Author: Tom

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – August 8th to 15th, 1957

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Click on Photos to Enlarge Five Girl Guides from Latin American countries stopped to visit Guiders in Waubaushene on their way to a World Camp of Girl Guides at Doe Lake, Huntsville on August 1st. The girls are seen on the lawn of Mrs. Alvin Tucker, Coldwater District Commissioner of Guiding. In checkered dress is Mrs. J. H. Killoran of Waubaushene, divisional commissioner for North Simcoe and Parry Sound. Also seen are Mrs. Raymond Harwood and Mrs. J. Steele. 

So successful was their venture over the holiday weekend, Midland firemen plan to operate their sight-seeing tours of Midland each Sunday from now up to and including Labor Day weekend. On the back of the old fire truck, which provides the motive power for the jitney are Chief Arnold Tippin and Irwin Jackman. In the bus are Earl Allsopp, Dalton Jennett, Art Murday, Hank Woods, Mac. Perrin, Phil Blake, Jack Small, Fred Grigg, Jack Argue, Pete Staruck, Jack Pardon, Doug Martin, Harry Howard, Harold Hamilton and Dave Hudson. 

Maybe Adam and Eve weren’t too badly dressed, after all, judging by the size of the leaves on this fig tree in Ed Fox’s Midland greenhouse. A cluster of the pear-shaped fruit can also be seen on one of the branches. The tree will bear three crops this season, rather than the normal two, Mr. Fox said. 

 In this photo are TWU Local 1033 President Harold Keefer, Richard Contois, Jack Moreau and Frank Koenig, union financial secretary. Other local union officers are Eli Gauthier, recording secretary, and Mrs. Ixma Foster, shop steward.

 About forty-five employees of Bay Mills Ltd., Midland, went on strike Wednesday at noon. Some of the workers are shown standing beside a placarded car on Fourth Street. They are Ed McMann, Raymond Wright, Vic Dalziel, Robert Fortin, Kay Lambie and Ron Keefer. 

 

 

Veteran residents said the parade staged by Midland businessmen as part of the summer carnival events held over the holiday weekend was the best seen here in many years. One of the groups which attracted a lot of attention was this group of children from the Eighth and Ottawa Streets area of Midland. Mothers of the kiddies worked long hours making authentic Robin Hood costumes, and others volunteered their services as baby sitters while the mothers worked on the project. 

Attractive float in the summer carnival parade in Midland on the Saturday of the holiday weekend was this one carrying members of the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford. The group has also been appearing at the Huron Indian Village in the park. Known as Martin’s Indian Troup the members are Gordon Martin, Shanty Johns, Alex General, Jacob Henry and Mrs. Martin. Young girl in front is Loy Hill. 

 The Grand opening of Laurin’s Service, King and Yonge Streets on August the 16th, formerly Wilford’s Service Station.

