged) 

There will be elections in Victoria Harbour Monday for both council and school board. Several of the candidates are seen on nomination night as they watch Reeve Ernie Cadeau sign qualification papers. He was returned by acclamation. Left to right, standing, are Isadore Bressette and Theodore Bernard, who will seek election as councillors; Wilfred Savage, Charles Gillan and Cecil Walker, members of the 1958 council who will seek re-election and Lorne Bell, who will try for another term on the school board. Seated is village clerk Jack Westwood. 

Ending the year with a surplus of more than $4,000.00 the board of Victoria Harbour Public School will be able to open a new room and provide for the costs of an additional teacher starting January 5th without being forced to ask ratepayers for more funds. The financial position of the board was revealed by Lorne Ball as he addressed a ratepayers meeting Monday night. Receipts for the period Jan. 1 – Dec. 24, 1958 were given as $13,771.00 with expenditures for the same period amounting to $9,549.00. 

While it may not rival Maple Leaf Gardens, this open-air rink is a welcome sight as far as the children of Victoria Harbour are concerned. Above, flooding goes merrily on while Jim LaChapelle and Doug Brodeur engage in a bit of “shinny” in the foreground. Operation of the rink is in charge of a committee headed by Councillor Cecil Walker. 

“Working on the railroad” is not an easy task for the section men at any time, and it’s even less so in winter. Frank Taylor got himself well bundled up before going out to clear switches in Monday’s sub-zero temperatures. 

Midland postman Walter Scott felt a lot warmer when the thermometer on Jory’s Drug store read only 10 below around 10 a.m. Monday morning. It had been 26 below when Mr. Scott first poked his nose out the door at 6:30 a.m. that morning. It was one of the coldest mornings of the year in this area. 

This has been a wonderful holiday season for the children, with plenty of snow and ice to try out Christmas toboggans, sleds, skis and skates. This small hill in Victoria Harbour provided lots of fun for Joanne LaChapelle and her flying saucer as her young companions await their turn above. 

Winter fleet at Port McNicoll includes the three CSL freighters Nipigon Bay, Coverdale, and Hochelaga. It is the first time the Nipigon Bay, a converted oil tanker seen in the foreground, has docked in either of the Bay Ports.

• The County Herald headline of Friday, January 2, 1959; Open Main, Drains Tank, “Drought” Hits Village. Citizens of Waubaushene got a shock Wednesday morning when they turned on their water taps. There was no water, and the pipes in the homes remained that way until about 8:30 a.m. The main cause of the “drought” was said to have been a hydrant which had been left open during the night after a group of citizens had been preparing a cushion of ice for the village’s community rink.
• Free Press Herald headline of Wednesday, January 7, 1959; Damage Tops $3,000 in ‘Crack-up’ in Midland. Four persons were injured Saturday evening and property damage was estimated at $3,300 in one of the most severe two-car collisions on Midland streets in several years. Still in St. Andrews Hospital are Miss Violet and Miss Gladys Edwards, well-known Midland sisters who reside on Elizabeth Street. Violet Edwards suffered a broken collarbone and several fractured ribs. Her sister received broken ribs. The driver of the car in which the sisters were riding was Captain Dalton Hudson, Midland Ave. He suffered injuries to his ribs and back. His wife, also a passenger in the car escaped injury. The driver of the other vehicle involved, Clarence Hall, 27, of Quebec Street, received rib and leg injuries. A transport driver, he was travelling alone in his car at the time.
• “Perhaps it will serve as a lesson for other children,” said Mrs. Lloyd Delaney referring to the sleigh ride accident of her I5-year-old son John. He was sleigh riding on Easy Street, Midland, Friday when he crossed First Street and was struck by a northbound vehicle driven by Ken Cruise of William Street. The will be no charges laid according to Sgt. Ernie Bates who investigated the accident at 11:40 a.m. “He will be in a splint for six weeks and a cast for six weeks,” said Mrs. Delaney. She said her son had broken his right leg between the hip and the knee. Noting that he had come all the way from Fourth Street on his sleigh, Mrs. Delaney said: “We are lucky that it wasn’t any worse”.
• Births  BATES— To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bates, 124 Donalda St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Sunday, Dec. 28, 1958, a son. * * * HAMELIN — To Mr. and Mrs. Alcime Hamelin, Perkinsfield; at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1958, a daughter.  * * * IRONSIDES — To Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Ironsides, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1958, a daughter. * * * KING —To Mr. and Mrs. Abraham King, Christian Island, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1958, a son.  * * *  LATOUR —To Mr. and Mrs. Madore Latour, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 1958, a daughter.  * * *             PIITZ — To Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Piitz, 110 Donalda St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Saturday, Dec. 27, 1958, a daughter.  * * * PILON — To Mr. and Mrs. Percy Pilon, Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Monday, Dec. 29, 1958, twin sons (one died later). * * *        REYNOLDS — To Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Reynolds Wyevale, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Saturday, Dec. 27, 1958, a daughter.  * * *        THOMPSON — To Mr. and Mrs. Garnet Thompson, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Thursday, Dec. 25, 1958, a daughter. * * *                             TOBEY — To Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Tobey, Honey Harbour at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 1958 a son. * * *                VENT — To Mr. and Mrs. George Vent, Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 1958, a son.

