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Week of Jan. 28 – Feb. 5 has been proclaimed “Cross Canada Hockey Week” at the request of the CAHA, OHA, and OMHA. One of Midland’s OMHA teams, the juveniles, is seen above with Coach Frank Swales. They meet Hamilton here Tuesday night. The OHA intermediate Red Wings play host to Orillia Merchants Thursday night as part of the same hockey week. The motto chosen for the week is “Bring your boy to see a game”. 

Despite the advent of radar and other recent inventions, sending messages by the signal lamp is still an important part of the training of all sailors. Men above are studying for first or second mate’s tickets at Midland Marine School. Left to right are Al Desjardins, Port McNicoll; J. Jones and Al Hansford, Midland; Don Heidman, Parry Sound; G. Glover, Midland, assistant instructor; Fred Bingham, M. MacIntaggart and T. Courtemanche, Midland, operating both navigation and engineering divisions, the school is sponsored by the vocational guidance committee of the MPDHS board. 

Avoiding collisions at sea is uppermost in the minds of all mariners. Four budding great lake’s masters are seen discussing a typical problem with Capt. Malcolm Kennedy, left, chief instructor at the Midland Marine School. Others are, left to right, Ken Guthrie, Elmvale; Allan Hurlbut, Midland; Albert Purvis, Gore Bay; and Carl Yeo, Port McNicoll. Mr. Hurlbut is studying for his mate’s (home trade) ticket and others for master’s (inland waters) papers. 

Mrs. Eileen Peters, left, holding the Justice Carl Stewart Trophy for best director, and Ken MacEachern, with the best supporting actor award and last year’s festival trophy for the best play, will defend their laurels at the third inter-school drama festival in Barrie next weekend. An MPDHS entry won the best play award two years in succession. 

 

“Hurry up with that tape”, said Peter Steele, left, and Ralph Ironside, right, as Jim Wilcox gets his stick ready for the recent game. The boys are members of Midland’s juvenile Canadiens who meet a Hamilton team here Tuesday night as a feature of “Cross Canada Hockey Week”. There will also be bantam and juvenile games to round out the big evening. 

Goalie Bill Gray gets some help from Bob Hendrickson, left, and Ron Marchildon as he dons the heavy armor of his trade. The boys are members of Midland’s juvenile Canadiens who meet a Hamilton team here Tuesday night as a feature of “Cross Canada Hockey Week”. There will also be bantam and juvenile games to round out the big evening. 

 

The new chief of Midland’s People’s Store is Andre Norris, right, who succeeds Jean-Paul Fecteau. Married and with one son, Richard, aged five months, Mr. Norris worked for the company at Kitchener and St. Hyacinthe, Que., prior to coming to Midland. Mr. Fecteau, who has been in Midland for 3 1/2 of his five years with the firm, takes over as manager of a store in Grandmere, Que. He moves there with his wife and two children early in February. 

Outstanding progress in 4-H Homemaking Club work won the Women’s Institute County Scholarship for Barbara Strath of Saurin. Mrs. James Bell of RR #3 Coldwater, who made the presentation at Achievement Day in Elmvale Community Hall Saturday, is chairman of the W. I. scholarship committee. Clara Amos of Mount St. Louis won the scholarship last year. 

 

Unbeaten this season in five games, MPDHS’ senior basketball team is reviving hopes for at least a Georgian Bay group title this season. Talking things over with coach Bill Setterington are, left to right, front row, “Red” Nicholls, John Maher, Mr. Setterington, Bob Megaw, Martin Reynolds; back row — Ed Trudeau, Lloyd Farquhar (captain), Ron Blair, Ralph LaRue, Henry Gouett, Guenther Raibach and Jim Farmer, team manager. 

Trying to keep Ron Blair from potting baskets has been a big headache for other teams in the Georgian Bay COSSA group this season. Ron has potted 101 points in five games for a 20 point per game average. Guarding the MPDHS sniper in this practice session is team captain Lloyd Farqhuar. Looking on are Marty Reynolds, left and Ed Trudeau. 

“Cheese”, said this happy group at the 4-H Homemaking Club Achievement day held Saturday in Elmvale Community Hall. Mrs. G. R. Lane right, area president of the Women’s Institute, presented county honour certificates for completing six homemaking club projects to, left to right, Janet Stewart of Vasey, Joyce Ingleton of Saurin and Anne Phillips of Allenwood. 