  • The headline for August 9th, 1957, County Herald; Textile Workers Stage Strike In Grievance Dispute With Firm. Walk-out Enters Third Day. While some 45 employees of Bay Mills Ltd., who left their jobs in the Fourth Street, Midland plant, Wednesday, still remained on strike last night, company officials had wired the Canadian director of their union to instruct the workers to return to work without delay. TWUA Rep Ruggles will arrive today. Local union officials said the strike was called “to clear up five grievances” which employees felt “should have been reviewed more than a month ago.”
  • The headline for August 14th, 1957, Free Press Herald; North Simcoe Man Dies As Big Airliner Crashes. John Wallace, 67, of Sturgeon Bay, died in a plane crash near Quebec City Sunday. Seventy-nine died in the crash, worst in Canada’s air history. Mr. Wallace was popular with fellow army veterans, friends made in fraternal and other organizations, through the course of his long service with the CNR, and during his years of residence in Toronto, Winnipeg and at Sturgeon Bay.
  • Following the development by the Ontario government of the Severn River area, hundreds of new cottages have been built, 600 of them in Six Mile Lake area alone, in eight years.
  • Fred Trautman of Pittsburgh, who is vacationing at Cornell’s cottage on Gloucester Pool, has been holidaying on the Severn for 50 years. In 1907 he started coming on holidays with his father who was a member of the Mordolphton Club, a group of Pittsburgh businessmen who for a period of years had headquarters where Severn Lodge is now located. Another long-time Pittsburgh organization, the Iron City Fishing Club,  celebrated its 75th anniversary at Sandy Beach, near Moon River last August.
  • (Editorial) More and more U.S. network or filmed shows are replacing Canadian productions on the CBC programming. And with them goes perhaps the last slight justification for public ownership of our broadcasting facilities.
  • (Want Ad) Six room Insul-brick house 3 miles from Midland, with or without 2 acres of land. Close to school. Protestant family preferred. Apply Box 609, Free Press Herald, Midland. (Protestant family preferred, how things have changed, haven’t they?)
  • 25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 1932 — Midland’s King Street was thronged with people attending the Kiwanis Club Karnival, which was preceded by a monster parade. Charles Hill, a century-old veteran of the American Civil War rode in a buggy in the procession. * * * The Canada Steamship Lines freighter “Saskatoon” docked in Midland with a 174-ton cargo of sugar. It took 11 hours to unload the cargo. ** * The new Welland ship canal, construction of which was begun in 1913:, was officially opened August 7 by Lord Bessborough, governor-general. The Midland built, CSL freighter Lemoyne broke the ribbon at the Thorold lock. * * * Waubaushene ratepayers extended a vote of confidence to the school board and teaching staff and commented on the excellence of entrance examination results. * * * Robert Orr of William Street, Midland, brought in a king-sized head of lettuce to the Free Press office. The head measured 20 inches high and had a circumference of four feet. * * * A serious outbreak of leaf hoppers was causing considerable damage to Ontario potato crops. Early potatoes in the northern part of Simcoe County were seriously hit. * * * Midland businessmen sponsored a tourist week, featuring special values in the stores, a “Lamp Post Quartet” contest, a swimming meet, boating, diving and greased pole competitions. The week’s events were to be climaxed by a torch procession on the water. Merchants had offered numerous prizes to winners of the events.
  • A Boy Scout troop has been organized by a group of Christian Island boys. They are one of a few in Ontario. The new troop, which now gives the island reserve both Scouts and Brownies, was officially registered last week as the First Christian Island Troop. In charge of the 18 boys was Scoutmaster Walter Black, a school teacher on the island, and Fred King, an Indian youth, as ASM.

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – August 1st to 7th, 1957

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Click on Photos to Enlarge 

Snow in August in North Simcoe seems preposterous but here it is pouring out of the mouth of a snow making machine at the Midland Ski Hills Resort. About 260 tons of ice were used to make the necessary snow for the three-day event. 

He soars through the air!  Look close to see contestant in the air during this summer ski jumping competition that involved professionals from Canada and the U.S.A. over the holiday weekend. This scene was repeated many times over the course of the three-day event.

 Jacques Charland, Canadian ski jumping champion, left, and Art Tokle, U.S. champ, pose with Sonia Sauvageau, Mrs. Charland and Renee Sauvageau, all of Three Rivers Que., in 90-degree heat in front of the Midtown Motel. 

Dr. P. B. Rynard looks on while Mrs. Jacques Charland kisses her trophy winning husband at the recent International Ski Jumping competition at the Midland ski hill. Jacques has been the Canadian champ for the last four years. 

Ten boys and two girls completed the swim across Little Lake August 1st. Enrolled in the Y’s Men’s summer playground program, each will receive a medal in recognition of the accomplishment. Back row; Terry Maher instructor; Barry Follet, Port Credit; Gary Allen, New Lane N.Y.; Jim Cleaver, Midland; Jack Newkirk, Akron Ohio; John Mitchell, St. Catherines; Bob Corby, Oshawa. Front row, Gordie Hurrie, Mimico; Ann Morris, Toronto; Elizabeth Cleaver, Midland; Murray Rich, Swansea and Brian Morris, Toronto. Average time was about 40 minutes. 

A view looking up King Street from the town dock in 1957. The photo was used to show how quiet the street was before the big holiday weekend parade and ski jumping competition. The parade is to form up near the CNR station, process up King, left on Yonge, south on Midland Ave. to Ellen and back down King Street. It is assumed the photographer got this angle from an upper deck of the cruise ship South American. Also in the photo is the Midland CPR freight shed with two boxcars on the siding, the Midland Foundry building, the boat launching crane near the small boat slips and the snack bar. 

