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.

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.  

JOBLESS TOTAL DOWN 241, 1962 PROSPECTS “BRIGHT”
Free Press Herald headline from January 17, 1962. 

Fourteen per cent cut in unemployment. The number claiming benefits through the Midland office of the National Employment Service to the end of December shows a sharp drop over December Harold Humphries, NES district manager said yesterday 1,507 people were registered for work Dec. 29, compared to 1,748 a year previous. 

    Proposed change of firm name and major internal reorganization, announced several weeks ago by S. O. Greening, president of Greening Wire, Hamilton are to become effective Feb. 1^st. The firm is to be known in future as Greening Industries Limited, with divisions at Hamilton, Midland and Orangeville. The three divisions are Greening Wire and Perforated Metal Company, Hamilton; Greening Wire Rope and Cable Company, Midland; and Greening Metal Products and Screening Equipment Company, Orangeville. 

    Clerk W. A. Hack was empowered by Midland council this week to contact Tay Township officials concerning snow plowing of the sidewalk on Hugel Ave., beyond the town limit at Eighth Street, to MPDHS. Councillors said they had received several calls concerning the danger to both pupils going to the high school and younger ones coming in to Parkview Public School, when forced to walk on the roadway. 

    Town water for four residents outside the corporation limits on Wireless Hill continues to be a prime target for discussion at meetings of the Midland Public Utilities Commission. Although Commissioner William Beeton argued that supplying water to a few would open up the gate for other requests, other members disagreed. It was pointed out that most lines are privately owned. The four residents on Wireless Hill are apparently the only ones located on a commission owned main. The water main to which these houses could be hooked, serves the Greening Wire plant. 

    Wm. L. Logan was chosen for a second term as chairman of Midland Public Utilities Commission at the inaugural meeting held Monday night. There were no other nominations for the post.  Chairman Logan and Commissioner Les Barber were authorized as signing authority for the commission, along with General Manager Stewart Holt. Among correspondence were brochures from HEPC on campaigns for promoting electric heating and electric hot water. The commission authorized setting up of financing arrangements for wiring, re-wiring, supplementary or complete heating installations and purchase of major electrical appliances. The arrangements will be made with one of the local banks, with a maximum of $10,000 on finance at any one time being allowed. In the matter of hot water tanks, the commission agreed to a six-month trial period during which the commission will pay $50 for installation of a commission approved tank. Mr. Holt told the member’s considerable load is being lost to gas installations and the new campaign is designed to put a stop to this loss and encourage new growth. [This was at a time when more electricity use was being encouraged and utilities were advocating electric heat instead of gas.] 

    Well known as a merchant in Penetang, Midland and Port McNicoll for 44 years, Guiseppe (Joe) Tersigni died unexpectedly at his Penetang home Saturday. He was 66 years of age. Born in Sora, Italy, Mr. Tersigni came to Canada in 1911 and after a short time in Collingwood, moved to Midland where he worked at the Playfair sawmill. Shortly thereafter he opened a small grocery store in Midland, moved the store to Sunnyside, and four years later opened a store in Port McNicoll. In 1920 he opened a store in Penetaang which he operated until 1956. Surviving are his wife the former Teresa Vercelotti, and three daughters, Mrs. Domonic Martino, Toronto, Mrs. Raymond Robillard, Penetang and Mrs. John Pizzagalli, Miami. 

    Simcoe County’s warden for 1962, Reeve John McDonald of Orillia and its “first lady”, Mrs. McDonald, link arms following his election to the top county post in Barrie Monday. Mr. McDonald succeeds Reeve Montcalm Maurice of Tiny Township. 

Trying out their new desks in Simcoe County council chambers at the start of the January session Monday are Midland’s Deputy-Reeve William Orr (left) and Reeve W. A. Argue. At rear are Mrs. Orr, Reeve Ernest Cadeau, Victoria Harbour, and Mrs. Cadeau. 

School crossing patrols were put into force in Midland Friday for the first time at a number of dangerous intersections. In the top picture, Sgt. Ernest Bates adjusts belt on one young guard while the others are all set for action. In the bottom picture, Bill Jory holds up a line of youngsters until the way is clear at Yonge and Russell Streets. Uniforms were provided by the Ontario Motor League. Kettle’s store. 

