The photos found in this blog post are the property of Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario. Any reproduction for commercial use without permission is prohibited.  Any other distribution must credit Huronia Museum.  Please contact the museum with any questions you may have. 

GIGNAC REQUESTS COUNCIL SIGN WORK AFFIDAVITS
County Herald headline from February 16, 1962. 

”Like a bolt out of the blue,” was the way one Penetang councillor termed Mayor Jerome Gignac’s request at this week’s council meeting asking members to sign an affidavit concerning their employment. The mayor proposed to keep the affidavits in his personal file. His request came after a letter had been read from the Department of Municipal Affairs dealing with conflict of interest on the part of elected members. Mr. Gignac asked councillors whether they would be in favour of signing affidavits setting out their terms of employment. “For instance, I don’t know whether Reeve Cage is a partner in Penetang Motors, or an employee,” said the mayor. “And should any question arise concerning conflict of interest of a member of council, I would be able to answer it,” he said. Four members of council when contacted by this paper were pretty well in agreement that the mayor’s request was unnecessary in view of the oath taken when members were sworn in. 

   Although it appears no one in town is interested in the job of dog catcher, Penetang council is preparing to pass a bylaw which would require dogs to be tied up throughout the entire year. Applications for the job were to be in the hands of council by February 12^th, clerk A. Doucette reported no one had applied. 

    Officials of Grew Boats, Penetang, this week expressed satisfaction with the response to their new line of boats shown at the recent Boat Show in Toronto. “Manufacturers in general seemed to be pleased at the public’s reaction in a return to wooden boats,” Bob Munro said. “The big move today, is quite definitely a return to wood for boat building .” Speaking of their new line of boats now being manufactured, Grew representatives who attended the show felt the public is definitely interested in the appearance of these craft. While the company did not take orders from the public for these boats, Mr. Munro said appointed distributors were quite successful in selling the craft. “We confined ourselves to lining up a group of distributors who will handle the retail end of the business.” Good progress is being made in the local plant in setting up the new production line for manufacturing the lapstake boats which are expected to become the major part of the plant’s output. Company officials say wrinkles are being ironed out and one completed craft has already come off the line. Several key employees of Grew Boats are in the U.S. at the present time viewing techniques employed in the plant of the originators of this type of construction. One of the main features of the craft is that while they are of lapstrake construction, the material used is plywood. This entirely eliminates all vertical butt joints in the planking and adds to faster construction. 

Bryson McQuirter REAL ESTATE 206 Elizabeth Street -2 doors West of Post Office. 
Manly St. — $13,500. Terms. 3 bedroom brick. wall-to-wall broadloom. Glassed-in sunroom. Oil hot water. A lovely home in a choice district.
Fifth St. — An ultra modern 3 bedroom brick bungalow. New. Some minor finishing to be done, nice lot hear Yonge. This is something special.
Penetang Road —$6,000. Terms. A solid block 2 bedroom home. Good foundation and basement. 12 x 16 kitchen. 12 x 23 living room. 100 ft. lot.
Dominion St. W — $13.500 Terms. A lovely modem 3 bedroom bungalow in an ideal location. Living room 16 x 27. fireplace. Lot 100 x 150.
Hanly St. — $12.500. Terms A practically new modem 3 bedroom brick bungalow in perfect condition. One N.H.A 6% mortgage. Dominion Ave. West — $6.000.  Terms. A clean 4 bedroom home Closed-in Sunroom. Insulated Gas furnace 50 ft lot. Low taxes.
Dominion Ave. East — $6,800 Terms. Solid brick. 3 bedrooms, dining room and living room. 2  bathrooms. Oil furnace. Near Queen St. 

    Most encouraging news in this area to date was the announcement last week of the location in Midland of a new industry which will employ 70 male workers. This newspaper welcomes Kindred Industries Limited, a subsidiary of Kitchen Installations Limited of Ajax. That the negotiations with the company, conducted since last March, arrived at a satisfactory conclusion for all parties, is due in no small way to Chairman Frank Bray and members of his chamber of commerce industrial committee. This latest member of the Midland industrial family is nursed by the chamber officials all the way. 

Dark-haired, blue-eyed Bonnie Rourke was chosen “Queen of Hearts” at MPDHS for 1962 at Midland’s Roxy Theatre last night. A grade 12 student with plans for a teaching career, Bonnie is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Rourke, Sunnyside. 

Charles McIlravey Jr., son of Mr. & Mrs. Charles McIlravey, Hugel Ave. who sails on the SS Ivernia for England where he will be working for Loblaws. Aged 18, Mr. McIlravey attended Regent Public School and Midland-Penetang District High School. He worked at the store in Midland for two years and is one of a number of young men recruited by the company for British service. 

FIRST DAY RECRUITS TOP SURVIVAL COURSE QUOTA
Free Press Herald headline of February 21^st, 1962. 

An enthusiastic response greeted the call to take the first of two, six week National Survival Courses to be held the Midland Armory Feb. 26 to April 6. The second class is slated to start Apr 1 16. To date 133 have registered, 33 more than the 100 maximum set by the Department of National Defence, sponsors of the training program. A former World War II veteran, Major Les Taylor of Midland, has been named local administration officer by the Central Ontario Area Army Command. About 40-men were put through their medical examinations and given aptitude tests. Major A. Searel, personnel selection officer for the Army, praised highly the calibre of recruits and said that only three had been rejected of those tested so far. 