Always popular with the young fry, the midget wrestlers proved Monday night they had lost none of their drawing power. Surrounded by their admiring fans who are waiting for autographs, are Little Beaver facing the camera, and Red Eagle, the chap with the feathered head-dress standing in the corner. The bouts are sponsored as a fundraiser by Midland Minor Hockey Association. 

This old church at Waubaushene has been a landmark on the shore of Georgian Bay for many thousands of summer visitors and generations of local citizens. Called Waubaushene Memorial Church, it is used on alternate Sundays for Anglican and United Church services. Well kept, the church is of wooden construction, as befits its early history in the days when Waubaushene was a great lumbering centre. (Although used by multiple Protestant congregations the original name of Waubaushene Memorial Church honoured the memory of Theodore W. Buck, the general manager of the Georgian Bay Lumber Company who died in 1881, the year the church was built.) 

 The entrance to the new Flos and Medonte Community Park on the south shore of Orr Lake may not always have two such pretty greeters as Dorothy Majuery, 22, left, and her sister Marion, 16. Daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Majuery, Georgetown, the girls said they like the new park “very much.” This is the first year the Majuery family has rented a cottage at Orr Lake but they are almost certain to be “repeaters.” 

  • The headline Friday, August 2nd, 1957, County Herald; Say Ski Meet Invasion Likely 40,000 Strong. Ski club official yesterday estimated that the weekend influx of visitors for the summer carnival in Midland and the ski jump competitions in Tiny Township would hit the 40,000 mark. He based his estimate on the number of persons already in the area on holidays, motel reservations, expected visitors accompanying the ski jumping competitors and transient visitors drawn here by the summer event, unique in Canada. Yesterday afternoon, a check of motels in the area revealed that all were “booked solid” for the weekend. Chamber of Commerce officials said at a late hour yesterday they still had accommodation for between 500 and 600 persons in private homes, comprised of 38 regular tourist home listings and 98 who have made rooms available to help accommodate the anticipated influx.
  • The headline August 7th, 1957, Midland Free Press; Sees Water Problem Acute By Fall, Charges Expert’s Advice Ignore. Victoria Harbour Councillor Theo Bernard contends that a serious situation exists in the village water system and claims it will become even more acute unless something is done to rectify the trouble before the freeze-up comes. Mr. Bernard said a special meeting of Victoria Harbour Council will be held Thursday night to discuss the He charged that while the council is aware of the condition, most of its members are ignoring advice offered to them at their last meeting by consulting engineer Stuart Keyes of Orillia.
  • Brain-child of the Simcoe County Conservation Farm Committee, the new Flos and Medonte Community Park on the south shore of Orr Lake is already attracting many visitors —and much favourable comment. The layout of the park is in itself unique. It is actually the 66-foot road allowance that forms the line between the two townships. It was part of the old Penetang Road survey of more than a century ago. Arriving daily from the Conservation Farm in Medonte, groups of men cleared the brush and some of the larger trees, burned the brush and branches, brought in more than 1,000 yards of sand fill, built and placed 10 picnic tables, 20 benches, toilets and dressing rooms for both men and women. A well was sunk and a pump installed, providing spring water for park users. More than a hundred tons of rocks were hauled to form the base for a small dock, a float, complete with diving board, was placed in the water, which also has a roped off area for small children. There are also swings and teeter-totters for the kiddies — or even those merely young in spirit. (The park is still in use, 1957 photo below, looking north.)