This public service announcement is from March 1937.

Can not resist adding a couple of oldies, again from 1937.

• The County Herald headline January 24^th, 1958; Say County CAS Revenue Could Hit $331,000.00 Mark   If its hoped-for revenue comes through, the Simcoe County Children’s Aid Society will receive $331,000 in 1958. After wiping out its 1957 deficit of $20,030.00 (which includes a deficit of $11,314 1 built up in the accounts payable to other societies) the CAS will have $311,000 to spend during the coming year.
• The Free Press Herald headline January 29, 1958; Say P.M. to Announce House Dissolution Today A reliable source informed this newspaper yesterday that Prime Minister John Diefenbaker would call for the dissolution of Parliament sometime today. The prime minister has indicated in recent addresses, both inside and out of the House, that the date was not too far off when he would ask Governor-General Vincent Massey to dissolve Parliament and call for a general election. Present representation in the house is as follows: Progressive Conservatives, 113; Liberals, 104; CCF, 25; Social Credit, 17; others, 4. Returning Officer J. P. McNamara told this newspaper yesterday that lists of enumerators for the preparation of voters lists have been prepared, and those listed have consented to act.
• County Herald Headline January 31^st, 1958; Commission Backs Hikes in Hospital Ward Rates.    Increases in ward rates at St. Andrew’s Hospital, recommended by the board in November 1957, have been approved by the Ontario Hospital Commission, St. Andrews Hospital Board was informed at its meeting Monday night. The ward rate increases range from 50 cents daily for standard wards of more than four beds to $1 per day for two-bed semi-private wards. They become effective Feb. 1. The four-hour session was the second the newly-elected board has held since the crisis meeting of Jan. 20.
• “It would take a new world war to open the Midland Shipyard again.” This is the conclusion of industrial committee chairman Harvey White, as stated in the annual report of the Midland Chamber of Commerce. “There appears to be no intention whatsoever on the part of the company to operate the yard here,” he said.  He said the chamber’s industrial committee had attended numerous meetings with respect to the deliberations and negotiations for re-opening the yards and made two trips to the company’s office at Collingwood on the matter.
• These students will be the Year Book Staff for I958. Editor, Marie Gignac; assistant editor, Sheila Armstrong; French editor, Annette Ducaire; business manager, Red Nicholls; assistant business manager, Romeo Lalonde; photographer, Bob Scott, (Camera Club committee); special event, Joan and Nancy Somers; chronicles, Janice Edwards, Helen Parker; girls’ sports, Ann Maher; boys’ sports, Bob Popple. Feb. 15 is the last date for material.
• Last Friday the Hironae Hi-Y held a club party chaperoned by Pat Perrin; club advisor, and Ernie Cowden. (I wonder who was supervising those two)
• Midland council is making specific application to the Canadian National Railways for a lease of the property on the west side of Midland Bay where Midland yachtsmen have indicated they want to establish a yacht basin and mooring facilities.
• Twenty Five Years Ago This Week, 1933— A. B. Thompson, M.P., officially opened Midland’s new government warehouse at the town’s waterfront. The new warehouse and a dock completed some months previously were part of a program to improve harbor facilities. * * * The town of Midland was offering a six percent discount on taxes paid prior to Feb. 15, 1933. The discount decreased by one-half percent, per month up to August 15. * * * A new member of Penetang’s 1933 council, in a one-man economy wave, suggested that the town’s police force be reduced to one constable. He estimated that by such a move the town would save $1300 annually. * * * One-time house painter and street sweeper Adolph Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany. Chancellor Paul von Hindenburg, then in his eighties, acceded to the pressure of the Nazi movement to end his nation’s political impasse. * * * District barbers announced they were reducing the price of haircuts from 35 to 25 cents. Other indicators of the price levels of the time were advertisements offering men’s two trouser suits at $15, men’s broadcloth shirts at 49 cents, women’s cotton housedresses, 79 cents. * * * Two Lafontaine residents, Walter Chevrette and his son, Alcime, left Cedar Point about 4 a.m. one morning and headed across the open water for Collingwood in a rowboat. Bucking a storm; the craft started to leak and finally sank in six feet of water. The two were able to make their way to shore by clinging to some boxes which were in the boat. They landed at Collingwood lighthouse where they were given shelter.
