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It is a well-known fact there are lots of black bass in Midland’s Little Lake, of the big mouth variety. Wayne Guppy, Toronto, has evidence above that there are some good specimens of the smallmouth variety, too. This 14-inch, one lb., nine-ouncer was caught by his dad, Ted Guppy, around 8 p.m. Friday night using a frog as bait. The Guppy’s are staying at Smith’s Camp. 

One of the quietest, and often most rewarding ways to spend a holiday weekend is fishing. Three men and a young boy were trying their luck just off busy Highway 12, at the Wye River bridge, when the Free Press Herald cameraman snapped this picture Friday. 

There’s plenty of building going on in Midland right now, with a number of projects of major proportions underway. In the above picture, a start is being made on laying the footings for the new addition to the Bausch and Lomb Optical Co. plant on Lindsay Street. 

Victoria Harbour residents should have safer walking on some of the new sidewalks being laid around the village. Above, workmen have just completed a new section in front of Clarence MacKenzie’s dairy and ice cream bar. In keeping with the new sidewalk, the dairy has been extensively renovated as well. 

There’s hardly a boy living, even in these modern days, who hasn’t made like Michaelangelo with a piece of wood and a jack-knife. Albert Warner of 100 Sixth Street, Midland, progressed far beyond the boy-with-jack-knife stage. Now it’s a profitable as well as an interesting hobby with him. Mr. Warner, who came to Midland in 1900 from Prescott, gets a fairly good monetary return from lampstands, ashtray stands, flower stands, fern pedestals and similar articles. All are carved from single pieces of willow with no paint or stains. 

Flower gardens around Martyrs’ Shrine offer many fine studies for the colour film addicts. One of the many picturesque spots is this little pool, with statues, just to the west of the main entrance of the shrine. Grounds have been extensively renovated in recent years under the guidance of Rev. J. McCaffrey, shrine director. 

The hillside below the Martyrs’ Shrine church was a mass of colour on the weekend as a multitude of flowers were bursting into bloom. The church and its surrounding grounds, famed in history, are also one of this area’s beauty spots visited annually by thousands of pilgrims and visitors.