  • The efforts of Grew Boats, Penetang, to build safety into small pleasure boats were displayed in water tests carried on in the slip at their plant Wednesday. For some time, the Penetang company has been striving to put a small boat on the market which would be unsinkable without adding materially to the overall weight. Extra flotation for the 16-foot outboard craft is being provided by one of the new modern materials named “Styrofoam” — a new plastic development in which a small quantity of liquid plastic is blown into a large “pillow”, trapping millions of tiny air cells. A 15-foot fibreglass boat with this new material installed under the bow decking was sunk in the slip. It floated with the gunwales just above the water level. In this position, a man stood on the deck with no appreciable change in the boat’s position. Demonstrating the amazing buoyancy of this new material one of the workmen took a piece measuring approximately three feet by 18 inches, six or eight inches thick and floated it on the water. He was able to stand on it without getting his feet even damp. (Grew had invented the paddle board and didn’t realize it.)
  • Attaching no blame to anyone in the death by drowning of two-year-old Patricia Buchan in Hog Bay last Saturday afternoon, a coroner’s jury in Penetang yesterday recommended licensing of boats and motors. The verdict, read out by Coroner Dr. T. Weldon, so far as it concerned boats, was: “We strongly recommend that all small boats be licensed so that boats will not be overpowered nor be allowed to carry a larger load than the construction of the boat will allow.” At the time it turned over, it was carrying the two men, their wives and the child. The power plant was a 35 h.p. motor. Wm. Campbell admitted the boat was not licenced when questioned by Crown Attorney Wm. Thompson. Touching on testimony that Mrs. Buchan was the only one wearing a life preserver, the chief recommended that these should be worn at all times by all persons in high-powered boats.
  • Gerald Dyer, a farmer on Con. 2 Tiny Township, died at Wymbolwood Beach Wednesday evening after he suffered a seizure while swimming in Nottawasaga Bay. Mr. Dyer’s son, David, was with him at the time and found it impossible to pull his father from the water. He ran shouting for help, and after the 63-year-old man was brought to shore. Dr. D. J. Patchell examined the man. Midland firemen worked on him for about an hour with an inhalator. According to Tiny Township police, Mrs. Dyer was also nearby at the time. Police are trying to contact another son who is believed to be working somewhere in the north, and have enlisted the aid of radio stations to relay the word of his father’s death. Married to the former Alice Lyons, Mr. Dyer farmed on Con. 2 for more than 30 Besides his wife, he is survived by seven children, two of which are at home. Jos. Dyer, an Elmvale area farmer, is a brother. Funeral service will be held at the church in Wyevale at 2 p.m. Saturday.
  • Dear Editor: It is a pleasure to get your papers and to read them. One thing I, would like to mention while I have the opportunity is that a recent edition of the paper said editorially that the Midland district was “tourist minded”. We have a summer home at Cawaja Beach and there are two things that happen in Midland in the summer time that make us doubt this. One is that the parking meters which are taken up in the winter time when the tourists aren’t around are put back in the summer so that the tourists can fill them up. The other thing is the inconvenience to tourists of closing the stores promptly at 12 o’clock Wednesday noon. Why not close the stores on Monday until 12 noon and thereby give the staffs a longer weekend and at the same time close the stores at a time when it would be the least inconvenience to the tourist? This was tried in Cleveland some summers ago and was found to be so successful that it is now carried on throughout the year by practically all of the stores.  signed JACK COOPER
  • A resident of Midland for 30 years, George Sidford Tatham died Sunday at his home, 226 Sixth Street, Midland. He was in his 68th year. A graduate of the Ontario College of Pharmacy, Mr. Tatham had been engaged in the brokerage business In Midland for a number of years. His death followed a lengthy illness. Born in Listowel, Ont. May 23, 1890, Mr. Tatham was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Sidford Tatham. Member of the United Church, Mr. Tatham had also served on Midland town council. Hunting and fishing were his favourite hobbies. Surviving is his wife, a daughter, Betty, and son, Erskine; Miss Bea Tatham, of Listowel a sister; and his brother, Charles Tatham, Woodstock.
  • The pace at which Midland Indians have been moving of late in the Bruce Baseball League race seems to indicate they’ll be hitting peak form just at the right time. Playoff time that is. With but one game left in the regular schedule, that being a postponed one here against the Stayner Motormen, the Tribe gave ample evidence of both hitting power and sharp fielding at the town park diamond on Monday evening in a convincing 11-6 win over this same Stayner nine. The Civic Holiday triumph before a large and appreciative crowd not only avenged a 10-5 setback for Indians in Stayner last week but also helped erase the memory of an early season 3-0 shutout registered here by the visitors.
  • Ten Years Ago This Week; Work was rapidly being completed on the new Midland Footwear plant, Elizabeth Street, E., Midland. It was expected production would get under way by the end of September. * * * The Dionne quintuplets paid a surprise visit to Martyrs’ Shrine, Midland. They toured the church, shrine grounds and Fort Ste. Marie, had dinner and motored to Lafontaine. After inspecting the church and convent there, they motored to Thunder Bay, returning in the evening to have supper with Rev. T. Marchildon at Lafontaine. * * * One of the newest small industries to locate in this area, the Superior Toy Company at Waubaushene expected to get into production within a week or so. * * * Transportation companies, resorts and retail stores reported that the Civic Holiday weekend influx had hit a new high. Every cabin, resort and hotel were filled, it was reported, and accommodation in tourist homes was difficult to find. * * * Archaeologists from the Royal Ontario Museum, excavating at the Ossossane ossuary in Tiny Township, uncovered a green skull. * * * Port McNicoll had engaged a community manager and engineer. The village was one of few in Canada to have such a man on its municipal staff. * * * More than 3,000 Penetang persons took advantage of the free chest x-ray service of the Gage Institute—sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. The clinic was held in the new public school.
  • Penetang Fire Brigade, under Chief Bob Stewart, again carried off three trophies at the annual Ontario Firemen’s Tournament in Waterdown Wednesday. With 16 firemen present, the Penetang group took first place in the ladder race, second in the rescue race, and the top prize for the brigade from the furthest distance. This makes the third consecutive year Penetang has carried off honours at this tournament.