• A shortage of pocket money on a harvest excursion to Western Canada in 1898 was the starting point of an adventure which blossomed into a romance, culminating in a 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Penetang earlier this month. The golden wedding celebration was that of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Fitzgerald who were married Jan. 8, 1908, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. When Mr. Fitzgerald admitted he was a native of Guelph, Ontario, and that his wife had been born in Portage la Prairie, he was asked how the couple happened to get together. It was then he told the tale of having embarked on a harvest excursion to western Canada in 1898. Price for the trip to Moose Jaw and return was $10, and young A. L. Fitzgerald started out with hopes high, and very little money in his pocket. By the time the train reached the Manitoba town he had run out of money and decided he would have to stop and get a job. Looking around Portage la Prairie, he obtained work in a hardware store at the munificent wage of S35 per month. But “Fitz,” as he is affectionately known now in Penetang, was destined for higher things, and it wasn’t long until the opposition hardware across the road offered him $75 a month. During his stay in Portage, he met the girl who, five years later, was to become his wife. However, in the meantime, Fitz was not too satisfied with his lot in the hardware store, and he struck out with a partner to Grandview, about 150 miles north, where the pair went into the hardware business on their own in 1903. Grandview, at that time, was at the end of steel. During five years in business there, things did not go too well for the partners. Wheat grew tall and beautiful on the prairies, but in every one of those years, frost ruined the crop before it could be harvested. In the meantime, Fitz decided to get married and the young couple found it impossible to carry on with the $65 monthly he was drawing from the store. When the arrival of a youngster became imminent, Fitz decided he would have to do something to increase his financial position, and he sold his hardware interest after securing a position with a Winnipeg wholesale firm at $100 monthly. He was travelling for this firm, maintaining headquarters in Portage la Prairie, when four years later he was made sales manager. Later he became a director of the company as well as a stockholder. The firm was eventually purchased by Marshal Wells, an American company, in the early twenties. Then Marshal Wells bought out the stove foundry in Penetang in 1922, they persuaded Fitz to go there as manager on a five-year trial basis. “And I’ve been here ever since” he concluded his   Asked how she, a western girl, has liked Ontario, Mrs. Fitzgerald said, “I have never regretted coming to Ontario. I love it here.”
• Value of building permits issued in Midland in 1957 was the second highest since 1950, according to figures released by F. W. Turnbull, the building inspector. The total value of permits last year, $748,650.00 was exceeded only by 1954, when the figure reached $1,334,725.00. The new St. Andrews Hospital accounted for much of the latter figure.
• At year’s end, 82 business firms were listed under the group insurance plan of the Midland Chamber of Commerce, states committee chairman W. H. Pinchin in the chamber’s annual report. He said that for handling about $20,000 in annual premiums, claims, correspondence, and payment of benefits, the chamber office receives a commission from the Great-West Life Assurance Company which, in 1957, amounted to more than $1,800.
• International and national problems may hold the spotlight for most people, but there is a segment of the population with their own particular crisis, old-timers who find they cannot buy chewing tobacco which has been their standby for generations. Popular brands of plug tobacco have been almost non-existent in this area since last fall. There are some scores of men in this area who have made a habit of chewing tobacco instead of smoking, dating back to the era of the lumber mills when smoking was banned on the premises.