The three day Georgian Bay Drama Festival held last week in the auditorium of the Midland-Penetang District High School played to near capacity crowds all three nights. This picture left to right, Chris Thomson, MPDHS, best Canadian play; G. H. McPherson, managing editor of the Barrie Examiner; Mrs. Eileen Peters, Orillia, who captured three awards, and Peter McGarvey, CFOR, Orillia. Mr. McGarvey and Mr. McPherson presented the awards to the winners. 

Starting out on the first phase of the six week national survival training course at the armory is Cyril Large of Midland as he begins his Select A aptitude test, while Sgt. Bruce Fleming, Toronto, Army training instructor looks on. Over 130 men have registered for the first of two courses to be held in Midland. 

Top athlete. Named senior football player of the year at Midland-Penetang District High School, Bill Binkley is seen receiving his trophy during the “Queen of Hearts” finals at the Roxy Theatre last week. Rev. Len Self made the presentation. 

Near zero temperatures the weekend didn’t stop these boys from getting in their regular practice sessions for the Ontario Ski Jumping Championships in Midland Sunday. Left to right are Unto Virolainan, instructor Pete Pettersen, Marjan Senk, Frank Arko, Ray Kaija, Gernot Dick and (in front) 11-year-old Mark Kaija who will open the jump with former Midland favorite Hans Eder. Mark’s dad, Ray Kaija, will rate as one of the favorites after winning the Southern Ontario title in Owen Sound recently. 

These five “lovelies” from MPDHS competed in the finals of this year’s Queen of Hearts contest at the Roxy Theatre last Thursday. Seated are Pat Bate and Bonnie Rourke (right) crowned “Queen” for 1962. Standing left to right are Margaret Spicer, Sharon Dubeau and Betty Trace. 

Hard at work cutting bandages during “dressing blitz” staged at Midland YMCA Friday are, left to right, Mrs. Norman Shill, Mrs. N. E. Shaubel and Mrs. Earl Cumming. “Blitz” was sponsored by Midland branch of the Canadian Cancer Society. 

Editorial page photo entitled, “Winter Haven in Midland Harbour”. [This is actually Port McNicoll.] 

[We have been corrected by Viktor Kaczkowski, a member of the website group, Midland Ontario Canada – Our Hometown -Then and Now. The above photo was taken at the Tiffin Elevator in Midland as Victor has noted, not Port McNicoll as we stated. We will leave it posted because we love our marine heritage and photos of it and will add a photo of the actual Port McNicoll winter fleet below.]

ORDER MAYOR WITHDRAW SECRET MEETING CHARGE  
Free Press Herald headline of February 28, 1962. 

Members of Midland council were thwarted in their efforts to have a motion of censure against Mayor Charles Parker read into the records at Monday night’s council meeting. The motion was made by Reeve Arthur Argue and Alderman William Thompson. The mayor refused to accept the motion criticizing him for charges he made against council members at a meeting February 12. He had accused members of holding secret meetings and conniving behind his back. 

    A 10-man OPP anti-gambling squad last night closed a bingo game in Parkside Pavillion, Yonge Street, West, Midland. About 120 person were in the hall when 10 members of the OPP force entered, headed by Staff Sgt. J. M. Anderson. The players were allowed to leave. Staff Sgt. Anderson told this newspaper he was conferring today with the Crown Attorney in Barrie concerning possible charges to be laid in connection with the raid. The bingo was operated for the Minor Hockey Association and games were held every Tuesday night in Parkside, Staff Sgt. Anderson stated. 

     Although the weatherman co-operated in providing beautiful sunny weather in North Simcoe for Penetang’s annual Winterama, he was somewhat less co-operative in dumping large quantities of snow on Toronto and other southerly areas. In the opinion of Winterama officials, this quirk of fate was responsible for considerably reducing the crowd which usually attends. 

   Pete Pettersen’s luck, which has often soured on him in the past at big ski meets, certainly was favoured by the gods on Sunday. Near-perfect weather and a crowd of around 2,500 witnessed the Ontario ski-jumping championship held on Pete’s hill, first big meet here since 1957. Just one day later and competitors and fans would have been greeted with a heavy rainstorm that undoubtedly would have washed out the meet completely. 

   Veteran of North Simcoe’s barbering business is Dick Lethbridge. Dick, since 1937 or so, has been barbering at Balm Beach with occasional fill-in visits to Midland shops to help out friends who are off through illness or on vacation. His summer time work at the beach calls for a very long day, Dick says, but not nearly such a long one as used to prevail in Midland tonsorial palaces on Saturdays. From 8 a.m. till early Sunday morning was the rule. Nearly all the customers were in for a pre-Sunday shave and the man who merely wanted a hair cut got a dirty look from other customers. Now even the barbers themselves use electric razors. Dick had ambitions to be a railroader but in the early years of this century a man with glasses was barred, from operating jobs. 