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – July 23rd to the 31st, 1957

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Click on Photos to Enlarge 

Another great photo of children found in the Free Press negative collection. A classic summer picture. The caption reads; “A group of Midland children doing it up right at Little Lake Park  Saturday. Enjoying ice cream and chips are, Peter Contois, Jimmy Dagg, Barbara Ann Merkley, Billy Dagg and Teddy Dagg.” 

That feels better says, Lloyd Ruskin of Toronto, as his wife applies lotion to his sun burn outside their tent in Little Lake tourist park. Scenes like this were common in the area during Saturday’s scorcher. 

Miss Francis Hinks of Bracebridge who last week joined the Midland staff of Simcoe County Health Unit. She replaced Miss Charlotte Benson who has been transferred to Barrie. 

Everybody was looking at the thermometer in North Simcoe Saturday, as Old Sol provided some real tourist weather. Mrs. I. Culner and daughter Francie of Toronto learned it was 88 in the shade on the thermometer at Hartman’s hardware store on King Street, at 10:30 a.m. It climbed several degrees higher during the day. 

Donald Cooke, Baptist George, Hilton Sandy and Robert Whiteye work at handcrafts at the Mohawk Institute Camp on Christian Island. The 48 boys and girls, ranging in age from 7 to 18, all come from broken homes in southern Ontario Indian Reserves. Several bands contributed funds so the youth could have this outing. 

 

 

Bottle caps with roofing nails driven through were found scattered on Concession 13, Tiny Twp. Provincial constable Tom Heels picked up 25 of the caps off the road but not before seven motorists had experienced flat tires. Examing the caps are OPP Constables H. R. Banting and George Winter. 

 

Pete Pettersen shows Marie Raco and Julie Lang, both from Guelph and cottaging at Balm Beach, how he intends to hold an international ski jumping competition here on August 3, 4 and 5. Workmen above are spreading straw on the 300-foot run which will be held down by chicken wire then covered with snow made with an estimated half million pounds of ice. (If you had believed the Toronto papers of the day Midland would have been covered with snow in August,  the Globe and Mail had reported 200,000 tons would be used, the Star reported a million tons.)

Seems like a woman’s work is never done, and a camping trip is no exception. “Doing up” the breakfast dishes in front of their neat tent at Little Lake Park recently were Mrs. R. Madgett and Miss Gail Gimbert, both of Toronto. Tent and trailer space was at a premium in the big tourist park over the weekend, hottest of the season to date.

Building castles in the sand has been a fascinating hobby for many generations of visitors to Midland’s Little Lake Park. Even in last week’s heat little 19-month-old Diane Hoffman with her aunt Gloria Bossin, left, and her mother Mrs. Martin Hoffman enjoyed the game.

 

Just a sign of how fast things change, in 60 years we have gone from wood and coal furnaces to oil, to electric heat, some generated by nuclear reactors to natural gas pumped all the way from Western Canada, solar and geothermal. 

An Indian pipe bowl uncovered in a longhouse ash pit at the Forget Site held by the discoverer Edward Phelps of Sarnia. Edward is a student of the University of Western Ontario’s Summer School of Archaeology and a graduate of Central Collegiate. 