Click on photos to enlargeThere is good news for skiers this week in the announcement that Midland Ski Club will operate for the rest of the season. The 600-foot tow is expected to be back in operation this weekend. Club members were busy Wednesday getting the new chalet in shape to handle both local and visiting skiers’ needs. 

We have posted this picture in the past but it needs another look. The view is to the NE from the slope of the Midland Ski Resort west of Midland. At the foot of the hill are the old and new ski chalets. Hidden in the tree line can be seen highway 27 to Penetang and beyond the Simcoe Elevator on the left and the Dominion Ave. water tower to the right. The property along the tree line will become the site of the Mountainview Mall.

Bell buoy from Georgian Bay, sitting out the winter on the Midland dock, frames the busy tug Bayport as it clears a channel in the bay for movement of grain-laden ships. The Bayport’s activities extend around the bay to Tiffin and Aberdeen elevators and as far as Port McNicoll, some five miles away. Movement of grain from the elevators has been brisk in recent weeks after many idle months.[Perhaps some knowledgeable sailor can tell us the meaning of the word or words “JAW LOG” on the buoy’s anchor.] (On April 23, 2020 we are told by Jim McKean, son of F. K. McKean, district agent for the Department of Transport in Parry Sound, that it actually says “Sawlog” indicating the buoy for Sawlog Bay.)

With three boy’s and two girl’s basketball teams in action this season the MPDHS cheerleaders get lots of opportunities to display their talents in the new gym. Judy Bellaire, Gail Richardson, Marion Lavigne, Jean Brown, Carol VanLuven, Mary Lou Brissette and Lucille Duquette. 

 

A crowd of 350 turned out on Monday night to elect a new board of directors for St. Andrew’s Hospital and discuss problems facing the hospital. The meeting was held in the auditorium of the new municipal building. The previous board had resigned.

Nearly every organization in Midland was represented at the emergency meeting which discussed St. Andrew’s Hospital problems and choose a new board. Members of the Phiat Club, a YMCA group, get a close-up view of the statistics surrounding the emergency. Lorna Edwards, Marion (Deeton) Lemieux, Donna Bertrand and Marjorie (Hornsby) Wiles. 

The new board of St. Andrew’s Hospital is seen following its election at a special meeting in Midland’s new municipal auditorium Monday night. Seated, John Burke, Dr. E. A. (Ed) Grise, Frank Spence, Mrs. Bruce Holt. Standing, Ed Mechan, Gordon Moss, Bill Cranston, Walter Kluck, Douglas Haig and R. B. Moffatt. 

 This highway was completed in 1959 and was known as the Highway 400 Extension. As you can see the plan was to build from Coldwater to Gravenhurst, the route to Gravenhurst was surveyed but never constructed.

Inaugural meeting of the 1958 Midland Public Schools Board. Front, W. A. (Bill) Hack secretary, Chairman Frank Bray and Mrs. H. McIntyre chairman of the management committee. Back row, Jack Thompson chairman of property, Harold Wilcox, John Burke and Frank Whiteman. Mr. Burke and Mr. Whiteman are new to the board and replace Tim Nesbit and Dr. J. S. Corcoran. 

Another in the safety photo series that ran in the newspaper. This is King Street South just in front of the cenotaph, what a beautiful street it was!