• Midland Free Press headline of August 5, 1959; 11 Premises Ransacked in an Epidemic of Break-ins. This past week saw a large-scale outburst of housebreaking in and around Midland, and also, in the Waubaushene, Six Mile Lake area, police reported yesterday. In Midland, there were break-ins at the homes of James Clark, K. J. Ellis and James Crawford; all in the Eighth Street, Hugel Avenue area. Also entered were the homes of Walter Lumsden, F. A. Salmon and Andrew Sedore, on the Tay Township extension of Hugel Ave., just west of Eighth Street. Acting Chief George Wainman of Midland said the Eighth Street break-ins apparently occurred, sometime before, midnight Saturday, Mr. Crawford was first to report his house entered, at 1:20 a.m., Sunday, and the discovery of the other entries followed. At Waubaushene, the W. H. F. Russell and Sons’ store was entered sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning and a quantity of cigarettes and other articles taken.
• County Herald headline of August 7, 1959; Say Filth Floats in Cove, Tiny Cottagers Alarmed. Woodland Beach Cottagers Association is becoming alarmed over pollution of water in their area of Tiny Township. A delegation asked Tiny council Saturday what steps should be taken to get some action toward remedying the situation. Various opinions were expressed as to the source of pollution. Some thought it came from Wasaga Beach, while others maintained it came from Collingwood. According to cottagers from Woodland, the pollution drifts into a cove and remains there. The summer residents are fearful of an epidemic developing from the water. “RAW SEWAGE” The statement made to the council was that the pollution is heavy, raw sewage, and the quantity leads them to believe it doesn’t travel any great distance before reaching Woodland. Complaints of pollution were registered last year with the Simcoe County Health Unit, and inspectors examined the condition. Nothing further was heard of the investigation either by the Woodland Association or by Tiny council.
• According to statistics “released by R. B. Moffat, secretary-manager of Midland Chamber of Commerce, this area is well on the way to setting a new record for summer visitors. Mr. Moffat said yesterday that, up to July 31, the two information centers operated by the chamber at the eastern and western approaches to Midland had served 5,983 people in the 1,845 cars that had stopped at the centers. He said these figures were almost triple the number served by the single information centre on King Street last year. He added that there was also a higher percentage of American visitors calling at the centers this year. Mr. Moffat explained that a survey revealed tourist business at district resorts was the best it had been in several years.
• Missing since the previous Monday evening, the body of Mimi Demuile was found floating in Nottawasaga Bay Sunday afternoon. Miss Demuile was 22 years old. The body was first noticed by a passing pleasure boat, approximately one-half mile from shore, and about three and a half miles from where the young woman had last been seen.
• Tiny Township councillors were forced to admit, Saturday they didn’t know whether the municipality is considered “wet” or “dry” by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The question came up when a man approached council inquiring whether or not he would be given a permit to build a hotel at Wyebridge. He informed the council that one thing he would require before starting to build is an assurance that he would get a liquor licence. Council admitted they knew little of the requirements toward issuing a licence. It was pointed out that, if the municipality is listed as “dry,” a vote would be required.
• BIRTHS – CARDWELL — To Dr. and Mrs. R. J. Cardwell, 171 Hugel Ave., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Monday, August 3, 1959, a son. CARPENTER — To Mr. and Mrs. Allan Carpenter, Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Thursday, July 30, 1959, a son. DUNKLEY — To Mr. and Mrs. Ian Dunkley, Waubaushene, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Sunday, Aug. 2, 1959, a daughter. PROULX — To Mr. and Mrs. James Proulx, 129 Fifth St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, July 29, 1959, a son. ST. AMAND — To Mr. and Mrs. D. J. St. Amand, Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Wednesday, July 29, 1959, a daughter.
• COLDWATER — Previous records for traffic through Coldwater were exceeded civic holiday weekend. In addition to the peak volume of vehicles to district resorts, there has been a marked increase in autos and transports passing through Coldwater to head north on the new Trans-Canada Highway from Waubaushene. The Coldwater by-pass will not be completed and opened to traffic until later in the season, with the result that there are cars, many with boats on trailers, huge tractor-trailers, and other vehicles passing through the village. Tourist operators in Coldwater district reported business at capacity and in most cases, accommodation facilities were exceeded.
• TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – Boat traffic “up the shore” reached its peak on August 7, with both the 30,000 Island Navigation Co. and Georgian Bay Tourist and Steamships Ltd. reporting excellent business. * * * The Hon. Lionel Chevrier had announced a $60 million, five-year shipbuilding program for Canada; to “maintain and develop the Canadian shipbuilding industry,” and it was believed that the Midland shipyards would benefit. * * * It was reported: “For the first time in many years, and for the first time in the history of Midland on such a large scale, the grain is being moved from Midland elevators to Montreal and the Atlantic seaboard by ship.” * * * Camp Kitchikewana, opened this week on Beausoleil Island with its biggest enrolment to date, Midland YMCA reported. There were 180 girls between eight and seventeen, mainly from Midland, Barrie, Toronto and Hamilton. * * * Sherwood Fox, former president of the University of Western Ontario, had recently published a book on the discovery of St. Ignace on the Sturgeon River. Material incorporated discoveries by Dr. Wilfrid Jury, “Western” archaeologist and expert on Huronia. * * * Plays, at the Midland Summer Theatre, held in the curling rink, included “Mr. Pim Passes By”, and “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Jack Blacklock was the producer and director. * * * Although net proceeds were lower than those of the previous year, the Midland Boys’ Band carnival was considered an outstanding success. There was a large draw prize list.
