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One thing about fishing, age is no factor in the enjoyment of this universal pastime. Bobby Roduck examines one of the many “flies” tied by veteran angler G. A. Walkinshaw at the hobby show in Midland YMCA Thursday night. 

Although its value is under dispute in government and military circles at the moment, the aeroplane still attracts the fancy of many Midland lads who formed their own model club at Midland, YMCA. Keith Craig, left, and Tom Atkinson display two of the larger models on view at the hobby show in the ‘Y’ Thursday night. 

Midlanders who failed to attend the hobby show at the YMCA Thursday night missed some interesting exhibits. This one, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. James Sherriff, won a special award. Examining one of the interesting articles are Mr. and Mrs. Mervin Beatty. 

One of the main features at the annual North Simcoe seed fair at Elmvale has been the potato competition. Telesphóre Forget, left, is this year’s grand champion, with Ida Maurice as reserve champion. Both men are prominent seed potato growers from the Lafontaine area.

Top honours in the bacon section of this year’s North Simcoe seed fair and bacon carcass show at Elmvale Friday was won by Adam Wolosky of Victoria Harbour. Mr. Wolosky is seen With Ron Dennis, left, of the Canada Dept. of Agriculture, and Stewart L. Page, North Simcoe ag-rep. Mr. Wolosky’s exhibit won the grand championship in its class.

Floor hockey has long been one of the favorite sports for boys of Midland YMCA. In the lower photo are the Mustangs, this year’s winners. Left to right are; kneeling, Ronnie Jeannotte, Bob Weckman, Gene Suzuki; standing, Allan Cornell, Chris Lyons, and Frank McLean. Runners-up, Golden Eagles are Rafael Shushan and Jimmy Martin in front, and Paul Henderson, Ricky Howard, and Tom Fisher, rear.

Having heard that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, the boys of Grades 7 and 8 at Port McNicoll Public School soften up their dads a bit each year by preparing and serving a supper for them. “Cooks” above are, “left to right, Frank Kelly, Leo Beausoleil, and Ian Spencer. 

Winners of the snowshoe races staged at Penetang’s Winterama March 1 receive their prizes from Jaycee Eugene Bellehumeur, right, chairman of the snowshoe race committee. Right to left are Larry Jones, Midland, first in men’s; Tom Tobey, Honey Harbour, 2nd in men’s, and Angela King, Honey Harbour, 2nd in women’s.  Betty Jones, Midland, winner of the women’s event, was absent when the photo was taken. 

Winner of the Monarch flour contest held at Loblaw’s Midland store recently was J. A. Stewart of 303 Second Street, Midland. Mr. Stewart, right, gets his aluminum cooking wear prize from store manager “Sandy” F. A. Dempster. 

Midland Armory will be a busy spot this weekend when the Garrison Club plays host to the Georgian Bay District, badminton championships. Four Midland stars Dave Dunning, Tom Marion, Carson Brown, and John Bourgeois, are seen above tuning up for the big event.

Tractor mounted snow blower clears the snow beside the CSL freighter “Hochelaga” in front of the Port McNicoll elevator before the ice cutting crew moves in to cut the ice into moveable blocks. Once the ice has been removed the freighter can be freed ready for her first spring trip. Petroff’s tow truck is being used to move ice. (Not the same one that pulled me out of the ditch last week.)