• The County Herald headline from January 17^th, 1958; Ontario’s Chief Coroner Probes J. Clark’s Death.   Provincial Chief Coroner Dr. Smirle Lawson was called in yesterday morning to conduct a post-mortem on Midlander John Clark, who died in a Toronto hospital about 9:30 p.m Wednesday. Chief Cameron said at 11.15 a.m. today that Eric Rankin would be charged with manslaughter, as a result of Clark’s death, on the advice of the Crown Attorney. Clark’s injuries were received in a tussle between him and Eric Rankin at the Rankin taxi office about 1 a.m. Tuesday, after the two had allegedly had an argument over a wristwatch which Clark had pawned, Sgt. Wainman said. Police said they had received signed statements from Eric Rankin and two eyewitnesses, Stewart Bath, jr., and Clarence Chapman. The last two named accompanied Clark to the taxi office.
• The Free Press Herald headline from January 22^nd, 1958; New Board Puts Hospital on Pay-as-you-Go Basis   Drastic action to strengthen the financial position of St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, and ensure its future operation was taken Monday night by the newly-elected board. St. Andrews is to be put on a pay-as-you-go basis, effective immediately, on a plan adopted by many other hospitals in Ontario. Bills will hereafter be rendered weekly.  Cash payments will be required for all services not covered by approved insurance plans. Persons not covered by hospital insurance will be required to pay a $40 deposit on entry to the hospital, to be applied against future bills. Should the $40 be in excess of the expense incurred, the difference will be refunded on discharge. This is to remain in effect until the provincial hospital insurance plan is implemented. Unmet campaign pledges, amounting to some $25,000 toward the cost, of the $825,000 building, will be reviewed.
• Midland Ski Club has made arrangements to resume operation of the regular ski hill and expects to have a 600-foot tow in operation this weekend. For the time being at least, the big jump, owned by Midland Ski Resorts Ltd., will remain idle. President of the ski club, Ray Smith said yesterday the new chalet will also be made ready and a snack bar put in operation for this weekend. The chalet, an excellent building, was the former community hall in Little Lake Park. It was dismantled and moved to the ski club site last spring.
• Indications gained from a survey of hotel operators in the area are that more people than ever plan to visit Penetang winter carnival, which this year has been named “Penetang Winterama”. All available accommodation in the town itself has been booked by reservation for the duration of the three-day event which is scheduled for Feb- 21, 22, and 23rd.  Phil Robitaille, the manager of Hotel Brule, said he is at present looking farther afield in search of accommodation to which he may send reservations which keep pouring into his office with each mail.
• Obituaries; Funeral service was held for Irwin Cook who died unexpectedly while working at Midland Flour and Feed Store, King Street, Midland, Jan. 8. The service was held Jan. 10 at A. Barrie and Son’s funeral home and Envoy Thompson of the Salvation Army officiated at the service. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery Chapel. Pallbearers were Gordon Gillespie, Jack Gillespie, Ken Cook, Gordon Cook, Fred French and Richard French. Mr. Cook was born in 1903 at Jarratt Corners and was educated at Craighurst. In 1943 he married Ann Stewart at Elmvale. He had worked in the milling business. * * * * Mrs. John Kissock, 53, died Jan. 8 at her home 395 Russell Street, Midland. She had been in failing health for the past three years. Rev. J. L. Self conducted the funeral service held Jan. 11 at Nicholls’ funeral home. Pallbearers were Logan Cruise, Claytus Cruise of Midland; Gordon Perry, Kenneth Astridge, Douglas Astridge of Barrie, all nephews; and Joseph Ball of Midland. Mrs. Kissock was born April 29, 1904, at Oro Township and educated at Mitchell Square. The former Kathleen Margaret Earnhardt, she married John J. Kissock at Oro Township Nov. 11, 1922. Mrs. Kissock is survived by her husband; daughter Ethel (Mrs. Thomas Bates) of Midland; and sons Arnold of Penetang, Newton of Oshawa and Ross of Midland. Another son, Lloyd, was killed in a car accident in Midland in 1953. * * * * Following a long illness Mrs. William Borrow of Severn Park died at Penetanguishene General Hospital Dec. 31. The funeral was held at the Waubaushene Catholic Church. Pallbearers’ were Etley Lovering, Frank Wellman, Claude Bolyea, Cecil Robinson, Charles Doyle, and Peter Gouett. Mrs. Borrow was the former Elizabeth Mary Gouett and was born at Waubaushene Sept. 13, 1899. She attended school in Waubaushene and resided in St. Catharine’s for a number of years. She was married to William Borrow at Midland, Nov. 21, 1918, and had been a resident of Matchedash Township for 37 years. Surviving is her husband and a son, Stephen Borrow of Coldwater. * * * * Funeral service was held Dec. 27 for John Bellisle who died in Penetang General Hospital Dec. 23 following a long illness. The service was held from St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church in Penetang and, temporary entombment was in St. Ann’s Cemetery Vault. Rev. C. Robitaille, assisted by Rev. J. Marchand and Rev. Norbert Gignac, celebrated the high mass. Pallbearers were Gerald Bellisle, Larry Bellisle, Gerard Bellisle, Wallace Lacroix, A. Ladouceur and Patrick Marcelle. Mr. Bellisle was born June 18, 1907, at Penetang, where he was educated there. On Sept. 23, 1941, he married Gladys Moreau at Penetang. He had always resided in Penetang and was a butcher by trade.  He is survived by his wife, two sons and one daughter, Roy, Neil and Ruth. Also surviving are four brothers and two sisters.
• With the advent of natural ice in Penetang Arena, a number of teams which have been travelling to Midland for games are now playing on their home ice.
• These are the people who have been voted to the Student Council for the season of January 1958, to January 1959. President, Anne Hamilton; secretary, Sue Quinlan; treasurer, Tom Marr. Doug McMillan, Glen Bell, Ed Trudeau, Ken Ball, Girard Marchand, Carol Cowan, Carol Van Luven, Bev Scott, Rodney Rankin, Betty Ann McCullough, Dale Smitham, Rosemary Shields and Elizabeth Cook.
• Help Wanted Applications are invited for the position of Truant Officer, for the Midland Public Schools, part-time basis, salary $2.50 per call, minimum $250.00 per annum. Further particulars may be obtained from the undersigned. WM. A. HACK, Secretary-Treasurer, Midland Public School Board.
• Midland’s “new-look” Little NHL, with the number of teams, cut to four in all but the junior “B” section, proved pretty evenly matched last week, with one exception. Possibly they should have put Bobby Clayton in a section by himself. In any event, he scored five goals for Guelph in a junior “A” game as the Biltmores thumped Kitchener 6-1. Dion got the other Guelph goal, matched by Kitchener’s Larmand.

