The photos found in this blog post are the property of Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario. Any reproduction for commercial use without permission is prohibited.  Any other distribution must credit Huronia Museum.  Please contact the museum with any questions you may have.  

The quality of the newspaper reproduction this week has made it hard to copy text and to avoid having to type it all we have “clipped” entire segments. Many of the photos this week were of the Little NHL hockey tournament, the negatives are not in the collection, either taken by another correspondent or lost.

Click on photos to enlargeAn editorial page photo entitled “The Highlands of Huronia”. A combination of snow and bare ground forms a patchwork quilt over the re-awakening lands in the valley and along the hills of the scene pictured in today’s editorial page photo. The picture was taken from the top of the hill on the county road just east of the village of Waverley. The dark patches in the wooded areas are pine plantations. 

This miniature curling stone, seen beside a regulation rock, attracted a lot of attention at the recent mixed bonspiel in Midland. It was brought back from Scotland by Mrs. Don Macintosh of Woodstock (centre). Admiring the stone, perfect in every way except size, are Mrs. Clive Park of Midland (left) and Mrs. Alvin Gropp, Penetang. 

Mrs. Johnston, a Salvation Army officer in her own right and wife of Lieut Wm. Johnston of the Midland corps, fits a warm winter jacket on a little girl. The Army performs many such Christian acts in this area. 

These outstanding students at St. Theresa’s High School received their school letters from Rev. Ralph Egan of Midland last week, left to right are, Paul Tremblay, Carol Perrault, Bob McLaughlin, Father Egan, Pat Knicely, Gary Blake and Doreen Moreau. Ron Belanger was absent when the photo was taken. 

Members of the Students’ Council at St. Theresa’s High School, Midland, recently were presented with their school “bars.” Seated, left to right, are Doreen Moreau, vice-president; Paul Tremblay, president, exhibiting one of the bars; and Bob McLaughlin, secretary-treasurer. Standing are, left to right Elaine Dorion, Donna Contois, Michael Borsa and Margaret Ann Kearns. 

Winners of the Midland Recreational Hockey League playoffs this year was the Midland Foundry team, above. They defeated the Dynamoes in the finals to win the Craighead Trophy, last played for before World War 2. 

Editorial page photo entitled; “Road In a Rut”. Spring is taking its annual toll of roads throughout the province and the section of Tiny Township side road, near Waverley, pictured on today’s editorial page, is typical of the condition of many side roads at this time of year. 

Pictured during a ceremony at Midland IOOF Temple last week are these new candidates for the Encampment Branch of the IOOF. Left to right front row, are, W. T. Stewart, Waubaushene; Richard Dennis, Barrie; Clifford Newburn, Midland; Douglas Gordon, Waubaushene: middle row, R. Stamp, Midland; D. Hutchison, Waubaushene; Ernie Bates, Midland; Ed Collins, Midland; back row, Gerald Robinson, Barrie; Stuart Withers, Wyebridge; William Cain, Elmvale. 

Queen’s Park Bill O.K.’s $110,000 Hospital Grant 

Free Press headline of April 12, 1961
Present indications are that Midland will be reimbursed by payments from the county equal to the outstanding debenture on St Andrews Hospital. This was revealed at Midland council meeting, Monday night when a letter from town solicitor D. G. Haig was read. The letter read in part: I am pleased to announce the Province of Ontario in its wisdom has seen fit to enact the necessary amendment to the Municipal Act to grant authority to the County of Simcoe to pass a bylaw to allow re-imbursement to the Town of Midland for payments equal to the outstanding debenture held by the town on the hospital. 

    Idle for more than five years, Midland Shipyard property is to be the location of a new private company — Kerr Piping Limited —  manufacturers of prefabricated piping whose manufacturing headquarters will be at Midland. The plant will produce prefabricated piping assemblies for oil refineries, chemical plants, pipeline terminals, thermo-generating stations, and general industrial installations. Centre of operations will be the building formerly known as the punch shop. 

    High praise for the success of the Ontario Little NHL  championships held in Midland and Penetang Thursday to Saturday was voiced by a number of officials as the trophies crests were presented in Midland Armory to wind up proceedings Saturday night. “Undoubtedly it was one of the most pleasant and best-run series in our 20-year history,” said Ontario President Paul McKelvey of Alliston.  Two things stood out he said—billeting and refereeing. “It is wonderful to see two towns co-operate like Midland and Penetang did to house all of these youngsters, I have received nothing but words of praise from parents who along later to pick up their lads.” said Mr. McKelvey. “And if there was any beefs about the refereeing at any time, it did not reach official ears. Usually if there is any, we hear about it.” He sighed in relief. 

    Trenton’s aggregation in the Little NHL tournament parade in Midland late Thursday afternoon outshone their counterparts in other teams and won the Sharpe Trophy for the municipality making the best showing in the procession. Forty-two teams, St. Theresa’s High School Band, Midland Citizens Band, two fire trucks and floats entered by Midland Legionnaires, the Indian village, Penetang Museum, Cancer Society, Midland Shrine Club, Commodore Hotel,  Penetang Little NHL, Marchand’s Esso service and the Penetang Bottling Company made up the parade. The procession formed up at Midland dock and moved up King Street about 5.15 p.m. Members of Midland Y’s Men’s Club assisted with the organization of the marchers and teams from Milton, Dunnville and Bowmanville received honorable mention. 

