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. 

Freak Line Storm Lashes North Tiny Beach Area
Free Press Herald headline from Wednesday July 11, 1962. 

Dozens of boats were reported damaged on the west shore of Tiny Township when a furious line storm struck that area about mid-Sunday afternoon. Rain, hail, and extraordinarily high winds ac­companied the storm as it raced across the country­side in a narrow swath. Hardest hit were Highland Point and Penetanguishene areas. Indications are that the storm was approximately 400 yards wide when it raced in off Nottawasaga Bay at Wahnekewing Beach where boats were said to have been tossed like nut­shells. 

Many ancient trees in the Wanekning Beach area west of Penetanguishene fell a cropper to Sunday’s short but violent windstorm. This one came to rest against a cottage owned by A. M. McNamara of Windsor. Directly across the road, another tree put a big hole in the roof of a cottage owned by P. G. McNamara, RR 3, Penetanguishene. 

Trees in town, as well as in the park, were not spared by the storm Sunday. Half of this huge old elm crashed down in the yard of Rolf Litchenfeld, King Street. Fortunately it landed squarely between two houses and no great damage was caused. This occurred late at night, long after the original storm. 

Two Midland women received severe face and head injuries when these two cars collided at Firth’s Corners, one mile west of Midland, last night. A third car, not seen in the picture, was also involved but sustained only minor damage. Most seriously hurt were Mrs. Mac Perrin, driver of one car, and Miss June Hansford, a front seat passenger, both of Midland. Miss Hansford was thrown through the windshield and sustained severe head and facial lacerations. Mrs. Perrin suffered a broken jaw and lost a number of teeth. Another passenger in the car, Mrs. Elsie Puddicombe, riding in the back seat, escaped with minor bruises. Miss Hansford and Mrs. Puddicombe were being driven home from the Brooklea Golf and Country Club where they were employed by Mr. and Mrs. Perrin. 

Temperatures that soared into the 90’s Sunday afternoon proved anything but a boon to South Simcoe Baseball League officials in staging their second All-Star game in Midland Sunday afternoon. The defending champion Midland Indians thwarted the All-Stars’ plans for two straight wins by coming up with a 5-3 victory. All-Stars had won the first game last year by trimming Alliston Braves, the 1960 champs, by an 8-3 margin. League officials had hoped for a crowd of 500 or better to boost their injured player fund. But the heat and high humidity sent many fans to the beaches, or other cooler spots, and only about 300 turned up at the game. Despite the humid atmosphere and a brief rain and wind storm midway through the affair, the fans were treated to a tidy tussle between playing coach Gord Dyment’s Indians and 17 players chosen from the other 12 teams in the two-section league. 

Midland Indians proved poor hosts Sunday afternoon when they defeated the South Simcoe League All-Stars 5-3 in the second annual “dream game”. Discussing ground rules in this picture are Indian manager Gord Dyment, umpire Ted Watson, All-Star manager Dean Heliotis and umpires Bob Grier and Lloyd Patton. 

There were really two All-Star teams in action in the South Simcoe Baseball League “dream game” in Midland Sunday, judging by the results. Defending league champions, Midland Indians scored a 5-3 win over the All-Stars chosen from the other twelve teams in the wide-spread league, shown here. Hot weather kept attendance below expectations. 

There were some near misses, and not a little confusion at times, as these members of the 1st and 2nd Midland Girl Guides’ companies tried for their bosuns’ badges at Little Lake recently. 

These eight girls are up to their ears in kids these days as they help look after the more than 400 children signed up for Midland Y’s Men’s Club’s summer program at Little Lake. Left to right are; front row — Mary Lou Graham, in charge of crafts; Betty Jean Watkinson, games, and counsellors Barbara Dalrymple and Gudron Mandler; back row — counsellors Betty Ann McCullough, Judy McIntyre, Eden Morrison and Wynne Gilmore. 