• County Herald headline of March 11, 1959; Man Attacks Young Girl – Flees from Irate Citizen. Midland police today are continuing their search for a “scruffy looking” man who attacked a 12-year-old while she and several companions were on their way home from a Girl Guide meeting about 9:15 p.m. Wednesday. The girls had left St. Mark’s parish hall about 9 p.m. and had reached the intersection of Hugel and Seventh Streets when one of them was grabbed by a man who had been following them and was thrown down on the snow. The girls’ screams attracted the attention of Herb Young, 371 Bay St. W. who took after the girl’s assailant and chased him to the vicinity of Knox Presbyterian Church where the suspect escaped up a lane.
• Free Press Herald headline of March 11, 1959; Gang of Safecrackers Loot New Supermarket. The first major robbery in Penetang since the municipal force took over from provincial police several years ago netted an estimated $4,000 to $5,000 for a crew of hungry thieves who cracked the safe at Robbie’s IGA sometime during the weekend. The new store was opened only last month. The exact time of the break-in and robbery has not been determined, according to police, although there is some indication that it took place Sunday afternoon or night. The theft was discovered when employees opened the store on Monday morning. Getting into the safe, apparently took a considerable period of time and, while working, the culprits apparently got hungry, for they drank some milk and ate apples, chocolate bars, and biscuits. No evidence of an attempt to get into the safe through its door could be seen. Instead, using an axe, pick and wrecking bar, a hole was chopped through thin metal which covered the back.
• Drop-outs number about the same as this time last year but percentage-wise they are down slightly because of the greater attendance, MPDHS Principal L. M. Johnston told the High School board meeting Wednesday night. Of the 11 pupils that had dropped but since his last report to the board in February, Mr. Johnston pointed out nine had gone to gainful employment.
• Active in Boy Scout work, the Simcoe County Police Association and Conservative circles, William John Moriarty, died unexpectedly at his Port McNicoll home March 11. He was in his 58th year. Born in, County Kerry, Ireland, where he was educated, he came to Canada 33 years ago. After three years as a private detective at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, he came to Port McNicoll to join the staff of the CPR police where he remained until his death.
• After an absence of about eight years, Huronia Choral Society is being reorganized. The initial rehearsal and organizational meeting of the group, which is open to all district residents, will be held in the board room of the Midland municipal building at 8 p.m. March 17. The society, formerly led by Allan Harrington, Alex Docherty and Wm. Cameron, will have Al Hume as its new leader.
• With the opening of its new second-storey addition, Midland’s Midtown Motel now ranks with the best between Toronto and North Bay. That’s the firm belief of the proprietors, Karl, and Keith Bertrand, who not so many years ago were operating a garage on the site of the present motel. Still leaving room for another 20-unit addition if the need arises, the new second-storey addition is located “amidships”, atop the original building. It provides a fine lounge, 18 by 30 feet, as well as 10 new sleeping units.
• BARGE “AGAWA” Dear Editor: The steel barge “Agawa,” official No. 111807, was built at Collingwood by the Collingwood Shipbuilding Co. for the Algoma Central S.S. Co. and launched July 19, 1902. Her length was 379 feet, width 46 feet, and depth 26 feet; gross tonnage 3308. In 1907 she was made a steamer of 2468 gross tons. She stranded on Advance Reef off Michael Bay, south coast of Manitoulin Island. The tug General from Detour took her crew off. She was released June 3, 1928, taken to Collingwood and repaired with gross tonnage 3525. On May 20,  1929, she was sold to Arrow S.S. Co. of Toronto and renamed Robert P. Dunham. In 1939 she was, sold to the Quebec and Ontario Transportation Co. of Thorold and renamed Heron Bay in 1940 and is still in service. —W. R. WILLIAMS.
• Victoria Harbour electors gave a split decision in their vote on four liquor questions Saturday. They supported women’s beverage rooms by a vote of 296 yes to 191 no, for a majority of 78 percent and defeated the men’s beverage room question by a vote of 288 yes to 198 no. On the dining room licence issue, the question was carried by a 60.87 percent majority, 294 voting yes to 189 no. The cocktail lounge licence went down to defeat with .289 voting in the affirmative to, 197 in the negative.
• One of several visitors at Tiny Township council meeting Saturday, Ed Copeland showed council his “time books” to prove he had closed his sawmill as he had threatened late last year. “If you hadn’t put on that $9 a year business tax I wouldn’t have closed it,” Mr. Copeland told council. “For a matter of $9 you are quitting the business?” asked Deputy-reeve Eldege Quesnelle. Mr. Copeland: “That’s right, I was sick and tired of government intervention in my business.”
• “If the library is to continue to offer the service which the statistics show the people of Midland want, the only solution is an addition to the building. It cannot be started too soon; said Dawson M. Leigh, Midland Librarian, in his annual report issued recently. The last year saw more books and magazines borrowed than ever before — 69,479; continued Mr. Leigh. “This in spite of crowded conditions which almost compel patrons to be contortionists or giraffes. This amounts to each person borrowing 8.4 books per year. From available reports, no other municipality within 40 miles can show as high a per capita average and few in Ontario.” (The national average is 3.4 volumes a year.)