• Obituaries – MRS. HANNAH M. CHARLES — An active member of the Presbyterian church Ladies Aid, Mrs. Hannah May Charles, died in St. Andrews Hospital, July 24 of a heart attack. She was in her 75th year. Funeral service was conducted by Rev. Alan Ross at A. Barrie and Sons funeral home, July 27. Pallbearers were Dave Douglas, Arthur Gardner, Lorne Carruthers, Marvin Grigg, Bert Reynolds and Alvin Reynolds. Mrs. Charles was educated in Wyebridge and in 1916 married Wm. Charles at Midland. She lived on a Tiny Township farm until moving to Wyebridge 13 years ago. A member of the Wyebridge Women’s Institute, Mrs. Charles was fond of flowers and gardening. Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters. Mrs. Kenneth Hounsome (Margaret) of Wyebridge and Mrs. A. Blair ’Jean’ of Haileybury; four brothers, Frank of Waverley, Henry of Wyebridge, Fred of Midland and Ernest of Richmond Hill. Two grandchildren, Connie and Billie Blair also survive. Burial was in Wyebridge Anglican Cemetery. MISS MABEL G. JEFFERY An active member of Knox Presbyterian Church throughout her life. Miss Mabel Gertrude Jeffery died, July 25, after a lengthy illness. She was in her 82nd year. Funeral service was conducted at Knox Presbyterian Church July 28 by Rev. J. L. Self. Pallbearers were Ron Cooke, George Cooke, Fred Jeffery, Jim Tully, Bob Bell and Dean Todd. Miss Jeffery was the second eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Jeffery and spent all her life in Midland. She is survived by two sisters; Mrs. A. T. Hunter (Olive), Toronto, and Mrs. H. B. Adams (Anne), Orillia and a brother C. C. Jeffery, Midland. Also surviving are a niece, Mrs. James Wright (Judy) of Midland and a nephew, Jeffery Baxter of Toronto. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery. WILLIAM E. CASTON – A lifetime resident of this district, William Ellsworth Caston died at St. Andrew’s Hospital July 24 following a coronary thrombosis. The funeral was held from his home, 361 Russell Street, Midland, July 27 and was conducted by Rev. J. L. Self. Honorary pallbearers were Albert Arsenault, Norman Gagnon, Lloyd Stephens, Ted Caston, Bud Caston and Con Caston. Active pallbearers were Frank Caston, Duke Caston, Don Arsenault, Gil Arsenault, Herb Trollope and Cliff VanLuven. Mr. Caston was born in Midland July 15, 1911, and received his education in Wyevale. On October 1940, at Elmvale, he married the former Therese Emond. He was a lifetime member of the Presbyterian Church. Besides his wife he is survived by five daughters; Mrs. Alex Desjardins (June), Barbara, Doreen, Clara and Patricia and two sons, James and Dave. Two sisters, Mrs. Mary Black and Mrs. Rosebell Chambers, and five brothers, Clarence, Frank, Ted, Duke and Bud also survive. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery. JAMES ROBERT LONEY – A school trustee of S.S. No. 18 Tay for two years, James Robert Loney died in St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, July 27, following a short illness. He was in his 73rd year. Funeral service was conducted by Rev. Charles Carter at A. Barrie and Sons funeral home, July 30. Pallbearers were Dalton Loney, Thomas Seymour, John Calhoun, Milton Montgomery, Frederick Allsopp and Earl Allsopp. A lifelong resident of Tay Township. Mr. Loney was a Conservative in politics and a member of the Loyal Orange Lodge. In 1920 at Victoria Harbour, he married the former Vera Calhoun. Mr. Loney is survived by five daughters; Mrs. D. McArthur (Joyce), Orillia. Mrs. F. Kectch (Vera), Victoria Harbour, Mrs. H. Starr (Iona), Oro Station, Mrs. R. Douglas (Mildred) Moonstone, and Miss Muriel Loney, Midland, and two sons. Goldy of Timmins and Burton of Goderich. Three sisters. Mrs. T. Seymour and Misses Edna and Hazel Loney of Coldwater, and two brothers. Harvey of New Liskeard and Ernest of Charlton, as well as eight grandchildren also survive. His wife predeceased him in 1945.  Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery.
• A complete survey for a protected channel through the 30,000 Islands of the Georgian Bay was this week submitted to the hydrographic section of the dominion government in Ottawa by the Georgian Bay Development Association. The association has been endeavouring to entice the hundreds of yachts now visiting the harbours and channels north of Manitoulin Island to the southern end of the Georgian Bay but has been handicapped by the lack of proper charts for these waters.
• As Midland summer playground at Little Hake Park closes August 14, a final week of activity has been planned, Monday afternoon will see the entire playground take part in a giant treasure hunt. Tuesday afternoon a mammoth field day will take place, with prizes for those taking part Wednesday evening a playground variety show for parents will be staged in the YMCA basement. Thursday will be the summer playground baseball league finals and Friday is the day for the all-day party for playground members, with final awards and presentations. Morning programs will continue as usual with crafts and swimming instruction. Advance swimming work will also take place in the morning during the final week. The playground is open to all children age 6 to 12 from 9:30 daily. Recent activities have included all-day hikes for the various sections with meals being cooked on the hike. Some 30 members of the playground have taken part in special overnight camping trips this season. The summer playground is sponsored by the Y’s Men’s Club of Midland. During this season some 425 children have taken part.

