Day Five

Day Five
The first Photo and the caption below appeared on page 1 of the Midland Free Press on March 13th, 1959. The other photos were taken the same day and were not published. A tow truck from Petroff’s garage in Victoria is being used to move the slabs of ice. The ice is incredibly thick for the middle of March. It is unclear whether or not this ice was placed in the CPR Icehouse which can be seen on the opposite side of the slip, nearest the the end. In several of the photos a boat or barge is visible between the end of the slip and Methodist Island. Perhaps a tug or icebreaker.

Tractor mounted snow blower clears the snow beside the CSL freighter “Hochelaga” in front of 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.

Corrections and additional information is apprciated.

Photos courtesy of Huronia Museum (Free Press Collection) With thanks to Tom Barber.

Day Four

Day four
“The United States Coast Guard ICEBREAKER MACKINAW WAGB-83 is known as the “Queen of the Great Lakes” and “The Largest Icebreaker on the Great Lakes”. She was built as part of the war effort during World War II to meet the heavy demands of war materials and transportation during the winter months.
Decommissioned in 2006, she now resides at her namesake home of Mackinaw City, Michigan, and is open for public tours, educational tours, overnight encampments and group events. Informative displays and tour guides will tell you the story of the Mackinaw’s 62-year career of breaking ice on the Great Lakes and serving as a goodwill ambassador throughout the region.”
Source: http://themackinaw.org/
The USCG Mackinaw WAGB 83 is seen here in March of 1955 breaking ice in the slip. The Mackinaw also visited Midland and other Georgian Bay ports. Note the Helicopter on the stern deck.
Any additional information or corrections are greatly appreciated.
Photos courtesy of Huronia Museum (Free Press Collection)

Day Three

This is my third attempt at a historical photo every day until the Port McNicoll 100th Anniversary Celebrations.
This is 4tth Ave in 1911. Beaty’s Drug Store is nearest Main (Talbot) Street. The awning above Mr.and Mrs Beaty reads Souvunirs and Tobacos. The ads on the southern wall are for Na-Dru-Co toothpaste, produced by the National Drug and Chemical Company of Canada and Dante’s Inferno, a silent movie made in Italy, which we can assume was playing at the movie theatre in town. Scott Garrett has previously noted that the theatre was called The globe, perhaps this was an earlier incarnation?
I have included a link to Dante’s Inferno below. It is the worlds oldest surviving feature film.
https://youtu.be/iS4We4MDheg
The Elmhurst Shoe Store is seen with Mr. Elmhurst standing in the doorway. A large black boot hangs over the door to help lure those who didn’t read English.
Please don’t hesitate to suggest corrections or additional information.
Photo courtesy of the Huronia
Museum