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.  

SNARE TOP ‘63 SKI EVENT – AREA OUTBIDS TWO OTHERS
Free Press Herald, May 25, 1962 

Midland – Penetanguishene will host the 1963 Nordic Ski Championships next March 15 to 17, it was announced by the Canadian Amateur Ski Association meeting in Montreal this week. Top skiers from all over Canada are expected to compete in the jumping and cross country events during the three-day meet. This area was chosen over two others that made a bid for the annual competitions, as well as Midland. “It will be a big boost for hotels, motels, restaurants, service  stations and other businesses, always hoping for something like this during the winter months.” Mr. Parker said. “We are delighted to hear about this event. We will cooperate with Pete Pettersen in any way we can to make the event a success.” said R. B. Moffatt, general – manager of Midland Chamber of Commerce. 

A bolt of lightning inflicted a crippling blow on one of Midland’s major industries Wednesday night. The bolt knocked out the main transformer at Midland Plastics, a division of the Shoe Corporation of Canada, Elizabeth Street, East. W. H. Cranston, executive vice-president of Shoe Corporation, told this newspaper yesterday the company hopes to have the plastics division operating again Monday. At present, he said the plastics plant is shut down and employees have been laid off until repairs can be made to the defective equipment. About 100 employees are affected by the shut down, he said. 

Course number four of the special National-Survival Course was successfully concluded at Midland Armory Wednesday afternoon at a “passing out” ceremony. It being a cool, cloudy day, the ceremonies were held inside, but none of the 55 young soldiers who graduated passed out in the physical sense. Originally 68 started the course, second to be completed at Midland Armory this year. Both ran over a six-week term. Major J. S. Corcoran, of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters “C” Squadron, was the inspecting officer. 

Take it slow – “Easy does it” as his mates lower Trp. Ron Paradis of Penetang to safety from the second storey of a bomb-damaged building. Exercise is known as lowering by ropes, it is part of the survival course.

A host of federal government officials and representatives of finance, industry, commerce, manufacturers of photographic equipment and editors and publishers of photography magazines will join with Ernst Leitz Canada Limited in the celebration of the firms tenth anniversary of the founding of its plant in Midland. Official observance of this milestone will take place at a dinner in Midland’s new Royal Canadian Legion Hall building Monday evening. 

Some of the highlights of Leitz Canada Limited are illustrated in the following statistics provided by company officials; 
In 1956, the $1,000,000 per year sales mark was passed.
In 1957 the fifth anniversary year, saw the 10,000th Leica lens leave the Canadian plant. The Summicron 90 mm, f/2 was introduced.
In 1958 development and manufacture of the Summicron 35mm, f/2 took place.
In 1959 the 10,000th Leica camera was assembled in Canada and left the plant.
In 1960, the output of Leica lenses increased to more than 10,000 per year.
In 1961 the world’s fastest wide angle lens, Summilix 35 mm, f/1.4. was developed and manufactured.
In 1962 the staff totalled 160 employees: plant space was 42,000 square feet. 

Father E. J. Grise, brother of Dr. E. A. Grise, Midland, hosted a 250-guest ecumenical dinner in the parish hall of Christ the King Catholic Church, Stonewall, Manitoba, recently. Father Grise was born in Midland and said his first mass at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in 1948. Besides Dr. Grise, a third brother, George, lives at Honey Harbour. A sister, Mrs. Dave Funston, lives in Midland. 

The committee in charge of Fort Penetanguishene Museum learned Wednesday night that a balance of over $1,000 is available with which to start work this season. Dr. Wilfrid Jury estimated this amount will be sufficient to carry the operation until further funds are available. Pointing out that this year marks the 10th anniversary of operation. Dr. Jury said: “I never think of this place without thinking of the tremendous efforts by the late J. M. H. McGuire and town council of those days in getting this place on its feet.” 

LOCAL FIRMS HIT HARD BY TRUCKERS WALK-OUT
Free Press Herald May 30, 1962 

Industries in the Midland – Penetanguishene area could be faced with a serious curtailment of operations if the province-wide strike called yesterday by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a long drawn out affair. Head of Simmonds Transport Ltd., Cecil English said yesterday every industry in this area is serviced mainly by truck. Nineteen drivers in the Midland terminal of the company went on the picket line at 6 p.m. Monday. Mr. English said the strike could result, if the worst comes to pass, in “the virtual shutdown of all over-the-road operations in the province.” Sixty-six carrier firms are affected. (Since Mr. English commented yesterday the Brotherhood of Teamsters has officially called the truckers out on strike, ignoring the Thursday midnight deadline.) Among them are Lewis Transport and Hume Transport, which bring in most of the meat sold in Midland and Penetanguishene stores. 

On recommendation of the Penetang Planning Board, town council is asking the CNR to provide a flagman to stop traffic when trains are using the crossing at the foot of Main Street.  The railway, through an agreement entered into when a wigwag was removed, already provide a man to flag traffic for trains crossing Robert Street. Mayor Gignac said the matter has arisen through the railways habit of shunting cars over the crossing. “One motorist came very close to being struck recently by one of these uncontrolled cars,” the mayor said. The mayor said shunted cars glide over the crossing without any warning and without benefit of brake control to stop them in event of an emergency. 

