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. 

Town Tax Levy for ’62 Will Bring in $725,305
County Herald headline of Friday, June 22, 1962 

Setting of Midland’s tax rates for 1962 Tuesday night climaxed many long over-time sessions of council. New rates are 43 mills for commercial properties and 38.8 for residential. Based on the new assessment of $17,670,805, and taking into consideration an unconditional government grant estimated at $28,700, the rates are calculated to cover a budgeted expenditure of $725,305. Three items were added to the budget Tuesday night, totaling $6,000. They were $3,000 tor the purchase of the Chittick property on Dominion Ave. (for parking purposes). $2,000 for management consultants’ fees, and $1,000 for a traffic light to be installed at the King and Yonge intersection. CLOSE SCRUTINY – In a summary prepared by Clerk-treasurer W. A. Hack, it was noted that council had succeeded in reducing its original general levy by $27,704 during its close scrutiny of budget items. This, said Mr. Hack, brought about a reduction of 1.54 mills, or equivalent to 3.39 mills on the 1961 assessment equivalent. 

Not a small man, W. E. Brown, plant manager at Greening Wire, is dwarfed by the huge drum needed to carry the 3 1/2 inch diameter wire rope produced recently. Destined for use on the Welland Canal, the rope is the biggest, in diameter, of any used in Canada at the moment. Two ropes were produced, one 250 feet long and the other 230’ 6”.

A casual visitor to the Oak Ridge section of the Ontario Hospital at Penetanguishene would have had a difficult time detecting which were patients or outsiders sitting at an appreciation banquet, Wednesday night. The banquet was the idea of a group of patients who were allowed to carry out the complete arrangements with very little assistance of guidance from staff members. It was staged as a means of conveying thanks to a number of people from outside the hospital who have assisted in many new activities now provided for patients in mental hospitals. Guests included clergy, groups of volunteer workers from Penetanguishene and Barrie, staff members, who have gone out of their way to assist in recreational activities, the press, and others. 

After operating its own police force for eight years, Tiny Township council stated, it is still not convinced it is being treated fairly by provincial authorities. Council expressed the feeling the job should be in the hands of the Ontario Provincial Police as it was 10 years ago. The matter came up for considerable discussion at council meeting Tuesday night when Reeve Montcalm Maurice and Deputy-reeve Doug Holt said they had learned other townships with summer resort areas were being patrolled by OPP at a cost far lower than what Tiny is paying its own force. At the present time officers from the Elmvale OPP detachment patrol the eastern part of the township, including the beach area along Clearwater and up through Sawlog Bay. Council is petitioning the Attorney General’s Department for a hearing in an effort to secure OPP services for the entire municipality.

Members of RCSCC “Huron”, Midland, did a good turn recently by giving the flag-pole at Huronia House Museum a badly-needed paint job. Getting ready to hoist flag are, left to right, Fred Guthe, Bill Bannister and Hans Lorenz ( Hans Lorenz died in Vietnam while serving with the American forces, he was buried in Lakeview cemetery. An American military honour guard attended.). 

Department of Lands and For­est park planning division branch chief, A. Wheatley ad­dressed Wednesday’s Zone 3 meeting, of the Georgian Bay Development Association, at the Wasaga Beach community hall. Mr. Wheatley traced the de­velopment of the Ontario Pro­vincial parks system since its inception in 1953. “In the 400,000 square miles and 250,000 lakes of Ontario all types of topography are found. Our more than 80 parks attempt to preserve a portion of each region unspoiled by man. Just as the explorers and fur trad­ers would have seen it.” Mr. Wheatley explained.  “Naturally, this requires a large area no less than 500 square miles. Of course, we have many smaller fragments of land donated to us from the government or private sources,” he continued. Relating the importance of a vital parks system to encourage tourist trade, Mr. Wheatley singled out Ontario’s oldest park, Algonquin, founded in 1893. “Algonquin lies within a four hour trip from Toronto, yet it is virtually untouched by man. Tourists don’t want a commer­cial, civilized-forest; they look for woodland in a natural state. Statistics prove Lands and Forests Judgment is the correct one, he said, “Park licences and users fees pay 80 per cent of field operating costs. For the 1961 season we had 6,215,000 visitor entries, about a 300 per cent jump in five years. “Camping has soared even more phenomenally. A 520 per cent camping permit increase over the same five-year period brought the 1961 figure to 862,000’’, he said. “There’s no need to spell out what that means to Georgian Bay businessmen in dollars and cents,” he concluded.