 We included this promotion list because it reminds us of what a one-room school was like. All grades in one class, one teacher and every child of one household attending the same class every day. Seven families made up the 23 students at Mount St. Louis.

Midland householders will have to keep their garden hoses dry for a few more days yet, Public Utilities Commission secretary-manager Stewart Holt told this paper yesterday. Any use of a hose by house-holders was ordered discontinued Friday when officials became alarmed at the low level of reserve ponds in the reservoir area in the north-west section of town. All-time record pumping figures hastened the decision. 

Hydro Rate Cut?? We may never see that again!

UP BOOK BUDGET TO MEET COST HIKE
County Herald headline of Friday, July 13, 1962. 

   Increased textbook costs for the 1962-3 school year posed a budget problem for Midland-Penetanguishene District High School Board, meeting Wednesday night. “We face a jump of 30 per cent on all books bought this year yet our budget of $2,500 remains the same. In most cases students can buy textbooks second hand, but cost to the student is bound to rise,” admitted MPDHS Principal Ray Gauthier.    Principal Gauthier in his monthly report listed percentages of failures throughout the school. In Grade 9, 67 of 288 students failed for a rate of 23.26 per cent. Grade 10 had 38 failures in 237 students for a failure percentage of 16.03. There were 45 failures among Grade 11’s 178 students. The failure rate was 25.28. Grade 12 recorded 28 out of 147 students, or 19.04 failures. Overall failure rate was 20.94 per cent, up from 16.1 last year. On the other hand, 17.79 per cent of pupils had honour standings. “From a drop-out rate of 12 per cent for 1958, double the provincial average, we have dropped to 7.1 per cent this year,” Mr. Gauthier reported. 

Midland will have gobs of gobs — navy, that is — for the next eleven days. (An Old English meaning of the word gob is “a sailor.” ) The tars — 140 officers and men — comprise the crew of HMCS Victoriaville which pulled into Midland harbour last night and officially docked this morning. She will leave Midland July 23 at 9.30 a.m. The 301 by 37-foot Canadian Navy vessel is one of several RCN ships which carried out gunnery practice on Georgian Bay earlier this week. (Sailors became known as Jack Tars because of their clever use of this natural gooey substance to waterproof things. The name Tar, in this context, dates back to the 17th century and is short for ‘tarpaulin’ which in those days meant a seaman.) 

Tiny Township School Section No. 14 at Wyevale will have doubled its present capacity by the end of this year, according to Jack Brock, one of the trustees. At a recent public meeting, ratepayers of the section agreed to the additional expenditure. According to Mr. Brock, the new construction will include two classrooms, a new heating system and new washrooms. Estimated cost for the work is $53,000. Mr. Brock told Tiny Township Council that the enlarged school would, if found necessary in the future, be big enough to accommodate an area school. 

Jim Neilon, Victoria, B.C., proves that the big ones don’t always get away. He is shown here with his niece, Kathryn Bourgeois, holding the head of an 18-pound catfish he caught in the Muscosh (as spelled in the paper) district recently. Mr. Neilon is currently visiting his sister Mrs. Lionel Bourgeois of Midland. 

One of the men who is pleading for peace between the Saskatchewan government and doctors of that province is Father Athol Murray, remembered by many citizens of Penetanguishene. Now 70 years old and famous for his work in establishing Notre Dame College in Saskatchewan. Father Murray held his first post as a priest at Penetanguishene. He came to this town as assistant to Father Brunelle after being ordained at Scarborough. Father Murray is credited with much of the organization work behind the 1921 Old Home Week when numerous historical plaques were erected around the town, and a ceremony was staged commemorating the end of the war between Hurons and Iroquois. The venerable priest is also credited with having developed the original idea of the donation of a pair of angels which today stand at the south entrance to town. 