    The expansion of telephone facilities in Midland during 1961 was typical of the situation across the territory served by the Bell Telephone Company of Canada. On the local scene, some 150 telephones were added, H. A. Kilroy, Bell manager for this region, said, bringing the total to 4,000 as of Dec. 31. 

 

Busy in her kitchen is Mrs. H. E. Miller, 285 Fourth Street, who won a fourth prize in the cook-book recipe contest. “Refrigerator Pineapple Cheese Cake” was the tasty bit that won her the award.

The photos found in this blog post are the property of Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario. Any reproduction for commercial use without permission is prohibited.  Any other distribution must credit Huronia Museum.  Please contact the museum with any questions you may have.  

COUNCIL APPROVES BYLAW TO CONTROL SUB-DIVISIONS
County Herald headline of February 2, 1962. 

    At a special meeting last night, Midland council gave third reading to a new sub-division control bylaw designed primarily to prevent the sale of small, scattered lots from large pieces of property not now on a registered plan. 

   At that same meeting, Midland council was given the cold hard figures on what the past month’s heavy snow storms have cost the town. Cost of snowplowing and snow removal for January, exclusive of sanding or salting, was $21,200, according to figures presented by Ulo Luksep, town engineer. By contrast the engineer said, total cost of plowing and sanding for the entire 12 months of 1961 was $24,000. The figure for last January was $5,000. 

    “Should high school students go steady?” This was just one of the questions given a thorough discussion by students and adults on a panel program at a meeting of the Regent Home and School Association, this week. Representing the adult viewpoint were Sol DeVries, Midland businessman; Lieut. William Johnston, Midland Citadel of the Salvation Army; Dr. Arvo Sauks, psychologist at the Ontario Hospital, Penetang; John Dalrymple, head of the mathematics department at MPDHS; J. W. Smith, executive secretary of the YMCA; and two mothers, Mrs. George Haskill and Mrs. Bryce Moffat.      Doug Haig acted as the moderating link between the adults and a group of MPDHS students made up of Kirk Weldon, Harry DeVries, Paul Davidson, Birgitt Brinkman, Nancy Higgs and Jane Campbell. Many of the adults learned from the student that in recent years ‘going steady’ has been redefined by them. The ’steady’, and this was agreed upon by both boys and girls, is someone you like better than other friends, yet there is usually no thought of the friendship ever developing into an engagement or marriage. There isn’t the deep feeling attached to “going steady” that parents think. 

    Fire early this morning totally destroyed the large barn on the farm of Tom Blair, in Tay Township, near Ebenezer. Five Midland firemen took equipment to the scene but could do little to save the barn in sub-zero temperature. Aided by neighbours Mr. Blair was able to remove 24 head of cattle and 18 pigs but 100 rabbits perished in the fire. Also lost were grain and vegetable crops. 

    A well known radio personality in the Midland area, John McCullough has joined the staff of H. J. Thompson and Sons, it was announced Wednesday by Ernie Mink, sales manager of the firm. Active in community affairs, Mr. McCullough is a member of the Y’s Men’s Club and the Georgian Bay Hunters and Anglers. During the past year he was one of the leading figures in the formation of school traffic safety patrols in Midland. Mr. McCullough was born and educated in New Liskeard and graduated in radio and TV arts from Ryerson Institute, Toronto, in 1959. 

BIRTHS 
BARREN — To Mr. and Mrs. Peter Barren, Waubaushene, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 26, a son.
BERRIAULT – To Mr. and Mrs. Howard Berriault, 315 Princess Street, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 29, a daughter.
CADEAU — To Mr. and Mrs. Emery Cadeau, Victoria Harbour, at Penetanguishene General Hospital, Jan. 20, twins, (a boy and a girl).
DESJARDIN — To Mr. and Mrs. Leo Desjardin, 86 Robert Street West, Penetanguishene, at Penetanguishene General Hospital, Jan. 23, a son.
HENDRICKSON — To Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hendrickson, 137 Fourth Street, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 29, a daughter.
LE GARD — To Mr. and Mrs. Harold Le Gard, Coldwater, on Jan. 26, 1962, at Soldiers Memorial Hospital, Orillia, a daughter.
O’ROURKE — To Mr. and Mrs. Ray O’Rourke, 18 Noreen Street, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 27, a daughter.
 SMITH — To Mr. and Mrs. Donald Smith, 385 William Street, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 28, a daughter. 

OBITUARY
MRS. ROBERT CARSON – A lifetime resident of Midland and district, Elsie Sarah Carson, widow, of Captain Robert Carson, died in St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Jan. 3 following a brief illness. Daughter of Thomas and Eliza Smith and a member of one of this area’s pioneer families, she was born in Tiny Township Jan. 14, 1885. Although a Presbyterian most of her life, Mrs. Carson was the first baby on the first cradle roll of St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Midland, to be christened. She attended school in Tiny. On June 27, 1912, in Penetanguishene, she was married to Captain Robert Carson. He predeceased her in May, 1944. She was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church, of the Eastern Star, Midland Horticultural Society, the Midland Women’s Progressive-Conservative Association, and served several terms as a committee member of the flower section of Tiny and Tay Agricultural Society. She was active in the work of Knox Church W.A. Her main interests were her home and her family. Funeral service, conducted by Rev. J. L. Self, was held at A. Barrie and Sons funeral home Jan. 6. Temporary entombment was in Lakeview Cemetery vault. Burial will take place in St. Mark’s Cemetery, Midland. Pallbearers were William Salisbury, Frank  Doherty, Al Bremner, Charles Scott, Bert Smith and John Mackie. Mrs. Carson is survived by sons Robert, Midland, and Verne, Sault Ste Marie, a daughter Ann, Midland, brothers Oliver H. Smith QC, Midland, and Edwin A. Smith, living on the original family homestead in Tiny, and a sister, Dora A. Smith, Toronto. 