June 18 was a red letter day for Mr. and Mrs. David McGrattan, Eighth Street, Midland. It was their 60th wedding anniversary. All but eight of those 60 years have been spent in the brick home which Dave built for his young bride in 1910. Although the area all around is well built up now, it was on the edge of the bush in those days. It was natural it should be built of brick, for Mr McGrattan learned the brick-laying trade shortly after he came to Midland, some 74 years ago. He worked on many homes and other buildings in Midland as well as his own. Now 86, Mr. McGrattan was born in Dungannan, Huron County. He lived in Wingham and Owen Sound for brief periods before coming to Midland. Mrs. McGrattan, the former Bertha Elizabeth Jane Lyle was born in Coldwater. She also lived in Victoria Harbour for some years prior to her marriage to Mr. McGrattan, June, 18, 1902. The couple have two sons, Harold, of Orillia, and Jack, who resides in Kingston. They also have three grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. McGrattan are members of Knox Presbyterian Church. 

Hulks of the Tecumseth and Tigress were subjects of many photos taken by a group of American weekly editors when they visited Fort Penetanguishene Museum during a tour of the town last Friday. One is shown here being photographed along with museum guide. 

We do not have the negative of the group clipping above but do have this image that did not appear in the newspaper. Can you identify anyone? 

Midland Plastics Fire of Undetermined Origin
Free Press Herald Headline of Wednesday June 27, 1962 

Sheets of flame and a towering pillar of smoke seen for miles were the visible effects of a blaze of unknown origin at Midland Industries Limited, Monday night. Consequences of the damage are hard to estimate. “Overtime to make up for the losses is an impossibility as we are already working at full capacity of three shifts,” said Lin Love, Midland Plastics general manager. The blaze was confined to stockpiled sections of plastic hose outside the plant. Called to the blaze about 8 p.m., firemen had nearly an hour and a half’s work before they were able to leave. Children playing in the area may have been the cause of the fire, officials said. Most of the hose damaged, ranging from a half-inch up to two inches in diameter, was piled in a yard on the north side of the Elizabeth Street factory. 

Junior county judge of Simcoe County since 1959, Judge Donald Forsyth MacLaren, 62, died in Royal Victoria Hospital Barrie, Monday. A Barrie native, where he served as alderman and later mayor. Judge MacLaren served in two world wars with Grey and Simcoe Foresters. He retired with the rank of major after World War II. 

A well-known retired Midland school teacher, Miss Hazel Healey died at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Monday morning. Funeral service, conducted by Rev. J. L. Self, was held in Knox Presbyterian Church at two o’clock this afternoon. A native of Parry Sound, Miss Healey, at an early age moved with her parents to Midland. She obtained her teaching certificate at Peterborough Normal School, and began teaching at the Waverley Public School. She taught In Midland Regent School from 1920 until her retirement in 1960. Miss Healey was a past president of the local teachers’ council and held various offices in the local Women Teachers’ Association. She was an active member in many activities at Knox Presbyterian Church, and also was keenly interested in the Midland Canadian Club and the work of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Miss Healey, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Healey and is survived by two sisters. Miss Noreen Healey, Midland, and Daisy, Mrs. Garland Poole, Peterborough. A brother, Charles, predeceased her during the first World War. Frank Bray, chairman of the Midland Public Schools Board, said “She was considered one of Midland’s best teachers. The death of Miss Healey is a not only a great loss to the teaching profession, but also to the town of Midland. 

Both the Huronia Museum and the Indian village reported excellent attendance during the month of June, and especially in the past week. Jack Bridges, Indian village official, said that the 984 people who visited the village, Monday, were only 102 short of the previous record of 1,086 persons in one day. The attendance for Tuesday was 860. Mr. Bridges said, school groups from the north, south, east, and west parts of Ontario have visited the village, as well as groups from the United States. Individuals from foreign countries, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and yesterday from Belgium, have been attracted by the authentic Huron village. Besides school groups, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Cubs, and organized women’s groups have visited the historical site. At the Huronia Museum, the attendance for this year is 700 ahead of last year. The figure for the month of June so far this year is 3,745. 

With school nearly over until September, officials have expressed satisfaction with the way the Midland public school safety patrols have operated since their inception in January. Above, Terry Turner captain of Bayview School patrol is presented with a pin by Norman Crane, Ontario Motor League representative in this area. Similar pins were given patrol members at all five Midland schools in appreciation of their work. 