Midland firemen got a long run Sunday morning when they were called to the farm home of Orval Truax in Tay Township, near Waverley. Burned was a shed containing a number of chickens and ducks. A fireman is seen here trying to put out a large pile of firewood which also fell prey to the flames. 

Model home on Noreene Street built by Beaver Lumber and this photo was used in an advertisement announcing an open house Saturday and Sunday, July 7 & 8. Mortgage as low as $56 per month.  [This house burnt around 2018 but was rebuilt.]  

July is the month for pruning your Christmas trees, announc­ed Arthur W. Leman, district forester, in his weekly Lake Simcoe district report. “Pine trees generally grow too fast to produce well balanc­ed, bushy specimens unless they are pruned.” he said. “In each of the first two grow­ing seasons pines normally grow six to 10 inches. But in the third growing season, the major­ity start to stretch out and grow as much as 18 to 20 inches. This is too much growth. A 10 to 14 inch growth per year and proportionate side branch growth will produce well shaped trees at six feet. One man can shear 50 to 80 trees an hour. Pruning should be carried out annually to maintain a conical shape until they reach marketable size.” forester Le­man advised. [Pruning Christmas trees was hard work but a good source of summer income for many North Simcoe young people.] 

A Tay Township man was in Penetanguishene police court, July 5, and was fined $25 and costs for creating a disturbance. OPP Const C. W. Boone told the court he had found the man on County Road 6, June 23, on his hands and knees in the middle of the road praying. His actions were obstructing traffic, the officer said. He also told the court the man had been drinking.

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. 

Fire Razes Log House Family of Nine Homeless
Free Press Herald headline of Wednesday July 4^th, 1962. 

Mr. and Mrs. Frank York and their seven children were left homeless when flames completely destroyed their house on Penetang Road yesterday afternoon. Late yesterday they did not know where they were going to spend the night. Passing motorists helped them rescue a few items of furniture from the lower floor of the home. Other than that they saved nothing but the clothes they were wearing at the time. The house, one of the few log structures still standing in the area, was said to be the oldest left on the Penetang Road. Some persons watching the blaze estimated it to be well over a century old. Members of the family said the fire started from an over­heated stove which was being used for preserving. They said flames leaped up the wall in seconds and within minutes temperature in the house was too high for humans to enter. 

Just like Paris, Rome and other European capitals, Midland had a sidewalk cafe atmosphere, if only for a brief time Friday. Lawn in front of St. Paul’s United Church, provided the setting for the customers, who gobbled up huge quantities of strawberry shortcake, ice cream and tea. 

Twenty-two people from across Ontario and into the United States are digging, scratching, whisking, and attending lectures this week and next at the Uni­versity of Western Ontario’s 10th Summer School of Indian Archaeology at Penetanguishene. A staff of five, along with a number of outside lecturers will give the group a run-down on the value of archaeology in pre­serving the history of Canada. Arriving at the school head­quarters in Fort Penetanguishene, Monday morning, the students were quickly given a word-picture of what would be expected of them during the two-week period. Monday evening the students and staff were entertained at a dinner at The House of Kitchikewana. Hosts for the dinner were Penetanguishene Chamber of Commerce, with president George Kerr, and other execu­tive members attending. Tuesday morning the stud­ents really got down to the digging part of the course, working at the Forget Site south east of Wyebridge. By Tuesday afternoon they were already unearthing a wide variety of artifacts. Probably the most successful group was the one working in the site of the dump of this ancient Indian village. Pipe stems, animal teeth, fish scales, bits of pottery, and near com­plete pots in broken sections were being turned up. 

Probably the happiest lot of people in the area following the holiday weekend are those owning busi­nesses around the beaches. The crowd of touring vis­itors, according to these people was greater than in many years past. There is some suggestion that devaluation of the dollar coupled with the lowering of the value of the duty free amount which visitors may bring back, and the provincial sales tax, contributed considerably to the unprecedented influx. 