  • The headline July 24th, 1957, the Free Press Herald; “Blame House Fire on TV, Family of Six Left Homeless” Fire which broke out yesterday morning in their Cambridge Street, Penetang, one-storey frame home left Mr. & Mrs. Ted Cadeau and their four children homeless. Mrs. Cadeau said she had been visiting her sister next door when she noticed smoke seeping out of her home. Returning home she discovered the television set blazing and “flames shooting out all over”.
  • The headline July 26th, 1957, the County Herald; “Vandals Puncture Motorists’ Tires, Police Probe Wave of Hoodlumism” Three separate police forces are seeking a person or group of persons, believed to be teenagers, who have been causing damage to motor vehicle tires. Causing the damage are large-headed shingle nails, driven through bottle caps to hold them upright, and placed in travelled portions of roadways around Penetang, Tiny Township and Balm Beach. The nails, apparently, are dropped on the road at dusk, or after dusk, when it is impossible for a car driver to detect them.
  • The headline July 31st, 1957, the Free Press Herald; “Pulls Children From Bay Waters, Valiant Fight Saves Tots’ Lives” Two Midland children, Laurel and Paul Lepage, were saved from almost certain death by drowning in Penetang Bay, early Saturday evening when they were brought out of the water in dying condition by Beverly “Bud” Ingram with a big assist from his daughter Jill. Mr. Ingram first noticed a boy flailing his arms about 100 feet off the shore at Huronia Park. Not certain whether the lad was fooling or really in trouble, he sent his eight-year-old daughter Jill to investigate. When she reached the lad he apparently grabbed her, and she shouted to her father. Mr. Ingram immediately swam out to the boy, three-year-old Paul, who by this time was under water. When he brought him to shore, Jill insisted “Daddy, there was a little girl with him”. Turning the lad over to bystanders, “Bud” went in search of the girl. After diving several times without finding any trace of the girl he again came back to shore and questioned his daughter further. “Jill insisted there was a little girl with the boy.” Several more dives at the spot where he had picked up the boy began to have a telling effect on Mr. Ingram. He started to get a pain in his chest. “I had made up my mind that this was the last dive, when I spotted her red bathing suit among the weeds in about 10 feet of water,” Mr. Ingram said. By the time he got five-year old Laurel to shore, Sgt. Len Robillard of Penetang Police was on hand, and he immediately went to work administering artificial respiration. When the fire department resuscitator arrived a short time later, in charge of Chief Bob Stewart, the girl was starting to recover through the efforts of Sgt. Robillard.
  • Crown Attorney W. M. Thompson intimated Monday an inquest will probably be held into the death by drowning of a 2-year-old child from Toronto off Bourgeois Beach, near Victoria Harbour, Saturday noon.
  • Two Elmvale area children were drowned at Wasaga Beach Monday when they apparently went out too far in the waters of Nottawasaga Bay. Their 10-year-old sister narrowly escaped a similar fate.
  • Lack of knowledge, near the scene, as to how to administer snake-bite serum might have proved fatal to a 12-year-old Toronto girl bitten by a Massassauga rattler at Six-Mile Lake Saturday afternoon. The mother told this newspaper that her daughter Elizabeth had been bitten on the right instep by the snake, about 15 p.m. Although she had been advised by her father to lie still if she was ever bitten by a snake, the little girl ran some 35 yards to her cottage. Arriving at Bob and Georges Store on Six Mile Lake where the cottager’s association kept snake bite serum, the mother said she was unable to find any person who knew how to administer the serum. Arrangements were then made with the OPP detachment at Victoria Harbour for a police escort to St. Andrews Hospital Midland. Despite the rough ride over an unfinished portion of the Trans-Canada highway, and through the heaviest weekend traffic of the season, OPP Constable Tom Heels was able to get Elizabeth to St. Andrews shortly after 4 p.m. She was attended by Dr. James Small and was able to leave with her parents Monday morning. A Toronto woman, bitten by the same kind of snake in the Six-Mile area last year, died several days after from the effects of the poison.
  • Lorne M. Lawson, a paraplegic who had become one of the best known and liked persons in the Balm Beach area, died unexpectedly in St. Andrew’s Hospital, Midland, Monday morning.   Lawson was the proprietor of Lawson’s Amusements situated on the County Road leading into Balm Beach. A native of Elmvale where he was born in 1904, he joined the RCAF in January 1940, and served almost six years in Canada and England as an aero engine mechanic he attained the rank of Sergeant. The accident, which it is believed finally ended in paralysis of the lower part of his body, occurred while he was stationed at Leeming, in Yorkshire, England, with the Canadian Bomber Group.