The more than 1,500 fans at the Midland-Collingwood game Wednesday night were on their feet most of the night cheering the torrid action, by both teams. A portion of the crowd is seen above as Flyers bombarded veteran Harry Lumley in the first period. Flyers won 6-4. 

“Stairway to the Stars”, editorial page photo. 

This huge “get well” telegram should help cheer up George Westfall as he recuperates in Oshawa General Hospital following eye surgery. One of the Midland Flyer’s most popular players this year, Westfall suffered a severe eye injury in a game in Midland three weeks ago. Watching CN telegraph operator Bill Mitchell send the seven foot long message are left to right, Norm Savage, “Rinks” Switzer and Clare Allsopp. 

    The February 7^th copy of the Free Press Herald is missing the first section and two pages from the second section. There are probably eight pages missing in total, including the front page. They are not on the micro-film and we have not pulled the original newspaper to see if it was just missed during the original photographing. The papers, now being 60 years old, do not like to be handled. If and when we digitize the newspapers in the collection that have not been copied, these missing sections will be investigated. 

Smoking ruins are all that is left of this big barn on the Tom Blair farm in Tay Township, near Ebenezer. Fire completely destroyed the barn and the field crops inside but neighbours helped Mr. Blair remove all the stock except 100 rabbits. The fire occurred early Friday morning. 

CUT COUNTY LEVY HALF-MILL, SEE FURTHER CUTS ‘63
County Herald headline of February 9, 1962. 

Meeting in Barrie yesterday, Simcoe County Council accepted general and road levies totalling 11.3 mill, a reduction of half a mill from the previous year. Based on an equalized assessment of $125,921,606 the 7.5 mill general levy will raise $944,412. The 3.8 road levy will raise $478,502, making a total of $1,422,914. 

    District students fared well in the Royal Conservatory of Music piano examinations held last week in Regent School. The results were announced yesterday from Toronto. A Penetang youngster, Anne Webster, copped honors in Grade 9 piano, and Gail Richardson and Eleanor Boden, both of Midland, were also awarded honors for Grade 8 piano. Other successful students were, Peggy Krochko, Grade 7; Fred Hacker and Andrew Zgudziak, Grade 6; Dianna Marcellus and Dorothy King, Grade 5; Julia Farewell, Grade 3; Mary Lea Rutherford, Michael Dragoman, David Webster and Michelle Gauthier, also were awarded honors in their class. 

     A six-week special militia training program will be held in Midland from Feb. 27 to April 6, it was announced yesterday by Canadian Army officials. The course, to be held in the armouries is open to men between the ages 18 and 50. They will be paid $40 a week while training. 

BIRTHS
HOOK — To Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hook, 68 Church Street, Penetang, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 31, a son.
PARRISH — To Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Parrish, 189 King Street, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Feb. 4, a son.
BELANGER — To Mr. and Mrs. Rheal (Ray) Belanger, 268 Eighth Street, Midland, at Penetang General Hospital, Jan. 22, a son.
DESROCHES — To Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Desroches, Elmvale, at Penetang General Hospital, Jan 26, a daughter.
DWINNELL — To Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Dwinnell, Elmvale, at
Penetang General Hospital, Jan. 28, a son.
DOWNER – To Mr. and Mrs. Gary Downer, 329 First Street, Collingwood, at St. Andrews Hospital, Feb. 3, a son.
DUNCLIFFE — To Mr. and Mrs. Frank Duncliffe, Waubaushene, at St. Andrews Hospital, Feb. 5, a daughter. 

    Watching carefully is Mrs. Salisbury as Mrs. Bill Cowan, left, and Mrs. P. Roberts fit the various pieces of leather together to make a purse. The three ladies are members of the Senior Citizens Club that meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons at the Y. Any senior folks interested in joining are asked to contact Ray Ruggles at 526-7528. The club was formed before Christmas and already has 18 members. 

Another of the many activities carried on at the Y is an art class Monday and Thursday afternoons under the direction of Duncan Armbrest of Midland. The course lasting six weeks is open to anyone who would like to learn the basic rules of painting. In the above photo Mr. Armbrest is showing Mrs. D. Leigh the proper way to touch-up some light shading. Anyone interested in art is asked to get in touch with Dave Docherty at the Y. 

Being taught to make several kinds of purses and other leather goods by instructor Mrs. H. J. Brown, centre, are two of Midland’s senior citizens, Mrs. E. M. Salisbury, left, and Mrs. Ray Ruggles. Classes are held every Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the YMCA. As well as leather work, several other courses are on the agenda including dressmaking, sewing and pattern making. 

