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Forty foot cruiser the “Sea Flight”, owned by Toronto industrialist Robbert Hartog of Kitchen Industries Limited, and Paterson freighter Quedoc collide at about 10:50 PM two miles north of Hope Island. Mr. Hartog was outbound for Little Current with five Scouting youth and another leader while the Quedoc was inbound loaded with grain for Midland. One third of the stern was sheared off but there were no injuries. Passengers were picked up and the cruiser towed to Midland by the Quedoc. These photos are taken at the Great Lake Boat and Machine yards in Sunnyside. 

 Last Monday’s heat was too much for one Midlander. The sign on tailor Bill Wilson’s door speaks for itself.  

Winners of three of the five trophies won by Little League baseball teams in Midland are seen following the “final night” at Parkview School field. Vern Kettle was captain of the New York Giants who beat St. Louis for the National League title. Sandy Berriault led Montreal to victory over Toronto in the International League. Ernie Boast was captain of the American Association winners, Indianapolis Indians. 

An old friend returns to Midland harbour Wednesday, June 19, when the cruise ship South American brought some 350 members and guest of the Cleveland Ohio Chamber of Commerce. A few years ago the South and her sister the North American plus other cruise ships made Midland a regular port of call. Frank Bray, president of the Midland Chamber of Commerce has just presented Curtis Smith, his Cleveland counterpart, with a handsome plaque made by Canadian Name Plate to commemorate the visit. Left to right are; Neville Keefe, Hugh Blair, Frank Bray, Doug Haig, Ted Lounsberry, Mr. Curtis, R. M. Ruhlman secretary of the Cleveland group, harbourmaster Dave Hewis, W. H. Keller and Mayor Charles Parker. 

“Toujours elle était joyeuse.” That’s the way Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Laurin of 115 Fifth Street, Midland, feel about their 50 years of wedded life, having celebrated their golden wedding anniversary June 16. In spite of the trials of nearly a half century of farming, the depression years, two wars and raising 10 children, they still say “it was always happy”. If it was happy, it wasn’t always easy. Born on a Lafontaine farm, Philip started to work at 13. He had to stand on a box to harness the horses. A horse caused him trouble later on, too, when he was kicked in the leg and was out of work for nine months. He met Odianna, daughter of farmer Frank Robitaille, at a dance in Lafontaine. They were married by the then parish priest, Father Desroches, when Mr. Laurin was 25 and she was 18. They raised all their children in Lafontaine, where they themselves were born, and educated. The couple moved to Midland 13 years ago, when Mr. Laurin stopped farming. Their Fifth Street home is close to the church; they like their neighbours; there’s a good-sized vegetable garden. Which is quite enough, they feel, to keep them happy. They have three boys and seven girls living, and all are married. There are 66 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The golden wedding anniversary was the first time all the children had been together at once since they’d grown up. 

“Suffer the little children to come unto Me” is the title of this stained glass window erected in St. Paul’s United Church Midland, in memory of Mary Elizabeth Auld. Miss Ethel Wagg unveiled the window at a special ceremony Sunday and J. W. Smith, the clerk of session, accepted the window on behalf of the congregation. 

 

Newly elected executive of the Midland Junior Chamber of Commerce held its inaugural meeting in the office of the senior chamber Wednesday night. Seated; Ken Webb, director; Frank Bray, president of the senior chamber; Jack Gardiner, Jaycee president. Back row; Herman Livingston, secretary; Armin Weisflogg, treasurer; Bill Spiker, first vice-president; Norman Palmateer, director. 

Four winners of awards for proficiency in social studies are pictured at public school graduation ceremonies at Parkview School. They are Winston Schell (Regent), Arlene Staruck (Parkview), Carol Morrison (Parkview), Lynda Riley (Regent). The awards are presented annually by Kitchikewana Chapter, Imperial Order, Daughters of the Empire. 

Grade 10 graduates at St. Mary’s Separate School in Victoria Harbour receiving their certificates Monday night. Front row; Martha LaChapelle and Maryanne Lavereau. Back row; Alvin Asselin, Allan Arbour, James Brodeur and Michael St. Amand.