    The 1961 Ontario Little NHL championships have been concluded and once again, as it did last year, the name “Penetang” will be inscribed on one of the trophies. In the three-day tournament which wound up Saturday night in Midland Armory, Penetang’s junior team emerged the winners in the “B” series for towns under 15,000 population. Last year it was the NHL team which brought home the bacon from Huntsville. 

    Joe Patenaude found it didn’t pay to back Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and as a result he was forced to pay a bet by pushing a barrow load of potatoes up Penetang’s Main Street Sunday morning. Carrying signs “Rocket come back” and “Buy Lafontaine potatoes”, Joe pushed the barrow from the main intersection, south for one block. His load was two sacks of spuds, each covered with a Canadien sweater. 

    ”The situation appears decidedly gloomy at the moment.” That’s the way Bert Armstrong, superintendent of the CPR elevator at Port McNicoll, described the impending navigation season as far as the Bayports are concerned. His sentiments have been seconded by other elevator officials in Midland and Collingwood. “The Wheat Board seems to want to send all the boats direct from the Lakehead to Eastern Lake Ontario or St. Lawrence elevators.” Mr. Armstrong noted. “There seems to be no prospect, he said, of the usual large influx of grain ships to local elevators this spring.” 

    Four books designed to increase the waterborne tourist business in the Georgian Bay region are now on the market. Authored by Medonte Township resident Kenneth Wells, they are illustrated guide books to the waters of Lake Huron off the Bruce Peninsula, Georgian Bay, the North Channel, the Trent Severn inland waterway and the Muskoka and Parry Sound lakes. 

Ten Years Ago This Week
The first vessel, to dock in Midland harbor was the “Imperial Cobourg” with skipper Captain C. G. Sloan getting the silk topper, emblematic of the opening of inbound navigation. * * * Establishment of a Roman Catholic Separate, primary school in Victoria Harbour was being considered. * * * Midland council authorized the police to issue summonses to all violators who failed to pay the usual $1 fine for parking meter tickets. * * * “Springcapades” was being presented by the Hi-Y Grad Girls and Phalanx Club of the Midland YMCA. * * * Race horses were preparing for summer campaigns at the old Penetang race track. * * * A “Ranch Party” brought to a close the six-weeks course in social recreation held in the Old Fort School near Midland. * * * Midland Boys Band sponsored a skating carnival at Arena Gardens when nearly 1,500 attended a 12-act performance presented by skaters from the Toronto Granite Club. * * * Midland’s total debenture debt at the end of the year stood at $569,863 it was revealed in the audited statement. * * * A Toronto radio station, on a gasoline company program, featured the history and current attractions of Midland. Information for the program was prepared by the Midland Chamber of Commerce. * * *Every man woman and child in Midland used an average of 100 gallons of water daily at a cost of 1.5 cents per day, Midland Public Utilities statistics revealed.  

Province Grants MPDHS Composite School Status 

County Herald headline of April 14, 1961
The Ontario Department of Education has given its approval for Midland-Penetang District High School to become a composite school and provide vocational training for students. This was confirmed in a letter from C. W. Booth, deputy minister of education, which was read at the MPDHS board meeting Wednesday night. Expressing pleasure that the confirmation had been received, T. M. McCullough, board chairman said the next step was the appointment of an eight-member special committee of the board composed of employers and employees from industry as well as members of the board. Mr. McCullough requested all board members to give some thought to the appointment of members of the special committee and be prepared to propose names at the next board meeting. (Other business) The board accepted the resignations, effective June 30, of John Lamb of the science department; Miss M. J. Hargadon, who is teaching physical education, history and geography and J. W. Giroux of the French department. Eleven new teachers were hired by the board and will start their duties in September. The new teachers are: Michael Corcoran, English department: Murray B. Lovering, science: Mrs. Ruth Gammell, mathematics and physical education: Delmor Gingrich, motor mechanics; Mrs. Phillis (should be Phyllis) McCullough, English and music: Wm. Longlade, French and history; S. Clark Miles, commercial department; Miss Reba Young, head of the English department; R. LaChappelle, French special; Keith McNally, French; and R. Marsh, science. 

    The tower on Penetang’s town hall grew an additional 20 feet yesterday when workmen man-handled a steel structure of that height to the top of its flat roof. The fire siren will be placed on top of the tower, where it is hoped it will be more audible than in its present position. 

   Pre – school registration held Monday at Parkview and Regent Public Schools in Midland saw 124 children register to begin school in September. At Regent, 84 children (eight more than last year) were registered according to Principal M. O. Lewis. He said he expected there would be 10 to 12 more register before school starts in the fall. This will bring the fall enrolment at Regent to just over 700 and an all-time record, Mr. Lewis stated. At Parkview, 40 children were registered Monday which is 10 less than last year, reported Principal Kenneth Cowan who estimate there would be an additional 10 or 12 enrolled before school starts in the fall. This will bring our fall enrolment to about 400 which we have at present, Mr. Cowan stated. There was no pre-school registration at Bayview School. 

    A letter from the Department of National Defence advised Midland council at its meeting Monday night that the United States coastal escort vessel U.S.S. Farmington will visit Midland May 6 to 8. Noting that the visits of such vessels was a tourist attraction. Mayor Charles Parker said it was hoped that other American ships would visit Midland during July and August. The mayor suggested that the ship’s officers would be entertained at lunch during their visit, as was done on previous occasions. “It’s not a major item.” added Mr. Parker. 

    Douglas Martin, member of the Midland Volunteer Fire  Department, Monday night was appointed by council to the permanent fire brigade on the recommendation of Fire Chief Arnold Tippin. Mr. Martin’s six-month probationary period is to be effective from April 15.