Two Midland organizations got financial boosts from the Midland Rotary Club at the latter’s dinner meeting Tuesday night. Rev. Len Self is seen accepting a cheque for $50 to help carry on Little NHL programs from Rotarian’s “Chuck” Stelter left, and Bob Scott. 

Mrs. Jack Banks, president of the Huronia Retarded Children’s Association, receives $100 cheque from Rotary members, Jim Henry, left, and Lorne Garrow.

Residents of the Midland area felt they have all the snow and ice in North America on their doorsteps this winter, however, this provides fun for many, if not all. Jutta Bechmann and Dieter Bauer start out from the chalet for a spin up and down the hills of the Midland Ski Club.   

Some lads from Midland take on a Victoria Harbour team on the Harbour’s open-air rink. 

 We include the picture of this well known Midland couple to recognize Lillian who was a much loved volunteer at Huronia Museum for many years after retiring from a career at town hall that began in 1975.

“SUBSIDY OR NO BUSES” WARNS FRANCHISE HOLDER
Free Press Herald headline of February 14, 1962. 

Threatening to pull his buses off town streets unless paid an operating subsidy, Laval Dubeau, Penetang-Midland Coach Lines owner, appealed to Midland council Monday night for help in the face of dwindling revenues. He told council that 1961 was the worst financially the company has experienced since the service was inaugurated 14-years-ago. Revenue last year was $12,865 compared to $20,964 in 1949. “Unless some assistance is promised by March 14, bus transportation will cease in Midland,” Mr. Dubeau warned.  The company has operated the Midland service since 1948. Its 10-year franchise expired in 1958 and since that time it has continued without any formal agreement. In asking for financial help, Mr. Dubeau outlined in detail the operations from 1948 through 1961. Out of a total revenue of $12,865 last year, the company showed a balance of $840.12 after paying wages, gas and oil, passenger insurance, tires and licences.  

    Tribute to a fallen Victoria Harbour soldier was paid recently by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Pte. John Albert Belfry is being honoured by the government with the naming of a lake after him. To be known as Belfry Lake, it is located 15 miles northwest of Parry Sound. The announcement was received several weeks ago by his son Donald, and the former Mrs. Belfry, now Mrs. Alvin Wilson of Victoria Harbour. Pte. Belfry was born in Midland in 1920 and attended Victoria Harbour Public School. Prior to enlisting he sailed the Great Lakes. He joined the Royal Canadian Artillery March 24, 1943 and trained as a gunner at Simcoe and Petawawa Ontario, and Debert and Windsor, Nova Scotia. He went overseas in December of 1943. In May 1944 he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Army Service Corp as a driver. Pte. Belfry saw action in France and Holland before he was wounded Dec. 20, 1944. He died Dec. 22, 1944. He is buried in Bergen op Zoom Cemetery, Holland. 

25 YEARS AGO
David Hurrie, member of the Midland Public Utilities Commission, was elected Georgian Bay District Director of the Ontario Municipal Electric Association. * * * “Publicizing the Town of Midland” was the topic of John C. Kirkwood, internationally famous advertising expert, when he spoke to a joint meeting of Midland Kiwanis Club,  and Midland council and Chamber of Commerce representatives. * * * In appreciation of his many years of service to Knox Presbyterian Church, N. L. Playfair was presented with a purse of gold by T. C. Luke on behalf of the managers and congregation at the church’s annual meeting. * * * Following a petition signed by most Midland  merchants, the town council approved the Wednesday half-day closing of stores during the months of January, February, March, April, May, September, October and November. * * * Midland council passed a resolution calling upon the federal and provincial governments to take over the cost of relief. * * * St. Mark’s Anglican Church Dramatic Society presented the comedy play “The Jonah” in the parish hall. * * * Due to the lack of snow, Midland’s second annual winter carnival had to be cancelled indefinitely. * * * Midland Garments Limited, left Midland and moved their factory to Montreal. * * * Midland council voted themselves indemnities of $5 each per meeting with the mayor receiving, $375 per annum. Aldermen V. G. Edwards and George Tatham voted against the indemnities and announced they had no intention of accepting any. 

Visit of Montreal Canadiens’ famed Maurice “Rocket” Richard proved to be one of the highlights of last week’s sitting of Simcoe County Council. Councillors proved just as enthusiastic as school kids in getting his autograph. Line up, left to right are; Reeve Dalt Jermey, Medonte; Deputy-Reeve Bernard St. Amant, Penetang; Reeve Art Argue, Midland; Reeve Lawrence Devine, Coldwater, himself a former NHL player; and Reeve Montcalm Maurice, Tiny, who conveyed council’s greetings in French to the, “Rocket”. [The man on the right was not identified in the newspaper.]

Chosen to carry the Liberal banner in the next Federal election is John MacIsaac, right. Others attending the meeting were, left to right, Reeve Montcalm Maurice, Tiny Township; J. W. Pickersgill, M.P. and Mrs. Rose Manning, Coldwater. 

The five finalists in the Queen of Hearts contest are pictured here with Roxy theatre manager Wilf LaRose. The queen who will be chosen tomorrow night at the theatre, will receive many prizes from Midland merchants. Finalists are front row Pat Bate, Margaret Spicer and Bonnie Rourke. Standing beside Mr. LaRose are Sharon Dubeau at left and Betty Trace. 