  

Ten years ago Roy Fenton built a cruiser of welded aluminum and it was so successful he built another one last winter. Along with his son John, he is seen launching the “Skipper” at Midland dock. Twenty-four feet long with an eight-foot beam and features a “V” drive with the engine at the rear and gear box amidships. 

“It’s a nice country, and the people are nice, too.” That’s why Danish-born Folmar Nielsen gave up a good job near Ottawa to return to the Midland area and begin anew his boat-building business. “We feel more at home here,” said Nielsen. “We” includes his wife and six children, all but one of whom were born in Denmark. Renting a farm on Con. 3, Tay, about half a mile south of Old Fort School he is operating under the name of Nielsen Products. Folmar has all the boat building and repairing he can handle at the moment. On the rush list are a number of boats for various YMCA camps on Beausoleil Island. These have to be ready for the water by July 1. Also on order are a 25-foot motor boat, a sailboat, and several others of smaller size. Folmar also helps out at Roy French’s Midland shop when his services are needed.

This photo was not used in the newspaper but we wanted to include it because it shows the Midland Curling Club before the addition of the club room on the north end, the water fountain that I remember as a kid and the fact that public school field days were held in what was then called the “Midland Town Park”.  Rick Lemieux is seen beside the fountain, others to be identified. 

Another of this area’s grand old couples, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Jones marked their golden wedding anniversary at their Con. 4, Tay, farm home, about a mile west of Port McNicoll, June 19. A farmer all his life, Mr. Jones credits that active vocation with the good health still enjoyed by himself and Mrs. Jones. Now in his 74th year, he has always looked after large stocks of both cattle and sheep. For some 16 years, he was in the wholesale milk business, with the CPR boats at Port McNicoll his largest customers. Although he was born at Cartwright, near Port Perry, Louis Jones has been a resident of this area practically all his life. Louis had two brothers and a sister, all well-known locally. His sister, Miss Annie Jones, was a public school teacher in Midland for many years and still resides here. One brother, James, still lives in Wyevale at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Delbert Reynolds. The other brother, Wilmott, who farmed at Triple Bay after a number of years in Western Canada, died two years ago. Louis Jones got his three R’s at the old Russell School a mile and a half northeast of Vasey. Louis and Emma met when Mr. Jones, Sr., and his son were visiting old friends in the Omemee area. About a year later, June 19, 1907, they were married. For the first six years of their wedded life, Mr. and Mrs. Jones lived on the old homestead at Vasey. It was in the spring of 1914 that they moved to the present farm, just outside Port McNicoll. “Farming then was a lot different than it is today,” said Mr. Jones, who along with his son, Edmond, who has the adjoining farm, still likes to do his share of the chores. With some 300 acres and plenty of stock between them, there is still enough work to keep Mr. Jones plenty active for a man his age. (This anniversary was posted in last weeks edition but with a different photo and less information.)

 