Click on photos to enlarge

Note that nearly every negative this week shows severe damage due to their age and years of storage where temperature and humidity were not controlled.

Erected at a cost of $17,500.00 by Rei Construction Co. of Midland, this new one-room school serves pupils in school section No. 3, Baxter Township. It is located on the Trans-Canada Highway about six miles north of Port Severn. (The building still exists as a private home on the old South Bay Road just off of White’s Falls Road.) 

Brand new school house for S.S. #3, Baxter Township, has only eleven students, but it can seat around thirty when the area expands. Front row, Martin King, Earl White, Teddy King, Billy White, center, Linda King, Johnny White, Beverly King, back row, Paul White (son of the teacher Mrs. Herb White), Kenneth King and teacher, Mrs. Herb (Ada) White. Not present when the photo was taken were Peter and Bobby King. 

When the Free Press photographer was visiting the new Baxter school in the previous photos he turned his camera east for this view of Little Go Home Bay looking from the new #103 Trans Canada Highway across to King’s Farm Rd. 

 Another in the Safety Photo series.

Suzie Sutton and Freddie Hacker are handling the shovels at Little Lake Park, clearing a spot for skating.

A look even further back to some interesting spring 1936 ads from Penetang. 

Mrs. Flora Brown, nee McKinnon, who was 93 years old on January 2nd, has lived in Victoria Harbour for 66 years. Miss Brown was born in Manilla, Ont. January 2^nd, 1885, two years before confederation. Her father, the late Angus MacKinnon, was a hotel keeper by vocation. This must have come in handy for he had to provide room and board for eleven children in addition to himself and Mrs. MacKinnon. At one time flora lived in Beaverton where her teacher was Alexander Muir, the composer of the “Maple Leaf For Ever”. [The newspaper always cropped these photos down, often just to head and shoulders, it is interesting to see the furnishings, wall and floor coverings of 60 years ago.] 

Two impressive additions to Midland’s winter fleet are the Paterson and the Senator of Canada, docked at the Midland Simcoe Elevator. The “Senator”, brand new this year, has a capacity of around 500,000 bushels. The “Paterson” launched in 1955 holds 425,000 bushels. Both are members of the Paterson Steamship Lines.  [Great Lakes bulk carriers, such as Algoma Marine’s MV John B. Aird, can now carry a million bushels of wheat.]

Nancy Murday, space traveling on her flying saucer in Little Lake Park recently. Space traveling Nancy Murday may not have contributed much to Western science but she did have a good time on her flying saucer in Midland’s Little Lake Park recently. It was the kind of cold, sunny day that paints red apples on young Canadian cheeks. 

 

Two rinks from the Midland Ladies Curling Club will represent District 4 in Ontario Ladies Tankard competition in Collingwood Thursday when they meet Owen Sound. Skipped by Mrs. Del Hastings and Mrs. Ray Trew, the two rinks had eliminated Barrie and Orillia in games played here last Wednesday. Front, Mrs. Bert Megaw (Fran), Mrs. Del (Marjorie) Hasting, Dorothy Trew and Mrs. Ernie Nicholson. Back row; (unknown?), Val Green, Mrs. Karl Bertrand, Mrs. Keith (Leah) Bertrand. 