“Out of Service” editorial page photo. A ’loiterer’ is the subject of today’s editorial page picture. It is one of the buoys that hangs around Midland dock from late fall until early spring. In the background is the Canadian government ship Alexander Henry.

 

 

The photos found in this blog post are the property of Huronia Museum, Midland, Ontario. Any reproduction for commercial use without permission is prohibited.  Any other distribution must credit Huronia Museum.  Please contact the museum with any questions you may have.  

COURT HEARS 120 APPEALS AGAINST NEW ASSESSMENT
Free Press Herald headline from January 24^th 1962. 

Sitting for almost ten hours Monday, Midland’s court of revision heard the start of 120 appeals against increased assessment following the first town re-assessment in over 20-years. The number appealing was less than expected said Assessor Ian McClung, who predicted it would take almost a week to complete the hearings. The five man court met again last night and is scheduled to sit all day Wednesday and Thursday night. Gordon Boyd was elected chairman of the court, which includes R. S. McLaughlin, Bill Jeffery, John Burke and Fred Hook. Present to assist were Clerk Wm. Hack, Assessor Ian McClung and building inspector Wm. Scott. Also present, in an observing capacity, was Simcoe- County assessor Eric Simpson. He was able to take in only the morning portion of Monday’s sitting but said he hoped to be back again later in the week. “This is one of the best courts of revision I have seen in operation in this county. I only regret I cannot be present for all your sitting,” said Mr. Simpson. 

   Despite Mayor Jerome Gignac’s recommendation at the inaugural Meeting, Penetang Council, Monday night, voted to retain membership in the Georgian Bay Development Association. The same resolution approved continuance of participation in the area map produced by the association.

   An industrialist, Gordon Moss, was elected president of the Midland Chamber of Commerce last night by the 11-man board of directors at the chamber’s annual meeting. He succeeds William Orr. Also elected to other top posts in the organization were lawyer, Edward Kendall, as vice-president, and bank manager, Norman Shill, as secretary-treasurer. The meeting was held in the board room at the YMCA. 

    A new marina for Penetang is well into the planning stages according to information Mayor Jerome Gignac supplied to council Monday night. Mayor Gignac said he had been talking to officials of the Breithaupt Leather Company and was told they were ready to start a marina on the old tannery property, Fox Street. It is expected service will be installed for twenty yachts this year. The mayor said he was told future plans call for expansion of the boat facilities, and that a motel is also included in the plans. 

     Penetang Hurons, currently locked in a tidy tussle with Elmvale Harvesters and Beeton Bees for second place in the district OHA intermediate “C” grouping, took a step in the right direction to remedy this congestion by tripping Elmvale 9-3 at Penetang’s Community Arena last Sunday afternoon. Prior to the Sunday game, which brought Hurons’ home schedule to a close before the season’s top attendance of close to 600 fans, all three teams were deadlocked for the runner-up spot with 14 points each. So the Hurons’ triumph, while breaking the tie for the present, could go for naught should they drop their regular scheduled tilt in Elmvale tomorrow night.  by CHARLIE NOQUET 

25 YEARS AGO – 1937
J. Bray was elected president of the Midland Horticultural Society for his eighth term. Other officers included, W. D. Ross, Mrs. A. J. Preston, Mrs. J. A. Harvie, Mrs. James Mackie, D. L. White, D. Haig, R. R. Wilson and Albert Bowie. * * * The vestry meeting of St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Midland, heard the appointment of Archie MacArthur as rector’s warden and the election of V. G. Edwards as people’s warden. * * * Charles Douglas Stewart, 31-year-old reeve of Barrie, was chosen warden of Simcoe County after defeating Edgar J. Evans, reeve of West Gwillimbury by one vote.  Two other candidates, George Patterson, Port McNicoll and Albert A. Toner, Flos Township, were defeated on the first ballot. * * * Roy S. King in his auditor’s report to the Midland Kiwanis Club noted that more than $1,000 had been spent by the club during the preceding year on welfare work. Much of this money was spent to aid crippled children, it was stated. * * * Rev. Dougald Brown was appointed Pastor Emeritus of Midland’s Calvary Baptist Church. Mr. Brown had served the church as pastor on three different occasions and had been serving as assistant to Rev. Dr. Ruttan at the time of his honorary appointment. * * * Stores were advertising  rib roast of beef at 19 cents per pound, smoked side bacon, 27 cents per pound and bananas, three pounds for 21 cents. * * * R. Tipping, proprietor of Midland’s United Dairies, installed equipment in his plant to manufacture ice cream. 

Ten Years Ago

There was plenty of broom action in the Ontario schoolboy curling championships in Midland Saturday. Above is a view of the action in the final game between Banting Memorial of Alliston and North Hastings High School, Bancroft. Banting won 18-6 and will represent Ontario in the Canadian finals in Halifax next month. 