• Births – GIANETTO — To Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Gianetto, Sunnyside, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Friday, March 6, 1959, a daughter. LAURIN — To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Laurin, 266 Dominion Ave., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Monday, March 9, 1959, a son. LeFRENIERE — To Mr. and Mrs. Leonard LeFreniere, King St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Saturday, March 7, 1959, a son. PINKNEY — To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pinkney, 109 Hugel Ave., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, March 4, 1959, a daughter. PUDDICOMBE —To Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Puddicombe, 248 William St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Friday, March 6, 1959, a daughter.
• 25 Years Ago This Week – Extensive damage, was caused to the Midland Engine Works by a fire that broke out about 8.45 p.m. The fire was believed to have been started by a spark that had smouldered for some time following casting operations in the afternoon. * * * The federal government was considering the discontinuance of the $2 licence fee on each radio receiving set, replacing it with a tax on tubes.  * * * Dr. J. M. Nettleton of Penetang was being mentioned as possible Conservative candidate for the Centre Simcoe riding in a forthcoming provincial election. * * * Ontario Department of Highways reported there were 99 fewer fatalities on the highways in 1933 than in the previous year. A total of 7,877 persons were injured in the 8,634 accidents reported. * * * Ice at Moose Point was reported to have been 36 inches thick, extending out in the bay as far as the eye could see. *  * *  Twenty-five local men had obtained employment in the general overhaul being given to the Northern Navigation Company’s cruise ship Huronic. The passenger steamer was at Midland Shipyards. * * * Moonstone defeated Jarratt 4-3 in the final game of the East Simcoe Rural League. The hockey game was played in the Palace Rink at Coldwater. Moonstone was awarded the Eplett cup. * * * Provincial Livestock Director R. W. Wade reported that Ontario municipalities had paid out $20,000 for damage caused to sheep flocks by marauding dogs.
• Over 200 “bird bashers” from eight Simcoe and Muskoka centers will congregate in Midland this weekend for the Georgian Bay District Badminton tournament, to be held in Midland Armory Friday and Saturday. Entries for the tournament have poured in from Orillia, Bracebridge, Parry Sound, Barrie, Camp Borden, Owen Sound, Utterson, and Midland.
• On the basis of statistics submitted in the House of Commons the other day, the Avro Arrow cost every man, woman and child in Canada about $30 each. Since the average family consists roughly of four persons, it meant $120 was being drained in one form or another of indirect and direct taxation from the family wage earners pay envelope for this item alone.
• At a meeting in Tiny Township council chambers, Saturday, the council was approached by six members of the Georgian Bay Hunters and Anglers Association with the idea of making Tiny marsh a wildfowl sanctuary. Many will recall when this marshland or lake, as it was known, was drained so it could be used as farmland. However, it was found later to be of no value for such a purpose and was abandoned. Tiny Township agreed this piece of property was of no use to anyone in its present condition and that it was costing the township money to maintain ditches that are there for the purpose of catching any drainage water from this property. The council was unanimous in its decision to turn over this property to the Georgian Bay Hunters and Anglers Association for a wildfowl sanctuary.
• Obituary – MRS. EARL PAUL A Midland resident for most of her life, Mrs. Earl Paul died in St. Andrews Hospital, March 1, in her 34th year. Funeral service was held at Nicholls funeral home March 3, with Rev. J. L. Self officiating. Pallbearers were Norman, Harry, and Ed Paul, Don and Jack Simpson and Calvin Cowdrey. Born and educated in Penetanguishene, Mrs. Paul was married April 12, 1947, at Midland. Besides her husband, she is survived, by four children, Grace, Betty, Maryann and William, and her mother, Mrs. Grace Shields of Kingston. Two brothers, Bill and Bob, both of Toronto also survive. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery vault.
• Midland Business and Professional Women’s Club held its monthly dinner meeting in the Georgian Hotel Feb. 9. President Mrs. R. R. McGrattan was in charge. Following the business session, the annual candlelight ceremonial was held in observance of International Week. The ceremony is a tradition through which the International Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs history is recalled in a symbolic fashion. Mrs. Earl Cumming entertained the members of the club at her home Feb.3.
• Two four-year-old Lafontaine children escaped possible death by a narrow margin Sunday afternoon when they were struck by a truck as their sleigh glided onto the main road in the village. According to Tiny Chief Fern Maurice, the pair slid in front of a truck driven by Marcel Laurin, and owned by Ovide Laurin. Louise Mullie suffered a fractured elbow and bruises, and Gerard Beausoleil was confined to hospital with severe bruises and shock. Chief Maurice said the truck had to be jacked up to remove the Beausoleil child who was caught under the rear springs.

From the August 11th, 1943 Free Press Herald comes this article on the wartime shortage of heating fuel. It’s hard to imagine what the air quality must have been in Midland on those cold, still, winter mornings when every house burnt wood or coal.