• The headline, June 26, 1957, Free Press Herald. “Find 24 Foot Boat Washed Ashore, Drag Severn for Missing Workman” Ontario Provincial Police officers from Victoria Harbour detachment yesterday continued dragging operations in the Severn River north of Port Severn in an attempt to discover the body of a cottage workman who has not been seen since he left Port Severn shortly after midnight   Missing and believed drowned is John Butt, 28, of Grafton, who was working at the C. B. Wallace cottage about four miles upriver from Port Severn.
• The headline, June 28, 1957, County Herald. “Say Move Under Way in Coldwater for Four Way Liquor Vote in the Fall” The village of Coldwater may be faced with a vote on the introduction of a liquor store, brewers’ warehouse and men’s and women’s beverage rooms, it was learned yesterday. A group of Coldwater businessmen are said to be drawing up a petition for such a vote, and that an organizational meeting is to be held Tuesday night.
• Plaques marking two historic sites at Penetang were unveiled in ceremonies Wednesday afternoon with officials from Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, Army, Navy, provincial and federal houses and municipalities participating. The historic plaques were erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board to mark St. James’ Garrison Church-on-the-Lines and the site of the residence of Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield, R.N.
• When Francis “Punny” Dumais saw a car rolling along the Main Street of Penetang last week with only a couple of children in it, he decided it was time to act. He eventually stopped the vehicle with his own car. An investigation later revealed the car was owned by Martin Fitzgerald, who, along with his wife was shopping in the IGA store at the time. They had parked the car in front of the store, leaving their two young children in it. While waiting, the children had taken the car out of gear, and it proceeded to roll down the steep Main Street incline. When “Punny” saw the car he accelerated his own vehicle, got in front of it, stopped, and reversed until he came in contact with the wanderer, bringing it to a halt.
• “Love Me Tender” starring  Elvis Presley is playing at the Pen.
• Next Monday, July 1, Canada, as a nation, will be 90 years old. To help celebrate that 90th birthday, Midland’s Huronia Museum is opening its doors free on Dominion Day to all children 12 and under. There will be no admission charge next Monday at the museum for any child accompanied by an adult. “Nearly 1,000 school children from all over central Ontario have come to see the museum’s Indian, pioneer and marine exhibits these past four weeks”, explains Mrs. D. H. Wray of the museum staff.
• A former Midland boy now holds a somewhat unique honour. He is one of four specially trained technicians in Canada in charge of an electronic brain that is reputed to be the most advanced scientific computer in the western world outside of the United States. The “brain” is the only one of its kind in Canada and is the same type as the one that will be used to calculate and predict the orbit of the scientific earth satellite to be launched by a multi-stage rocket into space during the International Geophysical year. One of the four in charge of the computer is Graham Gunn, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Gunn, Midland. Born in Midland, he attended Regent School and Midland District High School.
• TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK; Sugar and molasses were the only products still being rationed when rationing regulations were removed. Price ceilings were also removed from butter, cheese and concentrated milk. * * * The luxury cruise ships, North and South American, had to use radar to dock at Midland because of the heavy fog which hung over the harbour. * * * Each member of the winning team in the OMHA Bantam series was presented with a crest, and a cup was presented to the team. * * * Twenty-two American weekly newspaper editors, on a 10-day goodwill tour of Ontario, visited Midland and Martyrs Shrine while they were in this area. * * * Don Perrault, a petty officer of Midland’s “RCSCC Admiral Yeo” (now RCSCC Huron), was one of 25 Canadian sea cadets selected to visit Britain. * * * Ray Gauthier was appointed principal of Penetang High School. He succeeded Principal E. J. Doris. * * * A new high school area was being discussed by the county council and district school boards. The proposed new area was to include Victoria Harbour, Tay Township, Medonte, Port McNicoll, Penetang and Tiny Township. * * * Midland council decided to hold a special meeting to discuss a plan to operate buses in Midland. Penetang – Midland Coach Lines was seeking a franchise. A group of taxi operators in the town were opposed to the move. * * * West Simcoe Deanery held its 29th annual meeting in All Saints’ Church, Penetang. Seventy-four delegates attended.
• Fear of missing important telephone calls need no longer keep a person from leaving his home or office unattended. He can now obtain an “electronic secretary” which will automatically answer his telephone when he is absent. Two such devices are now being made available by the Bell Telephone Company in its Ontario-Quebec territory, according to H. A. Kilroy, the company’s manager for this region.
• A veteran of several campaigns and two world wars, James Somerville, 79, Midland, died Wednesday at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. Rev. J. L. Self of Knox Presbyterian Church is to officiate at the service Saturday afternoon at Nicholls funeral home. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery. Mr. Somerville was a member of the 1st Bn. Grenadier Guards with which he went ‘up the Nile’ under Kitchener in 1895. He was with the Grenadiers at Gibraltar in ’96 and at Khartoum in Egypt in ’97, He received his first campaign medal from the hands of Queen Victoria at Windsor, England, in 1898. Transferred to 3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards in ’99, he fought with them through the South African campaign. Taking his discharge in 1903, he came to Canada. He was back in uniform in World War I, overseas with the Engineers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He had four years’ service. In World War II, he served for two more years in the Veterans Guard. He retired after years of service with the Bell Telephone Company several years ago.
• Next week’s wrestling card at the Arena Gardens headlines a great local favourite, Yukon Eric, against the newest villain of the squared circle, former Edmonton Eskimo football star Gene Kiniski.