Monty Sinclair, CNR road master for Midland and district, was riding in the spreader plow last Friday near Perkinsfield when it derailed. (Man on left facing away.) The man with the shovel is Leo Moreau and behind him is Renee Parent, both from Perkinsfield. [Identified on Facebook by Drew Parent and Melissa Moreau. Guy Moreau said the two men worked at the Collingwood shipyards for years and travelled back and forth together.] Behind them leaning on the engine is Alderic Moreau aka Al or Joe, who lived on the 11th Concession of Tiny near the track, identified by his daughter Kelly Donaldson. 

Pictured is one of the rear wheels of the CNR snow spreader derailed near Perkinsfield Friday. Along with a 114-ton diesel locomotive it left the tracks when they encountered 20-foot high banks of snow along the right-of-way between Allandale and Penetang. It took railway crews over a day to free the stranded equipment. 

 

LAUNCH TRAINING COURSES TO HELP DISTRICT JOBLESS
County Herald headline of January 26th, 1962. 

   An attack on the problem of training unemployed workers in Midland and district was launched this week at a meeting attended by heads of community organizations and government officials. Under a plan recently put into operation, federal and provincial authorities will underwrite the cost to train and retrain workers in service, commercial, trade, technical and other fields. 

    When the Huronia Association for Retarded Children was formed less than three years -ago, it was on a foundation of some 70 interested persons. Today, the association may be not much larger in numbers, but their activities and projects include a day school for 16 special children, an auxiliary of women who raise funds, volunteers who tutor and chaperone, as well as the usual list of working committees and chairmen. The annual meeting of the association Monday evening in the YMCA, elected Mrs. Evelyn Banks, president, and directors Albert Calvert, A. E. Davidson, Lorne D. Garrow, R. LaCroix, and F. E. Whiteman. Mrs. Banks is serving her third term in the top post. A treasurer’s report given by William Child, announced a bank balance of $1,158.00. It will be needed to carry expenses until provincial grants are received. The whole venture is carried with a yearly budget of $7,500. Major outlays are the salary for a teacher and transportation costs.

BIRTHS 
FERRIS — To Mr. and Mrs. Carl Ferris, 122 Eight Street , Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 19, a daughter.
JONES — To Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Jones, R.R 1, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 19, a son.
REYNOLDS – To Mr. and Mrs. Eric Reynolds, Wyevale, at St. Andrews Hospital, Jan. 23, a son.
REYNOLDS – To Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Reynolds, Wyevale, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Jan. 19, a daughter. 

    An hour-long wait turned out fine in the long run for some 1,500 fans who watched Midland Flyers trounce Barrie Falcons 7-2 in a Georgian Bay intermediate “A” group game at Arena Gardens Wednesday night. The win broke a two-game losing streak for Flyers and stymied Falcons’ efforts to regain the group leadership. They’ll go at it again in Barrie tonight before what will likely be another large crowd. 

“What’s the hold up?” says Charlie Coomb’s canine friend as the two await the start of Wednesday night’s Barrie-Midland game at the Arena Gardens. The game was held up for an hour when no referee showed up. Charlie and his friend had lots of chance to cheer later as the Flyers chalked up a 7-2 win. [As we scan these hundreds of local photos, favourites emerge, and this is one of them.] 

FAMILY OF 15 FLEE FLAMES AS DISTRICT HOME RAZED
Free Press Herald headline from January 31^st, 1962. 

 A family of fifteen was forced to flee from their two-storey frame home near Lafontaine Sunday afternoon and stand helplessly by, while flames leveled the fifty year old structure. Mr. and Mrs. Martial Blondin and family were watching TV when one of the younger children , who had gone out to play, dashed into the house shouting “fire.” The farm home was located on Con. 9, Tiny Township. Mr. and Mrs. Blondin found smoke belching from the entire upper floor of the house. Rushing back in, they attempted to make their way upstairs, but were driven back by the searing heat. Nearby neighbours quickly gathered at the home and assisted in removing furniture from the ground floor. Everything was saved with the exception of the kitchen range which was too large to pass through the door opening. The family was accommodated Sunday night among several relatives and friends in the Lafontaine area. Monday they started moving into a house in Lafontaine which had been owned by Mrs. Blondin’s mother (Adelaide Laurin nee Robitaille), who had died last fall.

       Midland’s Y’s Men’s Club have decided to hold a contest on the opening of navigation this spring at Midland or Port McNicoll. Under the rules of the contest, entrants will be asked to guess the month, day, hour and second, the first bulk carrier enters the harbour at Midland or Port and officially opens the 1962 navigation season. A prize of $100 is to be awarded to the winner of the contest. 

     Satisfaction in the state of affairs a Midland’s St. Andrews Hospital was reflected in the annual meeting of the board, held in the municipal building Monday night. Twenty persons showed up for the meeting on a cold, blustery night, and it was all over in 22 minutes by Chairman John Burke’s watch. 

      Chairman of Penetang Winterama Committee, Ossie St. Amant, announced this week that at least two new features will be added to the annual winter event. “We discovered that Friday evening was inclined to be somewhat of a dead spot, so this year we have decided to liven it up with a huge torchlight parade,” he said. Members of St Ann’s Young People’s Club are in charge of this event. Plans call for a parade around the town with visits to various dances and other places where activities may be in progress. Visitors to the Winterama will also have the opportunity of witnessing a full-scale Emergency Measures Organization rescue demonstration. Ray Atkinson, EMO organizer for Simcoe County said he is bringing a group of 24 from Guelph to stage the demonstration on Saturday with a repeat performance Sunday. Last year’s Winterama parade set a record for floats, and indications are that it will be topped this year, according to parade officials.  