A grinding head-on collision claimed the life of one youth and sent four others to hospital early Saturday morning. All but one are from Midland. The accident occurred 100-feet south of the junction of Highway 12 and Con. 1, Tay Township, shortly after midnight Police have been unable to determine the cause. 

One of North Simcoe’s best-known businessmen, Lionel Bourgeois died at St. Andrew’s Hospital, Saturday. Solemn Requiem Mass was held this morning from St. Margaret’s Roman Catholic Church, with burial in St. Margaret’s Cemetery. Born in Midland 57 years ago, Mr. Bourgeois was one of the area’s most-prominent automobile dealers. His connection with the business began when he was 14 years of age after he bought a car and sold it for a profit. He continued this procedure gradually building up a reputation as a car salesman. After working for various periods as a salesman for Boyd’s Garage and Boyce’s Garage, Mr. Bourgeois went into business for himself in 1942 in a garage at Bay and Second Streets. For a time he dealt only in used cars, but in 1946 obtained his first agency with Packard. He dropped this franchise soon afterwards when he obtained the Mercury – Lincoln – Meteor dealership. Mr. Bourgeois later purchased the Imperial Oil station formerly owned by Don Rodger, at the corner of Hugel and Midland Avenues. Surviving are his widow, the former Johanna Neilon of Penetanguishene, two sons, John and Robert, and a daughter Cathy. 

A call for government economic planning to cure the ills of unemployment was voiced by Donald C. MacDonald, Ontario leader of the New Democratic Party, to about 50 persons attending an NDP nominating convention in the IOOF Hall, Midland, Saturday night. The delegates unanimously endorsed R. A. Ruggles of Midland, a 69-year old union representative to contest the Simcoe East riding in the June 18 federal election. Of the four nominated, three withdrew in favor of Mr. Ruggles. 

BIRTHS
BATES- To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bates, 104 Donalda Street, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, May 22, a son.
BUMSTEAD— To Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bumstead, Wyevale, at St. Andrews Hospital, May 22, a son.
GASCAGNETTE— To Mr. and Mrs. Omer Cascagnette, Yeo Street Lane, Penetang, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, May 20, a son.
CHARLEBOIS— To Mr. and Mrs. Celestin Charlebois, 177 Lindsay Street, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, May 23, a daughter.
Cousineau – To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph, R.R. 1, Port Severn, at St. Andrews Hospital, May 21, a son.
Dignard – To Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dignard, Port McNicoll, at St. Andrew’s Hospital, May 24, a son. 

25 YEARS AGO – 1937
Ontario’s Premier Hepburn was being interviewed by a joint delegation from the Midland Public Utilities Commission and the Midland Welfare Committee in protest against the alleged discrimination against Midland in apportioning employment in hydro developments in the district. * * *  Midland Horticultural Society was holding, a tulip show in the W. D. Ross store. * * * Midland Citizens’ Band was commencing its series of Sunday evening concerts at Little Lake Park. The band was under the direction of Lieut. Wm. W. Finch. * * * CPR officials applied to the interstate commerce commission at Washington for permission to inaugurate a steamship service from Port McNicoll to United States Great Lakes ports. * * * Sam Dolcourt, in charge of the projection department for the previous five years at the Capitol Theatre, Midland, was appointed the theatre’s manager, succeeding Duncan Campbell. * * * The first of a series of five broadcasts designed to “sell” Penetanguishene as a tourist centre was put on the airwaves over radio station CFRB, Toronto. * * * Penetanguishene council struck the tax rates for separate school and public school supporters at 66.2 mills and 70 mills respectively. * * * Spring Pay Day celebrations for Christian Island Indians also included the announcement that the recently built school would be started in the near future. * * * The North Simcoe Baseball League, comprised only four teams with entries from Penetanguishene, Barrie, Meaford and Thornbury. * * * Simcoe County roads were quite badly broken up in the spring of 1937 and the county’s road committee revealed it had budgeted $106,929.49 for maintenance that year. 

OBITS
MRS. LOUIS FOURNIER Native of this area and resident of Penetanguishene for the past 15 years, Mrs. Louis Fournier died at her Poyntz Street home May 21 after suffering a heart seizure. Born at Thunder Bay, March 19, 1882, Elizabeth Labatte lived there until she was 22. She moved to Byng Inlet where she Iived for four years and married Louis Fourier Penetanguishene. The couple lived in Hamilton for two years and Montreal for 37 years before returning to Penetanguishene. Mr. Fournier died in 1957. Surviving, besides one sister-in-law, Mrs. Ambrose Labatte, Penetanguishene, are 13 nieces and 10 nephews. Funeral service was held May 24 from Beausoleil’s funeral home to St. Ann’s Memorial Church where Father J. Keeler said Requiem Mass. Burial was in St. Ann’s Cemetery. Pallbearers were Nap Hamelin, Urgel Robitaille, Alcide Legault, Adolphus and Gerald Dubeau.