 

The Unsatisfied Judgement Fund was set up in Ontario under the Highway Traffic Act to provide financial relief to innocent victims of motor vehicle accidents. The Fund provided up to 300,000.00 in compensation and the government often sued the Unsatisfied Judgement driver for amounts it paid beyond that. The driver’s licence was also revoked until the judgment was satisfied. The Fund allowed those that could not afford insurance the ability to drive a car in Ontario. When you purchased your vehicle plates you either provided proof of insurance or purchased the Fund which as you can see in 1958 cost $5.00. It has been replaced by the Motor Vehicle Accident Claim Fund.

 

• The County Herald headline for January 10^th, 1958;  Experts from Ottawa to Inspect Harbour and Yards.  Efforts of the District Employment Committee toward the reopening of the Midland Shipyard and the development of Midland harbour paused this week awaiting an inspection visit by two representatives of the federal Department of Transport. The visit was promised as a result of the Midland delegation’s trip to Ottawa Dec. 19, where the advantages of Midland’s harbour and shipbuilding potential were outlined to department officials.
• The Free Press Herald headline of January 15^th, 1958; Board Ups Phone Rates,  Hikes Average 33 Cents.  An increase in telephone rates for Midland, Penetanguishene, Port McNicoll, Honey Harbour and Waubaushene citizens has been authorized by the Board of Transport Commissioners. H. A. Kilroy, manager of the Bell Telephone Co. for this area, said the new rates would become effective Jan. 31. For Midland subscribers, the increases will amount to 10 cents a month for a two-party residence telephone; 20 cents for one-party residence lines; 40 cents monthly for one-party flat rate business service; and 25 cents monthly for two-party business service, he said. In Penetanguishene, the hikes are as follows: 10 cents per month for two-party lines; 20 cents monthly for one-party residence service; 35 cents monthly for one-party business service; and 20 cents monthly for two-party business service.
• The condition of Guy Johnstone, critically wounded in a hunting accident near Honey Harbour Dec. 27, is reported to be considerably improved. Dr. E. A. Grise said yesterday that he was very encouraged with the progress the young Midland teacher was making. He said Guy had to undergo further surgery earlier this week when he started to hemorrhage
• There were quiet celebrations during the holiday when the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Hopkins, Bay Street, was observed. Christmas Day in 1907, the Hopkins was married by Rev. J. Elliott at the home of the bride’s parents. Mr. Hopkins has been confined to bed for almost two years and Mrs. Hopkins has had several coronary attacks, so entertaining was kept as informal and quiet as possible. Attendants for Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins were his sister, Lavina Hopkins and her brother, the late William Ney. Mrs. Hopkins was born Maud Ney in Medonte Township July 1, 1887, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Ney. At an early age, she moved with her family to a farm on the outskirts of Port McNicoll, now owned by Maxwells.
• On Jan. 4 Tony Quigley and his brother-in-law Bill Henderson, an employee of Canadian Tire Association, were playing cribbage. Bill scored a perfect hand of 29. He had three fives and the jack of clubs in his hand and the five of clubs was turned up.
• Natural gas will be distributed in Midland in the spring of 1959, a representative of Consumers’ Gas Company told Midland council Monday. The gas will be at system-wide rates, he said, selling for the same price as in Toronto, Barrie, Orillia and other centers.
• 25 Years Ago This Week 1933 – Clarence Kemp of Wyebridge was elected worshipful master of Midland District LOL at the annual meeting in Wyebridge. George Hurl of Midland was elected deputy district master. * * * Penetang council was informed that during 1932 a total of $24,000 had been spent on relief. The federal and provincial governments contributed $16,000 of this amount.  * * * Coldwater defeated Collingwood 3 to 2 in an intermediate hockey game, played at Coldwater. The Villagers scored the winning goal after six minutes of overtime and while the team was one man short. * * * Two Penetang women killed an 18-inch garter snake which they spotted crawling along Church Street.  * * * United Farmers of Ontario planned to submit a protest to the federal government over the government’s failure to complete a barter deal with Soviet Russia. Russia wanted to exchange oil for livestock.  * * * Rev. John Davidson, 95-year old Presbyterian, and United Church minister, died at the Coldwater home of his daughter, Mrs. T. D. Park, following a brief illness. * * * Simcoe County ended 1932 with a current deficit of $77,406. * * * Sir Malcolm Campbell was on his way to Daytona Beach, Florida, with his reconditioned racing car, Bluebird. He hoped to break his existing speed record of 250-miles per hour.