    Of the 100,000 humans killed in accidents during 1961 in North America, 70,000 were the result of disinterest, lazy thinking or just out and out indifference to safety and all that it stands for, claimed a well-known authority on safety promotion. 

   One of Midland’s few remaining links with the last century, Samuel Cyrus (Bert) Hanly died in St. Andrew’s Hospital Friday, in his 89th year. Mr. Hanly had been a familiar figure the town’s waterfront for many years. He was also one of its most avid hunters and was still going to deer-hunting camps till recently. Rev. J. L. Self conducted funeral services at Nicholls funeral home Monday. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery vault. Pallbearers were Len Cowdrey, Robert Bell, W. D. Strathearn, Charles McElroy and Capt. Dick Smith. Born at Waubaushene Sept, 30, 1873, Mr. Hanly was the son of the late Dr. John Hanly and Mrs. Hanly. At that time the nearest doctors were in Penetang, Orillia and Hillsdale. One of three sons, Bert got what schooling he could at Waubaushene and also distinguished himself by going through high school without attending any classes. He appeared there only to write examinations. Next step was the School of Practical Science at the University of Toronto where he took a three year course. He came to Midland Jan. 6, 1896, and set up the Midland Engine  Works with his late brother, Bruce Hanly. The building, near the CNR station, is now part of Midland Foundry and Machine Ltd. During World War I they made six-inch shells. The firm’s chief customers were the Playfair enterprises, CPR, and the shipyards. Mr. Hanly closed up shop in 1938, a year after his brother’s death. For many years after that he continued to operate the eight-ton crane on the waterfront. He hand-cranked up hundreds of small boats for repair or winter storage, launching them again in the spring. He continued to operate the crane until the fall of 1956 when he sold it to Lloyd Atkinson (pictured below with Bert). The crane was built around 1917. That same year, 1956, when he was 83, he was still going to the hunting camps with such old friends as the late J. W. Bald and J. A. Benson.

1955 Photos

 1956 photo with his dog Digger

     One of the best games we’ve seen in a long time. That seemed to be the feelings of the large crowd of Midland Flyer fans as they returned home from Barrie Friday night. The fact Flyers won the thriller, 4-3, didn’t detract anything from their glee, naturally. It was the second win over the Falcons in three nights for the Flyer’s, who had bombed the Barrieites 7-2 in Midland Wednesday. 

    Chicken Thief Jailed – A rare offence in this area in recent years, an 18 year old youth from Penetang (name withheld to protect the guilty) was sentenced to 15 days in jail in Midland police court Monday for the theft of three chickens. OPP Constable J. Pace said police found him sitting on the three birds, very much dead, on a Penetang street January 20. The chickens had been stolen from the property of Charles Robb, Tiny Township, Const. Pace said. There was no restitution. 

    A feeling of nostalgia, but a greater one of anticipation, was experienced when the Simcoe Presbyterial executive of the W.M.S.,  Women’s Missionary Society met to write their final chapter at the home of president, Mrs. W. A. Bell, Barrie.  [This Protestant women’s organization had existed since the 1870’s in Canada and had representation from all protestant denominations. Now the authority and governance would come from, in the case of the United Church a new organization, the United Church Women, or UCW. At St. Paul’s in Midland the W.A. or Woman’s Association, the Evening Auxiliary, Jean Ney Auxiliary, the Afternoon W.M.S. and the Mission Circle were combined into the new UCW which continues its work today.]     There was an executive meeting of the Simcoe Presbytery W. A. at Central United Church, January 22, the last to be held for the United Church Woman’s Association. Mrs. B. French of Elmvale presided. In future the new organization will be the UCW. 

These top students were selected by a large Toronto firm last week for employment in their head office. They all received their training at the Midland Business College. School principal N. Schell said that demand for graduates has been the best in many years. Left to right: Faith Cripps, Helen Roi, Carol Arbour, Priscilla Forget, Judy Crawford and Jean Bourgeois. 

These top students were selected by a large Toronto firm last week for employment in their head office. They all received their training at the Midland Business College. School principal N. Schell said that demand for graduates has been the best in many years. Left to right: Simone Roi, Jeannette Verrier, Betty Phillips, Brenda Herr, Sharon Greenman, Anita Moreau and Shirley Sallows. 

Midland’s 1962 re-assessment brought a record number of appeals for the court of revision to handle last week. Seen near the end of Thursday night’s five-hour sitting are, left to right (seated) Wm. Jeffery, R. S. McLaughlin, Clerk W. A. Hack, Assessor Ian McClung, chairman Gordon Boyd, John Burke and Fred Hook. Standing are Eric Simpson, county assessor, and Wm. Scott, building inspector. 

These four Midlander’s can sing “Under a blanket of blue” after receiving one each as second prize at the one day bonspiel staged by Midland Curling Club Saturday. Left to right are; skip Armand Robillard, “Woody” Woodrow McConnell, Jim Moss and Les Barber.