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Honouring two decades of service to the Midland Lions Club, founding member and treasurer for eight years, Lion Gilmour Nesbitt (Nebbie) is presented with a rocking chair and a new TV to go with it. The presentation was made at the annual dinner of the club held at the Delawana Inn in Honey Harbour. Gilmour is surrounded by past presidents; Webb Struthers, Bill Jeffery, Alex McIntosh, Ed Walker and Gord Boyd. 

 

Town employees raise the newly re-painted flagpole at Midland’s Huronia House Museum in preparation for a new season. 

 

Just about the happiest bunch of fellows in Ontario at the moment are the members of Port McNicoll’s volunteer fire brigade. Some of them, with Chief Lloyd Cameron in front, are seen grouped around their brand new fire truck, which arrived Saturday. Still, others are seen on the old 1919-model engine purchased from Toronto Fire Department in 1950. Along with the new $17,500.00 truck, the brigade also has the latest type resuscitator.

Nearly ninety golfers from several Simcoe County clubs turned out for the open invitation match held at the Midland Golf & Country Club June 12th. The eventual winner was Walter “Windy” Varty from Orillia with a gross of 76. Pictured are A. I. “Doc” Merchant checking the scoreboard while club captain Norm Greene takes Clive Parks entry fee. 

 

One of the highlights of the annual year-end dinner held by the Midland Lion’s Club at the Delawana Inn is the installation of new officers. Pictured is the new president Cecil English and his wife Maddy and the outgoing president Bill Jeffery and his wife Judy.

 A dunk in the washtub was the solution these Fifth Street youngsters found for beating the heat earlier this week. It was an obviously sheer delight but those in the queue were getting a trifle impatient.(There are several favourite photos we have found in the Free Press collection to date, this being one of them, and they almost always feature children.) 

Back in 1909 two brothers from Vasey married two sisters from Omemee. One-half of that combination is pictured, Mr. & Mrs. Louis Jones farmed just west of Port McNicoll on Highway 12 and still live there. Mrs. Jones’ sister Minnie died a few years ago and her husband James Jones lives with his daughter Mrs. Delbert Reynolds at Wyevale. 