• Obituaries- SAMUEL DUNCLIFFE – Following an illness of three months, Samuel Duncliffe, formerly of 59 Virginia Ave., Toronto, died in Scarborough General Hospital Tuesday, Dec. 23. He was in his 65th year. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John George Duncliffe of Waubaushene, he was born in Waubaushene Nov. 1, 1894, where he lived for 27 years. For the past 37 years, he had lived in Toronto. In September 1923, he was married to Ada E. Parkin and they resided in Toronto. He was an employee of the Sheppard and Gill Lumber Company for 37 years. Besides his widow, he is survived by one son, Robert James of Cooksville; four sisters, Evelyn Duncliffe of Waubaushene, Mrs. Melville Boyter (Nellie) of Little Current, Mrs. W. Max Parsons (Edith) of Little Current, Mrs. Carl Winch (Lillian) of Agincourt, and two brothers, George of Toronto and Ross of Fesserton. Two brothers, Walter and William, and one sister, Annie, predeceased him. * * * FREDERIC W. LAROCQUE Following a lengthy illness, Frederic William Larocque died in Sarnia Dec. 20. A resident of Midland for nearly 40 years, Mr. Larocque was born in Cumberland, Ont., in 1898 and served in both world wars with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. He was a member of the Midland branch of the Canadian Legion. He married the former Fannie Trewin Jan. 25, 1920, at Midland. Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. A. Garrett (Irene), Port McNicoll, and Mrs. J. Jordon (Helen), Wyevale, and two sons, Pte. W. G. Larocque, St. James, Winnipeg, and Bob Larocque of Fort William. * * * CATHERINE FITZPATRICK In her 91st year, Mrs. Catherine Fitzpatrick died in St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Dec. 18. She was predeceased by her husband in 1941. Two sons, Joseph and Herbert also predeceased her. Born in Ireland, the former Catherine Mahon, she had resided in Midland for the last 45 years. Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. James Napier of Penetang and four sons, John of Midland, Basil and Arthur of Gatineau Que., and Austin of Burlington. * * * MRS. RUTH HARE nee Paul. Predeceased by her husband in 1954, Mrs. Ruth Hare died in a Toronto hospital, Dec. 18 in her 63rd year. Born in Midland, Mrs. Hare received her education and was married here. Mrs. Hare is survived by one daughter, Mrs. D. T. McDonald, Toronto; two sisters, Mrs. W. Speare, Lefroy, Ont., and Mrs. W. D. Brownlee of Welland, and two brothers, Mervyn C. Paul, Galt, and J. Edgar Paul of Midland. * * * OCTAVE GREGOIRE A lifelong resident of Midland, Octave Gregoire died at his home, 309 Russell Street, Dec. 24. He was in his 92nd year. His wife, the former Rosann Goneau and a son, William, predeceased Mr. Gregoire. Mr. Gregoire is survived by two daughters, Mae of Midland and Mrs. Raymond Belanger (Norma) of Port McNicoll, and one son, Howard of LongLac. One sister, Mrs. Josephine Dorion of Penetang, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive.
• Citizens of Penetang and district will be paying $13.30 per day for standard ward care at Penetang General Hospital under the new method of charging which became effective Jan. 1^st. The announcement was made this week by Jerome Gignac, chairman of the hospital board. The semi-private rate is $15.30 and the private rate is $18.30 per day.
• Simcoe County now has a city within its confines. The former county town, Barrie, became a full-fledged city Jan. 1, 1959. The occasion was marked by a two-day celebration which commenced New Year’s Day with an unveiling ceremony at the city hall. The special civic holiday Friday, which featured a mile-long procession of public and high school students, Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scouts, floats, Barrie Citizens Band and civic groups, was climaxed Friday evening when Premier Leslie Frost installed the new city council. Barrie first became a town 104 years ago.
• VASEY NEWS — Yuletide visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cowden were Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Smith and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Cowden, Mrs. Mary Brand and Gordon, Mrs. Jos. Greenlaw, all of Midland; Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Vasey of Penetang; Carl Vasey of Toronto; D. H. McFarland of S.S. Starbelle, Miss Betty Marcellus of Wyevale; Irene Davis of Toronto; Miss Norma Cowden of Toronto, and Bruce Edwards. Mrs. Bob Russell of Weston visited her niece, Mrs. Martin Strath, during the Christmas holiday. Mr. and Mrs. George McClay of Trenton were holiday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Robinson. Mr. and Mrs. Morley Clement and family of Orillia spent the holiday with the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Edwards. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Brandon and baby son of Coldwater spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. George Robinson. Mr. and Mrs. Milton Train of Elmvale were Yuletide guests of Mr. and Mrs. Carson Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Cowden, Jimmy and Keith spent Sunday with their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Cowden, Midland. Miss Marjorie Faint of Hornings Mills is visiting her cousin, Miss Pauline Robinson. Miss Norma Cowden and Bruce Edwards called on Mr. and Mrs. Harold Graham, Wyevale, and Mr. and Mrs. Eric Curry of Wyebridge, Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. G. Vasey and family called on the Duckworths of Angus Sunday. Visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Manley Edwards during the holiday were Miss Emmaline Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Harper and baby son of Toronto, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Johnston and baby daughter of Barrie, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Curry of Wyebridge. The Lloyd McDonalds and family and the Horace Vaseys and family spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Jack McLean at Edgar. Miss Lorna Brown spent the holiday in Toronto.
• Ten Years Ago This Week Seventeen district mariners had enrolled in the marine school classes at Midland. Lectures in navigation were being held in the Midland YMCA and engineering students were being accommodated in the Orange Hall. * * * T. D. Robinson, clerk of Medonte Township for 55 years, had announced he would retire at the year’s end. He was the third clerk of the township, having served since 1893. * * * Midland Ski Club had completed arrangements for the first-weekend ski meet in more than a decade. Work on the new 30-meter jump was completed. * * * Circulation of books at Midland Public Library was up 8,000 in 1948 and set a new high of 52,000, Librarian Dawson Leigh reported. * * * The price of milk in Midland and Penetang had been increased from 17 to 18 cents. * * * Midland council took its first step toward introducing zoning in the town when it approved a draft bylaw restricting the commercial area and the types of businesses that could be located in that area. * * * By of vote of 282 to 193 against beverage rooms and 284 to 184 against a dining licence, Victoria Harbour voters turned down for the second time in eight years an attempt to have liquor outlets in the village. * * *  Guards at the Ontario Hospital for the Criminally Insane at Penetanguishene were to receive additional pay due to the “nature of their work”.
• Judges, viewing Christmas lighting decorations in Penetang Tuesday night had a difficult task selecting the winner from among those entered in the Jaycee sponsored contest. When all votes had been tabulated the home of Nelson Lalonde, Chatham Street, came out on top. Two homes, Bruce Stevens on Main Street, and Phil D’Aoust, Poyntz Street, were tied for the second spot, and the judges decided to split the prize.
• At a meeting in Midland Friday, Alderman Clint Smith was appointed Chairman of the Midland Arena Committee to serve at least until the new council, whose inauguration is slated for Monday, January 12, can make a permanent decision. In an interview with this paper, Alderman Smith said he would do his best to “get the arena situation straightened out by Wednesday of this week.”  Ex-mayor Charles Parker, who has acted as manager of the arena without pay for the four years the arena committee has been in existence, turned over the keys to the building Saturday night. Meeting as the arena committee Friday, the several members of council concerned approved a motion appointing Mervin Parker as manager/engineer at a salary of $100 per week. At the same time, they approved the hiring of Gordon Dyment as a general handyman at S50 per week to relieve Mr. Parker of some of his other duties. A policeman for the parks commission last summer, part of Mr. Dyment’s duties will be to police the arena.
• Residents of the area are beginning to wonder whether the thermometers have been telling lies about the subzero temperatures. Robins were seen in Penetang at Christmas and Monday of this week, Chas Beatty of Highland Point, spotted a pair of crows flying along the shore. Mr. Beatty said the crows appeared quite active, and when last seen were headed in the direction of the Penetang garbage dump.
• Ken Ellis of Midland, public school inspector for Simcoe No. 1 Inspectorate, received word this week that he had passed examinations for his master of education degree. The degree will be conferred in May at the Ontario College of Education convocation at the University of Toronto.