Listening attentively to Sgt. Ernie Bates as he shows the proper way to control traffic at the Sixth Street and Dominion Ave., school crossing are Paulette and Lorne Antaya, captains of the St. Mary’s School Patrol. Supervision at dangerous intersections in the town started last Friday and is working out quite satisfactorily school officials stated. 

Their boats ice-bound, many sailors are taking advantage of the navigation classes held at Midland YMCA under sponsorship of MPDHS. In the top picture, left to right, are Eddie Sipala, Midland, Gary Richmond, Nobel, Lorne Rowe, North Bay, instructor William Esty, Penetang, and Art Cadeau, Midland. Boning up on logarithms in the bottom picture are (seated) Conrad Vaillancourt, Midland, Robert Blanchard and Bill Thoms, Waubaushene, George Potter, Midland, and standing, Cornelius Cadeau, Penetang, and Bob Tremblay, Midland. 

The old and the new in wardens in Simcoe County are seen in this picture. Reeve John McDonald of Orillia, the new, is seen between Tom Simpson, left, who was warden back in 1913 when he was reeve of Tiny, and Charles Eplett, warden in 1923 when he was reeve of Coldwater. 

Snow-blowers made their first appearance of the season in the Midland area last week following the severe storm of Monday night and Tuesday morning. This machine is throwing snow 40 feet into the air as it widens Highway 27 between Hugel Ave. and Yonge Street. 

Where to put all the snow that keeps falling this year is one of the big problems for Midland’s public works department. Typical is this bank on Sixth Street just off Yonge, already over eight feet deep. 

35 Years Ago – 1926
The rink on Chatham Street, Penetang, under arrangement with Leo Brissette, was opened for free skating. * * * N. K. Wagg was elected chairman of the Midland Public Utilities Commission. A member of the commission for six years, he was elected chairman on three occasions. * * * At the inaugural meeting of Tay Township council the following officials were sworn in, Chas. Gratrix, reeve; David Curry, deputy-reeve; and councillors George Sheehan, James Cowden and W. H. Montgomery. * * * A Canadian record was claimed by Midland Shipbuilding Company when two vessels, City of Montreal and City of Hamilton were launched on the same day into Midland Bay. * * * Midland’s Mayor Gooden asked for harmony and co-operation at the inaugural meeting of town council when Magistrate Frank Cook administered the oaths of office, and Rev. John McNab gave the  divine blessing. * * * At the annual meeting of Tiny and Tay Agricultural Society, President W. S. Robins noted that the society’s $2,000 deficit of five years previous had been turned into a surplus of $665.21. * * * After 14 years of operation in Midland, J. N. Graham had decided to return to Toronto with the National Whitewear and Costume Company. * * * It was announced that the Bon Marche Manufacturing Company of Peterborough was moving their operation to Midland. Space had been secured in the Midland Steam Laundry building. * * * The first checker match of the new year between residents of the east and west sides of Midland, held at the Midland Public Library, was won by the westerners. 

FACT -FINDING COMMITTEE URGES NEW “Y” LOCATION
County Herald headline from January 19, 1962. 

A special committee of Midland’s Y’s Men’s Club has tossed a challenging proposal to the board of directors of the Midland YMCA and to the community in general. The challenge was set out in a brief of the special committee which was presented to the Y’s Men and ‘Y’ directors at a Y’s Men’s Club meeting this week. The committee headed by Fran Hartman, made a study of all questions related to the construction of a swimming pool for the Midland YMCA. In the summary of the interim report it was suggested it would be desirable to investigate the possibility of obtaining new property, which would enable the organization to erect a new YMCA building with a swimming pool, allowing sufficient ground for outside activities during the summer months. 

    Two Toronto men who have been summer residents of this district on many occasions have formed a partnership and opened a retail business in Midland. The partners are Les Cormack and Bill Donaldson and their business, Midland Glass and Mirror, will be officially opened at 198 Hannah Street, Monday. 