• The headline, Midland Free Press, Wednesday, June 19, 1957. Council Orders Government Probe Ask for 15 Year Civic Affairs Study. A four-hour meeting of Victoria Harbour council was marred by threats and accusations among the councillors. “This is a council of hate. It’s the rottenest council in Ontario. The town is run just like a little Chicago.” These were the words of Reeve Florence Belcher, repeated on several occasions, during a session of the council at Victoria Harbour Thursday night that ran the gamut from periods of comparative quiet to almost riotous scenes in which all members of the council, and some of the audience, took part simultaneously. The issue causing the upset is a multi-year debate over water access and road allowances at Robins Point. (Sound familiar?)
• The headline, County Herald, Friday, June 19th, 1957. Severe Electrical Storm Causes Extensive Damage in North Simcoe. Following on the heels of a three-day heat wave, a severe electrical storm caused extensive damage to district telephone and power lines, damaged numerous household appliances, radios and TV sets and struck one summer home in Tiny Township Tuesday morning. Although it brought cooler weather in its wake, the storm left a trail of toppled trees, leaning telephone poles on some rural lines, and scattered tree branches.
• Paving operations on County Road 6 from one mile north of Elmvale to Wyevale got under way last. week. The four and one-half mile stretch of work is being done by Brennan Paving Co.
• No lawn or garden sprinkling will be permitted until further notice. Midland Public Utilities Commission.
• Motorists returning to Midland, northbound on Highway 27, report that on Sunday night cars were lined along the southbound lane from Highway 400 to near Elmvale. Greatest bottleneck, they said, still exists at the junction of Highways 26 and 27. (At this time Highway 400 ended at Crown Hill. Tiny, Tay and Severn tourists and cottagers were using Hwy 27 to go south or in the east, Hwy 11 at Orillia. Wasaga Beach tourists were using Hwy 26 to get to the 400 at Barrie.)
• 25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – Public Utilities Commission representatives from Georgian Bay district municipalities held a special meeting in Collingwood. The main item under fire was a practice of the Ontario Hydro of demanding large sums from municipalities two years after all accounts have been paid. The 43 delegates present decided to hold an organizational meeting in Midland in September and to elect officers who would lodge a determined protest against the practice. * * * A Toronto construction firm had been awarded the contract for constructing the extension to Midland dock. It was the lowest of ten who bid for the work. * * * Thiffault opened a new bakery at Waubaushene. More than 600 district citizens attended the official opening which featured dancing and refreshments. * * * A Romanian girl parachutist, Samaranda Braescue had established a new world record jump, Miss Braescue and pilot Harry Dosshardt climbed to 24,000 feet over Sacramento, Cal., in a light bi-plane. Miss Braescue bailed out and landed safely at Marysville, near Sacramento. * * * Millions of feet of lumber were destroyed in a fire which swept through the lumber yards at the Letherby-Nicholson plant in Midland. The blaze, of undetermined origin, broke out about 8 p.m. on a Wednesday night. Penetang brigade was called to assist the Midland firemen. * * * Provincial police officers arrested two men and a boy in connection with a series of cottage break-ins in the Go-Home-Bay area. One of the two men was later given two years in Kingston Penitentiary, the other received from one to two years in Burwash and the boy received a 30-day jail term.
• When the old community center in Little Lake Park was cut into three sections for transportation to its new site on ski club property, it was discovered that the flooring was three inch by one inch Douglas fir—LAID ON EDGE! 
• OBITUARY: Funeral service for Mrs. J. Cena Brunelle, Penetang, was held in St. Ann’s Church, Penetang, Monday, June 3, with Rev. L. McGough officiating. Interment was in St. Croix Cemetery, Lafontaine. Pallbearers were Roger and Martial Brunelle, Roland, Celestin, Gabriel and Urbain Maurice. The former Lena Payette, Mrs. Brunelle died in Penetang General Hospital Friday, May 31, following a short illness. Born in Lafontaine. June 13, 1892, she spent her early life and married J. Cena Brunelle there in 1910. The couple moved to Penetang 30 years ago. She was an ardent gardener, and particularly interested in horticulture. Many people in Penetang admired her flower gardens which were one of the town’s show places each year. She was a Roman Catholic. Surviving, besides her husband, are six sons. Maurice, Eugene, Marc and Joseph of Penetang, Cleo, Montreal, and Jacques, White River; and five daughters. Mrs. J. Crawford and Mrs. Art Roy, Sudbury: Mrs. E. C. Macleod, Toronto: Mrs. Ross MacDonald, Montreal, and Annette at home. One sister, Mrs. A. Desroches, also survives.
• Two historical plaques, both connected with the famous old military and naval establishment which guarded British interests on the upper lakes from about 1814 to 1852, will be unveiled at Penetanguishene Wednesday, June 26 at 2 p.m. One plaque commemorates Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield, while the second marks the old Garrison Church of St. James-on-the-Lines.
• Work has begun on a new three-classroom continuation school for the parish of St. Margaret’s, on property at George Street and Dominion Avenue, Midland. It is hoped the one-storey frame structure will be ready for occupancy in September. The school will accommodate Grade 9 and 10 pupils, with the possibility of other grades later. Rev. M. A. Beriault said yesterday. Grade 9 and 10 pupils were formerly housed in two upstairs rooms in Sacred Heart School.

Morley Spiker passed away on Father’s Day, last Sunday, he was in his 91st year. The museum has a few photos of Morley we would like to share in tribute to this popular Midland son.
“From the mid-1940s until the end of the 1960s, Morley Spiker proved to be the touchstone for dependability, work ethic and sustained excellence for Midland’s junior, intermediate and senior hockey teams. Even after he had retired from the local hockey scene, members of the media, players, teammates and opponents alike, when recalling those days, would immediately speak of his magnificent skills and his undying commitment to his hometown.”

“Morley seemed to go on forever,” said the late Charlie Noquet, also an honoured member of the Midland Sports Hall of Fame who covered Morley’s games for the Midland Free Press. “He was like our own Gordie Howe.” http://www.midlandonsportshalloffame.com/morley-spiker.html 

Three Midland Orphans hockey team players, Morley Spiker has Peterborough Petes jersey, Pit Legault has number 14, the third is Harry Morrison. Coach not pictured is Ed Bolan. December 11th, 1953. 