The first week of July 1931;

• Three drownings in one afternoon was the terrible toll exacted by the waters of the Georgian Bay yesterday. A young man was the first victim and his life was extinguished from a freighter at the Tiffin elevator. About the same hour, a double tragedy occurred at Little Beausoleil Island, where William Douglas, six-year-old son of Mr. John Douglas McCarter and the family’s Scotch maid, Christina McLean, 30 lost their lives while bathing. Both bodies were recovered by the child’s father and were brought to Midland, where they were met by Coroner Dr. Johnston and Provincial Officer Harry Wrights. They were taken to the Barrie Undertaking Parlors and were forwarded this morning to Toronto. Miss McLean had been in the employ of the family for about 3 months, she is of Scottish parentage. From the information available it appears the child got beyond its depth and in her efforts to save it, Miss McLean lost her own life.      

• All previous records were broken at the Little Lake Camping Grounds last weekend when the largest number of motor tourists in the history of the Camp was accommodated. The Camp population reached the almost incredible figure of just under the 1,800 mark. Monday was a Civic Holiday in Toronto and other large centres, and early on Saturday, the tourists began to flock to the Camp in ever-increasing numbers. The usual staff at the registration office was hopelessly inadequate, to cope with the greatly increased flow of tourists, and was reinforced by members of the Park Commission, who gave generously of their time. By Saturday night the books showed no less than 424 camps on the grounds, and still, the cars were driving in. Not until midnight did the last tourist arrive, and on Sunday morning the flow began again. A number of the regular campers, whose week had expired on Saturday night, had returned to their homes meanwhile, but the additional influx of tourists on Sunday raised the number of tents pitched to the peak figure of 433.
• PENETANG, Aug. 6. — Penetang citizens turned out by the hundreds. Midland sent a contingent of almost as many more, and the country surrounding this town co-operated in making the Kiwanis Street Carnival here last night one of the most successful ever staged in this town, in spite of subnormal conditions. By seven o’clock when the night’s program was scheduled to start with a parade through the town, the crowd lined both Main and Robert streets; by nine o’clock, when the amusements were well underway, the block on Robert St. in front of the fire hall, which was reserved for the Carnival, was almost completely filled with merry, milling, jostling throngs. Mr. Phil Charlesbois was generalissimo of the Carnival and from very early in the evening, long before the program was scheduled to commence, until the last booth had been cleared away, he was here, there, and everywhere, an indefatigable mine of energy. The success of the Carnival this year must in justice be credited largely to his efforts, and to those of his equally efficient lieutenants. Unfortunately, through one of those unavoidable hitches that occur in spite of the most careful preparations, there was a misunderstanding as regards to transportation and the Midland Band was late in arriving. As a result, the parade began half an hour or more behind schedule. But when it came, it was apparent that it was worth waiting for. The variety of the attractions, their number, and the novelty and ingeniousness of them, were remarkable. Mrs. J. T. Payette, mounted on a saddle horse and dressed in a flashing cowboy costume, at first headed the procession. Before the parade reached Robert St., however, she dropped out and the Midland Citizens’ Band, led by Bandmaster Fraser, led the way. The parade formed up in front of the Station, at the foot of Main Street, and proceeded south of Simcoe street, thence to Church St., and south on Church to Robert St. Crossing Main St., the procession passed in front of the judges, near the fire hall and doubled back on itself to pass the judges the second time before breaking up.