No doubt the effective operation of its school safety patrol had much to do with the return of Elmer, the safety elephant, to Bayview Public School last week. Sgt Ernest Bates (right) is seen with the 17 member patrol following the presentation. At rear is principal William Barnett. Ontario Motor League representative Norman Crane is at left of the picture. [Front row, L to R, Doug Atkinson, Terry Turner, Pat Neil, ?, David Banks. 2nd Row, Norman Crane OML, ?, Rob Stanway, Pat Dion, Brian Scott, Dan Carson, Staff Sgt. Ernie Bates. 3rd Row Marvin English, Pat Blanchard, Ted Carlton, Dave Weatherall and Buster Gibson. Back row; ?, Bill Barnett school principal, ?. Names supplied from a museum Facebook enquiry.] 

Missing since he had reported drowned in the early morning hours of May 18, the body of Louis Gignac, Penetanguishene, was recovered near the mouth of Penetanguishene Bay, Sunday afternoon. Police Chief Jack Arbour said he had been informed a cottager, A. Black had found the body floating In the water near Sucker Creek at the north­easterly tip of Midland Point, around noon. Sgt. Blake Ball and Const. Wm. Mohan of the Victoria Har­bour detachment OPP, were called and they picked up the body. The spot where the body was found is in the general area where his six companions had said he disappeared when he slipped from the deck of a boat. According to information giv­en by police at the time of the drowning, the seven men had been on an evening cruise and were returning to Penetanguishene in Gignac’s 26-foot cruiser when the accident occurred. 

Editorial page photo entitled; “Shaded Cottage at Sturgeon Bay”. 

TEN YEARS AGO
The biggest spring grain movement since the end of World War II employed 600 North Simcoe workmen, moving 500,000 bushels a day. About eight trainloads of 40 cars each left Midland and Port McNicoll for the ocean ports of Montreal, Sorel and Quebec. * * * Sgt. Lomer A. Brasseur, RCHA, Penetanguishene, arrived home from Korea for a 60-day leave. Sgt. Brasseur, a World War II veteran, was serving with a 25-pounder, tractor drawn artillery unit. Several district soldiers were in his troop. * * * Thunder Bay cottagers breathed a sigh of relief as volunteer firemen received their first fire engine. The second-hand 1948 pumper was bought by Paul McNamara with cottagers and permanent residents agreeing to repay him. * * * W. A. Robinson. M.P., announced a $99,200, 150-foot extension would be tacked on to the Penetanguishene federal dock system. The third and final stage of construction was heralded as a great boost to all southern Georgian Bay ports. * * * Tiny township high school district was dissolved. Pupils from the area were absorbed into Midland, Penetanguishene or Elmvale high schools. * * * Fort Penetanguishene, Officer’s Quarters received its first school visit when Miss A. Magnus escorted her Penetanguishene Protestant Separate School Grade 4 and 5 students through the recently opened museum. * * * For the season opening of Huronia House, North Simcoe’s Indian and pioneer museum, Midland, CNR executive A. J. Lomas unveiled a finely-wrought scale model of the steam locomotive “Toronto,” first engine to travel between Toronto and Simcoe County in 1853. * * * Ontario Department of Lands and Forests constructed a weather and forest-fire prediction station at Coldwater. The new station became headquarters for the Severn River district. * * * More than 300 delegates of Canadian Legion Ladies’ Auxiliaries, Zone 6, met in Coldwater. Delegates from Allis ton, Angus, Barrie, Brechin, Beeton, Creemore, Collingwood, New Lowell, Midland, Stayner, Orillia and Coldwater attended.  * * * Capping ceremony for the first class of Grey Aides was held at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland. Mrs. G. E. Bundy, superintendent of nursing, served as instructor for the seven graduates of the two-month course. 

For the first time, the 1st Midland Girl Guide Company has first class badge holders’ in its midst. At the mother and daughter banquet, June 20, Mrs. J. E. Lawlor, Area Commissioner (right) presented the badges to these four girls; (left to right) Louise Parker, Barbara Galt, Brigit Neuman, and Sharon Stelter. 

Stay off the tracks!! Sad story.
Mrs. Florence Cutting, 67, and her husband, Arthur, 70, were walking across the 250-foot long railway bridge at Severn Falls when the train came along. They were only a few feet from the end of the bridge when Mrs. Cutting was struck. She died almost instantly. Mr. Cutting managed to jump off the bridge to a gravel bank, many feet below. He sustained a broken arm and other injuries. The couple had recently purchased a cottage at Wood s Bay, near Port Severn, along with a new motor boat. Mr. Cutting was to be retired on pension in a few  weeks and the couple was looking forward to holidays at Severn Falls. Mr. Cutting was taken to St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, for treatment to injuries received and was permitted to leave for home  Monday. 