Three players who have played a big part in the Midland Monarchs of the Intermediate “A” Northern group’s five-game winning streak. Jim Green, Morley Spiker and Marty Desroches. Green and Spiker are forwards, Desroches normally plays defence but is filling in on the right wing for the injured Leo St. Amand. December 24th, 1954. 

Bulging with chicken and banana cream pie, members of the K-W Dutchmen, Legion Branch 80’s entry in the senior OHA division of Midland’s Little NHL, posed for the County Herald camera following a dinner in their honour at Bourgeois’ dining room Tuesday night. The boys are wearing snappy new sweater coats donated by the Legion branch. Also in the picture are Legionnaires Graydon Rodgers, Don Gallivan and President Charlie Scott, along with coach Morley Spiker. March 28, 1958 

Coming up with one of his greatest efforts in a long career, Midland Flyers’ Morley Spiker scored five of his team’s goals in a 6-4 win over Meaford Chevvies here last Wednesday night. Spiker is seen poking the first of his quintet behind goalie Elgin Cubitt while Meaford forward Barney Walmsley (10) rushes in too late to help. Flyers host Collingwood here tonight. January 13th, 1960. (Not the best photo but it shows how Morley got his nickname, the “Haunt”, for the way he was always around his opponents net.”

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Dr. P. B. Rynard is congratulated by George S. Dudley Q. C. on his victory in the recent federal election, he is our MP for Simcoe East as the Tories return to power after a lapse of 23 years. 

Jubilant group forms outside Conservative Committee rooms in Midland after the full scope of the nationwide victory became apparent. Victorious candidate Dr. P. B. Rynard in the background and others are; Mrs. Percy Hopkins, Mrs. Lily Page of Orillia, Mrs. James Caswell, Mrs. Rynard and Oliver H. Smith. 

Steep stairs at Poll #8, 209 Midland Ave. made it impossible for about half a dozen voters to exercise their franchise during the federal election Monday night. Scrutineeers, Mrs. A. Johnston left and Mrs. Carl Smith said people with poor health or heart conditions were unable to climb the stairs. 

Three weeks before her 90th birthday Mrs. William Preston of Wyebridge cast her vote in Monday’s election. She was born five days after Confederation. When women got the franchise she never missed an election and “voted Conservative every time”. At left is Mrs. Ernie Robbins. 

True to form, Midlander Joe Leeking makes it out to vote on June 10th from his hospital bed at St. Andrews with the help of nurses Ann Desroches and Betty Perry and some crutches. Joe was seriously injured in a car accident on April 23. (My parents and maybe everyone called him “leaky Joe” because he operated a mobile public address service which consisted of large horn shaped loud speakers on top of his car. I remember him driving up our street announcing  events and he was a fixture at the Midland Indians ball games doing the play by play.) 

Wolf Cubs get ready for the hand off during a relay race in Little Lake Park Saturday afternoon. Over 150 youth and leaders took part in the track meet that was won by Third Midland “B” pack led by Mrs. Jack Gardner. 

Challenge Shield for the outstanding Wolf Cub Pack in the district in tests passed, was awarded to Fourth Midland pack (St. Paul’s United Church) during a meet at Little Lake Park Saturday afternoon. The winners are, front row, Murray Drinkle, Bobby French, Roy Mathis, Gary Sharp; middle row, Jimmy Lounsberry, Tom Atkinson, Doug Atkinson, John Cranston. Back row, Cubmaster Bill Brooks, District Commissioner Harvey Boyd and president Rev. R. D. Wright of SGBD. 

Water levels in the Great Lakes are at a low ebb in recent years, the private dock and the government dock in Victoria Harbour are almost out of the water and nearly five feet above it. 

Boathouses along the Sturgeon River are almost useless in the low water along the Great Lakes this year. Cruiser inside is high and dry. Many irate cottagers blame the Chicago “water steal”, but many veteran residents say it is just the natural low ebb of a ten year cycle. 