• The Sinclair Oil Co., which a few months ago established offices in town with Mr. R. S. McLaughlin as the manager, is building two 10,000-gallon gasoline supply tanks here to service dealers in this district. The tanks will be located at the foot of Queen St., in the vicinity of the Midland Engine Works. Both tanks are already up, and being put in condition to receive gasoline. A pumping machine is now on the way and it is expected that it will be installed and the tanks ready for use in about two weeks’ time. It is not the Intention of the Sinclair Oil Company to operate a service station, but purely a warehouse for supplying dealers in this district. Their warehouse is 20 ft by 60 ft and the Company will feature prompt deliveries of their oils, and other products. (This company declared bankruptcy in a short period of time and the tanks were sold.)
• On Tuesday the laying of rails commenced on the recent extension to the Government dock, at the foot of King Street, which will doubtless prove a great convenience in handling of traffic to and from the boats. It is understood a considerable addition to the shed will be also erected. The extension has already justified the expenditure on it as a unique source of revenue to an enterprising citizen. On Saturday morning a man was observed taking a picture of an extensive ’Field’ of grain from this vantage point. To anyone who may be sceptical of the fact, we have the “Bald” truth.
• The number of visitors to arrive here on Saturday was not entirely confined to those who had as their objective the motor camp, but a large crowd passed through on their way to different points up the lakes. The special tourist train was made up of many extra cars that carried large companies of American as well as Canadian visitors. Most of these were transferred to the Midland City and other boats here and distributed to different place among the islands while a large number passed on through to Parry Sound and Point Au Baril. The Midland City carried its largest crowd of the season and handled a tremendous amount of baggage. Many people from the city also took advantage of the lake trip and were able to return on Monday so as to get home again in time. Traffic up the shore thus far this season has been particularly good and much better than expected in view of the widespread depression. Many people are making shorter trips while others are cutting down on the length of their vacation, but with all the talk of hard times, people seem to be spending money in liberal quantities for anything they require. Looking down King Street on Saturday night one might well ask the question “where is the much-talked-of hard times?” Motor cars lined both sides of the street while a continuous stream of these vehicles passed up down the pavement for several hours. The sidewalks were crowded with well dressed and apparently happy people. There was no semblance of poverty in the crowd and one was led to the conclusion after watching the passing throng that this “hard time” cry is to all appearances being overdone.
• Business is beginning to hum. Better than a million and a half bushels has come to the local houses since the last writing and according to word, it has not yet finished. Three-quarters of a million bushels of corn was the cargo of the Perseus which put in an appearance on the last day of July at 6:00 p.m., following the McLaughlin with 406,000 of wheat which had arrived an hour and a half previously, both having come from Chicago. They cleared light for the same port. On August the 2^nd the A.E. Clarke arrived at 11.15 a.m. with better than 537,000 bushels from Chicago and the Sheardale from Milwaukee at 7:15 p.m. with 380,000, both cargoes of wheat. From Fort William on the fourth came the Anna Minch at 12.30 a.m. having 200,000 bushels of wheat. She cleared light for the head of the lakes at 2.30 p.m. The five C.P.R. boats are running and full cargoes of mill stuffs are being carried. The Athabasca arrived on Sunday morning and finished unloading on Monday morning clearing immediately, light for Port Arthur where she will go into dry-dock for the periodical inspection. The Manitoba, Keewatin and Alberta followed the Assiniboia since the last writing with capacity loads on eastbound trips and while the westbound traffic is not heavy, there is no reason to complain.
• The shades of evening are falling considerably earlier now and shortly after 8 o’clock, even on a clear night it is becoming dark. It will not be very long before things will be taking on a fall aspect. In fact, it sounds that way already, with the coal barons unloading the black diamonds into the bins of the stores and private residences.