$30,000 for MPDHS Possible in New Grants
County Herald headline of Friday June 29, 1962 

District ratepayers will get more value for their education dollar as a result of increased per pupil grants announced Tuesday by Premier J. P. Robarts. This was the opinion expressed yesterday by R. C. Gauthier, principal of Midland – Penetanguishene District High School, commenting on the premier’s increased secondary school grants. “If education costs remain static ratepayers could well ex­pect a reduced mill rate for MPDHS, but the savings in part will be offset by increased sal­aries, operation and construc­tion costs, the principal explain­ed. It is estimated that MPDHS will get at least $30,000 from the province under the new grant policy. The province will increase per-pupil grants for secondary academic students from $5 to $30 a year.”  Area ratepayers can’t do anything but profit from this arrangement. Of course, it’s too soon to tell just what the extra benefits will be,” the principal said. Grants for technical students rose from $30 to $40. “For us this will affect 125 students en­tering technical courses in Grade 9 in September. In addition, all commercial students are subject to the in­crease. We have 100 in Grade 10, 50 in Grade 11 and 65 enter­ing Grade 12 this fall,” he commented. 

More than 150 parents and friends saw a class of 45 Grade 8 students graduate from Parkview Public School, Wednesday. Students filed to the centre of the stage and received their diplomas from Harold Wilcox, public school board member, assisted by J. B. Yelland, vice-principal. Before the ceremony incoming Home and School Association President, Mrs. L. M. Joiner introduced guest speaker R. C. Gauthier, principal Midland – Penetanguishene District High School. In answer to his question as to how many students intended to graduate from Grade 13, Mr. Gauthier noted a showing of more than 40 hands. However, he pointed out, “Only eight of you will get past Grade 12 and only three will graduate from Grade 13. Why is there so much difference between your intentions and the results?” he asked. Mr. Gauthier cited “conformity” as one reason. Most of us like to conform to the 95% who don’t get there,” he said. “Such people,” he stated, “are like a ship without a crew. They have no goal. Every day repeat to yourself what you want to be,” he advised. Bud Laity entertained with two solos, Tommy Lad and Daddy’s Little Girl. He was accompanied on the piano by Kathy McElroy. 

Graduation night brought a number of special awards to Parkview Public School pupils. In this picture, Mrs. C. L. Weckman presents Home and School Association merit awards to John Wilcox and Glenda Stewart. 

In this picture, John Yelland presents Y’s Men’s Club leadership awards to Anne Delaney and Ralph Battrick. 

Although hundreds of thous­ands of gallons of water have been poured onto a burning swamp in Penetanguishene, the flames appear to be dampened little, and continue to smoulder under the surface. The fire is burning in a swamp area between the railway tracks and the bay. Town officials are apprehen­sive that children might get into difficulties if they happened to stray into the area. Reeve Alf. Cage said this week he could well remember when the area had burned a number of years ago “It left deep holes that could swallow a man, where the fire burned under the sur­face.” he said. This particular area is pretty much sawdust filled from saw­mills that operated here years ago. The fire is apparently smouldering in the buried saw­dust. “I don’t think it will be entirely put out until the winter snow comes.” Mr. Cage said. 

The Financial Post in a re­cent article advises that Can­adian Curtis-Wright Ltd. has offered to buy all outstanding shares of Midland Foundry and Machine Company from Elmer M. Shaw for $650,000. Purchase price is made up of $250,000 in cash and 400,000 CC-W shares at $1 a share.  Recent market price: 99 cents. Shaw may exercise the offer between January 1, 1963 and February 28, 1963. The agreement pro­vides that 90 per cent of the 400,000 shares issued will be re­tained for one year from date of issue, 80 per cent for two years and 70 per cent for three years. At present, CC-W and Mr. Shaw exercise joint control over the Midland firm. CC-W has paid $100,000 for the land and buildings in which the business is conducted and is leasing the properties to Midland Foundry and Machine. 

Nobody plays too close when Midland Flyers’ big Bob Grier is at bat. The big pitcher flied out to the center fielder on this attempt in the game against Civil Service at Town Park diamond Wednesday night. 

Editorial page photo titled; Bell Tower View From St. Ann’s Church 

Despite heavy rain showers, workmen continued right on with Midland’s long-delayed paving program last week. Above, the paving machine is putting the finishing touches on the Russell and Robert Street corner.