These Midland bowlers won the Ontario Bowling Association championship for class “B” teams last month. They rolled a total of 3,414 pins in three games to win the Schenley Trophy, and individual cups. Front row; Don Fox, Doug Martin (captain), Dave Emms; back row, Elmer Todd, Tom Boast. A Midland ladies team finished fourth in the same competition. Team members were Marg Ingram, Doreen Hamilton, Bernice Martin, Pearl McIlravey and Alma Marsell. George Ross and Jean Keitel won prizes in mixed bowling, as did Dora Taylor and Joan Gilmore. 

Radio phonograph unit was presented to Jimmy E. Heels on his retirement June 3rd from the CPR. Jimmy has 40 years of service with the CPR and is currently the foreman at the Port McNicoll freight sheds. Kneeling, W. J. Stewart and G. R. Anderson. Standing; John Bridges, Art Bell, S. F. Malin, T. Lewis, E. H. Heels, J. E. Heels, J. Sheehan, W. H. Biggar, S. Thoms, constable John J. Koren and W. A. Paxton. 

The annual public school field day was held at Midland Town Park on June 5th. Junior trophy winner was David Lamb, senior was Gerald Wotherspoon and tied for intermediate boy were Rodger Leclair and David Stainton. Eight new records were set at the meet. 

Winners of trophies in the girls events were, Arlene Staruck and Helen Coombs who tied for senior honours; Lynn McAllen intermediate and Nancy Higgs the junior winner. 

Although he didn’t win the event, David Belsey gave it a good try during the junior high jump event at the Midland Public School’s field day held in the Town Park June 5th. 

Midlander Bruce MacIntosh displays a proud grin as he explains where he caught this six pound rainbow trout while fishing for speckles with a small hook, six pound test line and a worm; “within ten miles of Midland” was all he would say. 

With an eye on a career in aeronautical engineering, Raymond Desrochers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Desrochers, holds the medal presented to him at the University of Ottawa for leading his class. He is taking his matriculation course at Ottawa, and prior to that had shown his scholastic ability at Penetang Public School. 

Mrs. Blanche Bernier, a Sunnyside resident, was one of the many who took advantage of the free chest X ray clinic conducted in Midland, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday by the National Sanitarium Association in co-operation with the Midland Canadian Club, Kitchikewana Chapter IODE and St. Andrew’s Hospital Auxiliary. 

 

 