  • Editorial – Our Viewpoint – Golden anniversary of the CPR Great Lakes steamships Keewatin and Assinaboia this year seems almost as though it might pass unnoticed. The Clyde-built lake liners, plying from Port McNicoll to the head of the lakes, have now been in service a full half century and their popularity is still high. True the craft are old-fashioned and a bit conservative in decor, but their more than courteous crews and their smooth operation offer a most attractive contrast in a day filled with jam-packed highways and speeding aeroplanes. If we might make one suggestion, it is that the CPR is consistently underplaying the attractiveness of their lake cruises. Not only are they seldom given sufficient advertising promotion, but a few thousand dollars spent on modernizing the decor of the ships, in providing more comfortable deck chairs, and perhaps by way of installing a small ship’s playroom for younger children, could have a substantial payoff.
  • While the UAW apparently keeps up its strike payments to a small corps of picketers at Canadian Name Plate, it is of interest to note that members of few if any other unions are now respecting the picket line. The plant is working at full capacity and the UAW might be wise to write off this effort at organization as an unhappy and not too successful experiment.
  • Forty-two-year-old George LeBlanc of Midland died in Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, Thursday from injuries he received in a 40-foot fall from an apartment house roof last Saturday night. He never regained consciousness. Friends said Mr. LeBlanc elected to sleep on the roof of the Carlton Street building to escape the heat. He apparently rolled over in his sleep and fell to the pavement below, suffering severe head injuries.
  • 25 Years Ago This Week; Canadian National Railway employees had completed the removal of the CNR station at Wyebridge and had taken up the rails of the roadbed. The overhead railway bridge was also to be removed later. * * * Robert King of Central School, Midland, obtained the highest standing in June examinations. Robert amassed 667 marks out of the possible 750. It was the highest aggregate that had been obtained over a 10-year period. * * * In spite of cool, rainy weather, there was an increase of 38.5 per cent in the number of tents at Little Lake Park compared with the same period in 1931. Count for one day showed 187 tents on the camp grounds. * * * Newspapers were predicting that a treaty between Canada and the United States would be signed in the immediate future for the development of the St. Lawrence waterway. It was estimated the cost of providing a seaway to the head of the lakes would be between $500,000,000 and $600,000,000. * * * Simcoe County council presented the Simcoe Foresters Regiment with new regimental colours July 27th. The presentation was made at Orillia during brigade camp. * * * A Detroit syndicate had submitted a proposal to pay for the raising and reconditioning of the U.S. warships Tigress and Scorpion, resting on the bottom of Penetang Bay. The syndicate wanted to take the two ships to the World’s Fair at Chicago and place them on exhibition.
  • Penetang lost one of its senior citizens when Maria Keefer Thompson, wife of the late C. A. Thompson, one of Penetang’s pioneer merchants, died at her Poyntz Street home, July 21. Born February 27, 1871, in Strathroy, where she also received her education, she was married to Chas. A. Thompson in Strathroy, August 26, 1896. The couple observed their golden wedding anniversary in 1946, two years before his death. Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson moved to Penetang, where they brought up a family of five boys and one girl, who survive. They are, Dr. A. A. Thompson, Mt. Clemens, Mich., C. C. Thompson, Hamilton; Dr. E. E. Thompson, Lisbon, N.Y.; Dr. F. F. P. Thompson, Port Arthur; Dr. H. H . Thompson, Stratford and Miss G. G. Thompson, Toronto. One child died in infancy and another while still quite young. Mrs. Thompson was an Anglican and an active worker for her church. She was a life member of the Women’s Auxiliary, sang In the choir of All Saints’ Church, and for 35 years was superintendent of the Sunday School. In civic life, she was for a number of years on the board of the Protestant Separate School and had been secretary-treasurer of Penetang General Hospital Board. She was also an officer of the Women’s Institute. Funeral service was conducted by Rev. R. L. McLaren in All Saints’ Church, Tuesday, July 23. Interment was made in St. James’ Cemetery. Pallbearers were A. B. Thompson, Wm. T. Fahey, Alvin Gropp, W. H. Morrison, Dr. Murray Thompson and Dr. Alan Thompson.