Winners of the L. C. Armstrong scholarships for Grade 8 students at Port McNicoll public school were presented with their awards Friday. Left to right above are Mrs. A. McCullagh, member of the school board, Lyle Thorpe, principal, Nancy Kelly, who placed third, Paula Saar, first, Sheila Cavanaugh, second, and Raymond Belanger, board chairman. 

This happy sextet from Regent School are (left to right) Joy Morrison, winner of the IODE award for highest standing in history, Robert Guthe, senior boy award winner, Wendy Short, senior girl award winner, Ian Dalrymple, winner of Y’s Men’s leadership award, Linda Russell, senior girl sports award, and William Jory, senior boy award winner. 

At Bayview Public School graduation, June 27, this group formally left elementary school. The exercise, attended by more than 200 people, was held on the front lawn of the school. Two former principals of the school, James Robinson, and Miss E. Wagg, addressed those present. 

35 YEARS AGO – 1927
Despite crackling Interference a few radio pioneer fans listened in to flier Charles A. Lindberg’s New York reception. He flew from New York to Paris in the “Spirit of St. Louis” in 33 hours, 29 minutes. U. S. President Calvin Coolidge greeted the aviation hero. * * * The Ontario government announced plans to build a government-owned radio station at Orillia. A branch station at Guelph was to air agricultural reports from the Ontario Agricultural College, while Toronto supplied music and feature entertainment. * * * Midland-Penetanguishene Diamond Jubilee celebrations carried on for three days. July 1, 2 and 3 in celebration of Confederation. The Midland program started with floats and parades. Row boat, canoe and swimming competitions staged at Little Lake Park. Baseball, races, tug-of-war and field day sports took place at the town park. A community street dance climaxed celebrations.  A $1,500 purse in gold was the stake on the half-mile horse racing track at Penetanguishene. A horse show followed the races. * * * Midland CNR station agent Angus McNab released 200 pigeons for a marathon 450-mile flight back to their home in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The birds were given water before they were set free. They headed south in a flock. * * * Midland’s first radio station, CKPR went on the air from 12 noon to 7:30 p.m., featuring news, music and stock reports. The station operated on 267.7 metres at 1120 kilocycles. * * * Simcoe County council, meeting in Barrie, approved a $1,000 grant for publication of a booklet and construction of a publicity booth at the 1928 Canadian National Exhibition. All communities were asked to cooperate in presenting the most attractive aspects of Simcoe County to prospective tourists. * * * A charter to build a new Midland arena was granted. With $50,000 in capital raised through stocks, the company bought the old skating rink property owned by G. Georges and architects set to work preparing blue-prints. 

 

Girl Guides of 1st and 2nd Midland companies tried tests for their bosuns’ badges at Little Lake last week. Some of them are seen here watching Dr. Peter Brasher and Frank Spence, of the Midland Power Squadron, tally up the results. 

“Gone Fishin” 

Sports were not forgotten at the annual grade eight graduation exercises held at Midland’s Parkview School last week. Here John Soden, left, presents field day trophies to Jim Roduck (centre) and Keith Tippin. Jim broke a number of public school records at a recent meet. 

Federal Building Project Nears Bid Stage
County Herald headline of Friday, July 6, 1962. 

Discussions at a joint meeting of Midland council, the planning board and parking authority revealed Wednesday night the proposed federal building Dominion Ave. and First Street is still a very much alive project. Earlier, fears had been expressed that the new post office would be shelved indefinitely by the government’s decision to lop off some $200 million in public works projects as an austerity measure. 