• Headline, Free Press Herald, June 12, 1957. “Tories Score Major Win – Rynard is Riding Victor”. Voters Give Orillia Medico Thumping Majority of 2,195; Mayor Parker Runs Fourth.  Comparable to the trend which swept the nation in the federal election Monday, Simcoe East voters swept Progressive-Conservative candidate Dr. P. B. Rynard into office with a thumping over-all majority of 2,195 votes.
• Headline, County Herald, June 14, 1957. Northern Municipalities Pay Less to County. Share of the total county levy to be paid by municipalities in the northern end of Simcoe County will be lower in 1958 if the unanimous report of the equalization committee, presented this morning, is accepted by county council as a whole. Major shift concerns Midland whose equalization factor is dropped from 1.2518, in effect for this year’s levy, to 1.18 for 1958. Tax saving may come close $5,000.
• One of this area’s oldest and most esteemed businessmen, J. W. Bald will be honored at Midland’s Roxy Theatre Monday night in connection with “Father’s Day” ceremonies being staged by manager Al Perkins. In choosing Mr. Bald as the honored guest, Mr. Perkins could hardly make any mistake. Few fathers in the area are better known than Mr. Bald, who operated a photographic studio on King Street for a half-century. Now in his 90th year, Mr. Bald is widely known throughout Canada and the United States through the millions of picture post cards he turned out on 30,000 Island and Georgian Bay scenery. Although he closed his King Street studio some years ago, Mr. Bald still carries on his craft at his Fourth Street home.
• Peggy Watson daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Watson, Midland, has won, for the second year in succession, a top award in a Toronto swim meet. Peggy won two awards last year and also holds Royal Life Saving Society instructor’s and life saving certificates, obtained while a student at Branksome Hall, Toronto. She is now employed at Eaton’s College Street store.
• Lloyd Stackhouse of St. John, New Brunswick, has been appointed to Midland YMCA staff it was announced Monday. An experienced YMCA worker, he took the St. John YMCA leaders’ training corps. He is proficient in basketball, tumbling and gymnastics and recently received a teaching certificate from the Teachers College in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where his major training was in physical education.
• Monday night, Midland councillors gave two readings to a bylaw which would prohibit keeping domestic fowl, cattle, swine, goats, foxes, mink and more than two rabbits within the town limits. They plan to complete the passing of the bylaw in September. Mindful of the prolific reputation of rabbits, a couple of councillors suggested keeping the limit to one instead of two, but no change was made in the wording. It was estimated there are at least a half dozen cows, three or four goats and hundreds of chickens now being kept in the town.
• Ten Years Ago This Week  A 1,200-pound shipment of food and clothing had been shipped by the citizens of Coldwater and district to aid flood victims in the British Isles. The food and clothing was donated after Coldwater Red Cross branch had issued an appeal to citizens. * ** The CSL freighter Emporer went aground on Canoe Rocks off Isle Royale, broke in two and sank. Twelve crew members, including one woman, the captain and one mate lost their lives. Fog was blamed for the shipping accident. * * * Monsignor J. M. Castex celebrated his 51st anniversary in the priesthood. He left June 4 for Ottawa to take part in the Marian conference. * * * Port McNicoll council and citizens decided to let a Toronto firm develop “Flat Point” into a modern sub-division. The point was re-named Paradise Point by the Toronto firm. * * * The annual meeting of the Townships Religious Education Council was to be held at Wyevale United Church. Rev. H. A. Melloe of Toronto, special representative of the Ontario Religious Education Council, was to be special     * * * Cold, wet weather had delayed seeding operations on district farms. Ontario Department of Agriculture reports revealed that 1939 had been an even wetter spring. * * * Mrs. Edison Doan of Allenwood had been elected president of Simcoe Centre Women’s Institute. The annual meeting of the W.I.’s was held at Edenvale United Church. * * * A native of Medonte Township, Mrs. Dennis Perry of Tupperville, Kent County, celebrated her 102nd birthday. * * * Lorne Watson had been installed as president of Midland Lions Club. John Bridges had been elected president of Midland Y’s Men at a meeting of the club executive.
• Thieves who broke into Calvert’s grocery store at Port McNicoll early Wednesday morning are reported to have made off with more than $300 worth of tea, sugar and eggs. Tay Township police chief John Magnus said entrance was gained to the basement of the building, used as a store room, through a screen window. Reported stolen were 23 cases of tea, alone valued at over $300, a hundred pounds of sugar and a crate of eggs.
• Midland Public Utilities employees Monday will commence full-scale installation of water meters in homes throughout the town. At its meeting Tuesday night the PUC approved a motion to hire additional help to complete the work as quickly as possible. Commissioners were told that 15 meters had already been installed on a test run basis. Average installation cost per meter to date was $3.12, the meeting was told. Wages for any additional help will be $1.50 per hour for a man with tools and $1 per hour for his helper, commissioners decided. Faulty shutoffs found in homes will be replaced at cost of labor if the householder provides the materials.
• From John Power’s “Outdoor Diary” – George Lott caught a rock bass the other day with a four-inch eel clinging to it. This is the first time I have heard of eels on these fish . . . Ross Hart and I were chasing trout in the Hillsdale area last week when we surprised two Canada geese in a marsh. Anyone know whether any of these honkers nest in our area? (Just try to count their off spring now) . . . Chuck Stelter observed a deer crossing Hugel Ave. at Sixth Street the other morning.
• Wrestling fans of this area, of whom there are legion, get their first taste of action for this season at Midland Arena Gardens Monday night, with no less personage than Whipper Billy Watson heading the three bout card. Sponsored by Midland Minor Hockey Association for several seasons now, proceeds from the summer-long events go a long way towards providing hockey during the winter season for boys of bantam, midget and juvenile age. It’s hardly likely that Whipper Bill, long a favorite in Midland, will have to use his dreaded Commando Unconscious hold Monday night to defeat Art Neilson, a newcomer to wrestling in Midland. Watson seldom uses the Commando, even on such dastardly characters as Gene Kiniski. After sampling some of Kiniski’s “holds,” most wrestlers feel justified in using almost anything, including the nearest exit.