  • Latest issue or the Ontario Gazette reveals that, on an order dated June 14, the provincial secretary has accepted the surrender of the charters of Collingwood Shipyards Limited, Midland Shipyards Limited and Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company Limited. The three corporations were officially dissolved July They are now operated by Canadian Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited,
  • After a little less than a quarter-century of operation. Port McNicoll Continuation School has gone out of business. Starting in September, some 40 students will be transported daily by bus to Midland – Penetanguishene District High School. The Port school had provided classes for Grades 9 to 12, inclusive, shop work and home economics. The principal of the school and one of its two teachers, Mrs. E. C. Creighton will accompany the Port pupils to Midland as a new member of the MPDHS staff. Mr. Belanger said the original school building was built about 40 years ago. The continuation school addition was built 24 years ago. It provided three class rooms, shop work and home economics rooms, and an auditorium. Of solid red brick construction, the building is still in excellent condition.
  • A lifetime, resident of the Wyebridge and Waverley district, Mrs. Robert Grigg died July 17 in St. Andrews Hospital after a lengthy illness. Funeral service was held July 19 from Nicholls funeral home. Rev. W. R. Auld and Rev. N. B. McLeod conducted the service. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery. Pallbearers were six nephews, Orval Kitching, Norman Reynolds, Eric Reynolds, Alvin Reynolds, Armour Reynolds and Willis Reynolds. Mrs. Grigg, the former Emma A. Reynolds, was born in 1877 in Tiny Township and educated at Wyebridge Public School. On March 28, 1900, she married Robert James Grigg in Coldwater. A member of the Ebenezer United Church, Mrs. Grigg had lived in the community all her life. She enjoyed quilting and rug making. Besides her husband, she is survived by one son, Mervin of Midland; one daughter, Mrs. Walter Carpenter (Mary) of Wyebridge; one sister, Hannah, Mrs. William Charles of Wyebridge; and four brothers, Henry Reynolds of Wyebridge, Frank of Waverley, Fred of Midland and Ernest of Richmond Hill.
  • At the Roxy, the Kettles on “Old MacDonald’s Farm” and Debbie Reynolds in “Tammy and the Bachelor”.
  • The marriage of Patricia Anne Jones, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl H. Jones of R.R. 1, Midland, to Ronald Earle Graham, Elmvale, youngest son of Mrs. Cecil Graham of R.R. 1, Elmvale, and the late Mr. Graham, took place June 15 in the Vasey United Church.
  • Under The Companies Act (Ontario) Aberdeen Elevator Company Limited hereby gives notice that it will make application to his Honour the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario for the acceptance of the surrender of its charter on and after the date to be fixed by the Lieutenant Governor. Dated the 18th day of July, A.D. 1957.
  • Ten Years Ago This Week –  Some 200 passengers aboard the CPR’s S. S. Assinaboia had an unscheduled stop when the 3,900-ton ship ran aground in shallow water about 250 feet from the dock at Port Arthur. * * * Penetang council had approved a bylaw authorizing the widening of Fox Street and paving the road to a 20-foot width. It was the first paving project in the town in 15 years. * * * Dignitaries from the provincial government, University of Toronto and the Royal Ontario Museum attended the official opening of Huronia Museum in Midland (Huronia House Museum in the former Playfair residence at Edgehill). Prior to the ceremonies, a dinner was held in Huronia Tea Room. * * * Victoria Harbour ratepayers were being asked to vote a second time on a proposal to install a community waterworks. The second vote had been ordered by the Ontario Municipal Board. * * * Francis St. Amand of Waubaushene had celebrated her 104th birthday. She attributed her longevity to hard work and a quiet life. * * * Midland and district veterans, who had purchased property in the VLA sub-division west of Midland, had hit a major snag in their building plans. The big problem was the provision of water. * * * Ontario Provincial Police had “taken over” the town of Penetang. Four OPP officers arrive July 18 and commenced policing the town at 8 p.m. that same day. * * * Construction had started on Midland’s new 207,000-gallon water tower on Wireless Hill. The structure, when completed, was to be 114 feet high.
  • “Near beer” is here. The beverage with a low alcohol content showed up over the weekend in several North Simcoe locations. It has been reported sold in a store at Little Lake Park, Port McNicoll and Wasaga Beach.