The current tenting fad is anything but popular with Midlander’s whose properties border the Little Lake Park tent area, a Free Press survey indicates. Following the Dominion Day capacity crowds, residents along both Yonge and Mildred Streets, whose back yards adjoin the tent site, complained of overcrowding, according to Tim Nesbitt, a Mildred Street home owner.  “Tents are right against our back fences. There is not nearly enough sanitary equipment. The three original buildings were set up as far back as 1938. Tenters have no place to throw their dishwater and as a result disease-carrying hordes of flies are drawn to the area,’’ Mr. Nesbitt explained. Dave Finch, Parks board chairman, said the disagree­ment was all a “misunderstand­ing’’. The board “agreed to limit the tenting space and the dispute last weekend occurred because of a misunderstanding between the board and park superintendent, Harold McAl­len.” he said. Chairman Finch said in the future no tents would be allowed beyond an old road running parallel to Mildred Street and about 15 feet back of the fence line. Anthony Borysek, a Yonge Street resident proposed a 40 to 50 foot no man’s land be­tween the tenting area and his fence. He thought an 11 o’clock curfew would eliminate “sing­ing and drinking parties”. “I have no serious complaint to make. My children have left toys out in the yard and nothing has been stolen. The tenters are very nice people, Mr. Bor­syek stated. 

Midland council Wednesday night passed a motion hiring the Canadian-British Engineer­ing firm to proceed with spec­ifications so that tenders may be called for proposed repairs to the town-owned arena. “The important thing about the arena,” said Mayor Charles Parker. ”is to decide on how you are going to finance it, and get the necessary approval for spending the money”. “We can’t ask the department for approval until we have the designs to place before it,” said Alderman Walter Woods. He claimed it is “the utmost importance” to get the arena operational as soon as possible. The building has not been used since the end of the skating season. “The building cannot go through another winter in its present state,” said Reeve Arthur Argue. He expressed coun­cil’s thanks to J. E. Lawlor for work already carried out at no expense to the town. “The arena provides basic re­creation in this town” said Al­derman Fred Horton, pointing out the great number of hours it is used for Little NHL and minor hockey. 

Safety is the keynote of the Y’s Men’s Club’s program, particularly where water is concerned. Tacking up a few posters are left to right, David Seaton, who is in charge of the swimming classes, and assistants Colin Hamer and Klaus Meier. 

These are busy days again at Midland’s Little Lake where the Y’s Men’s Club’s summer program is in full swing. Above, counsellor Eden Morrison conducts a senior crafts group while program director Dave Docherty looks on.Learning to swim is still the main object of the more than 400 children, including 120 from Victoria Harbour at Little Lake. One of the instructors is seen above giving a group of the smallest tads their first instruction in the art that may one day save their lives. 

Getting to the school on time, every day of the year, was no great problem for these Port McNicoll youngsters, all of whom boast perfect attendance at the public school during the 1961-62 term. Left to right are, front row — James Richardson, Kenneth Young, Rinalo Succitelli, Stephen Lawson, Susan Young; back row — John Sekleski, Mrs. A. McCullagh, member of the school board, Ann Crosato, principal L. Thorpe, John Lever, Wayne King and board chairman Ray Belanger. 

July 2nd, fifty years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Spencer (nee Elizabeth Leduc), Lindsay Street, Midland, were married in Port Severn Roman Catholic Church. On their golden wedding anniversary, the couple who have six children, and 13 grandchildren say that not too many people celebrate a fiftieth anniversary and this was a big event in their lives. Story same page. 

Model home on Noreene Street built by Beaver Lumber and this photo was used in an advertisement announcing an open house Saturday and Sunday, July 7 & 8. [This house burnt around 2018 but was rebuilt.] Mortgage as low as $56 per month. 

Now that the holiday season is here, guides at numerous historical sites in the Midland-Penetanguishene area will have their hands full conducting groups such as the one above, at Old Fort Ste. Marie. Fort Penetanguishene and the Indian Village and Huronia Museum in Midland are other meccas for the tourists.

Getting to Midland’s Wireless Hill district is much more pleasant now with the completion of paving on portions of two streets. Motorists will no longer have to dodge pot-holes on three blocks of Johnston Street. A small roller works near the curb on a section of Robert Street. Work was done by Miller-Anderson Paving.

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.