    Eight accidents on a mile stretch of Highway 27, between the Wyebridge hill and Brooklea Golf Course, yesterday, resulted in serious injury to only one person. Arthur Handy, 104 Elizabeth Street, Midland, suffered a broken leg and ribs when he was struck from behind, while attempting to shove his car out of a snowdrift. 

Winter time is still a wonderful time for Canadian youngsters, despite what their disgruntled elders might say about the subject. Having a “whale of a time” in the snow at Midland Ski Club are, top to bottom, Nancy, Sharon and Wendy Biggar, energetic daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Don Simpson, Midland. [This photo was actually from February 3, 1960 and was used again here on the 19th. We also used it in the 1960 version of this blog, so yes, you have seen it before.]   

There were few patrons for Midland’s popular Little Lake Park following Monday night’s wild snow storm. And little chance of them getting into the cabins and cottages even if there had been any.

 

We have fallen behind with our weekly posts and to speed up the formatting we have included the entire front page for the first two weeks of January 1962. Double click on the pages to get a magnified view.

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.

PENSIONER, 78 LEFT HOMELESS
—continued from page 1 above – entrance and were joined by another neighbor, Charles O’Dale. Mr. Truax and Mr. O’Dale carried, the partially crippled pensioner to the home of a nearby neighbor Mrs. Lloyd Kleist who called firemen. Three of Mr. Usher’s six cats perished when they were trapped in the flaming structure. A partly burned television set and a $100 government bond was all that was saved from the gutted building. The home was a raging inferno when Midland firemen arrived at the scene. Two pieces of equipment and every available man fought the blaze in near zero weather for almost an hour before bringing it under control. Fire department officials said the home was a total loss. It was not insured. Mr. Usher, a bachelor, had lived in the home for almost 40-years since coming to Midland after the first World War. For several years he worked in the Midland Shipyards. He has been, confined to his home with arthritis for the past two years. Unable to get out he depended on the kindness of neighbors to buy his groceries and do household chores he couldn’t manage. James Lediard (another veteran) who lives nearby called on Mr. Usher every day. Until this year when an oil stove was installed, Mr.  Lediard chopped his wood and tended his fires. Usher is under doctor’s care suffering from shock. He is temporarily staying at the Maple Manor Nursing Home. [I included this because I remember Mr. Usher, as kids I think we haunted him a bit, and because as a kid, I always thought of Jim Lediard as a grumpy old guy. Little do kids know about humanity and the bond between neighbours and veterans. For reference Jim is in the picture below.]Some of the many Midland veterans who gathered for the re-union dinner of the 157th and 177th Battalions of World War I at the armory Saturday night are seen above with Mayor Charles Stevenson. Left to right are, front row, Tom White, Mr. Stevenson, Doug Wilson, Harold Sallows (Coldwater), Norman Leclair, Charlie English; back row — Jim Lediard, Art Balwill, John Noquet, Charlie Paradis and George Shakell. (This is an October 1959 photo.)

Heavy snowfalls over the weekend brought problems for motorists throughout town. Adding to the difficulties were piles of snow pushed out on to the roadways awaiting removal. This one helped add the the confusion at King and Yonge Streets.

“No Game Today” photo on the sports page. Bleachers at the Midland Ball Park covered in snow. [Used again in the January 15, 1964 Free Press on page 1 of the second section. Caption read; “WRAPPED IN SNOW” until the ball season for ’64 gets off the ground, these bleachers at Midland Ball Park look woebegone indeed. But they are a reminder that summer does eventually warm up even the north. How many of us have sat on those bleachers over the years?] 

Editorial page photo entitled; “Open to Foot Traffic Only”. 

Free Press Jan 10 1962 – Delmer “Del” Gingrich teaches motor mechanics and electricity in the new technical course at MPDHS. This is his first year of teaching but he has a sound background as an auto mechanic. Mr. Gingrich comes from Galt, but now he, with his wife and two children, are living on Dominion Avenue in Midland. As far as extracurricular activities are concerned, he is supervising the Cadet Signal Corps, believing that teaching comes first. His hobby is raising tropical fish. Mr. Gingrich says that vocational subjects teach theory, thus enabling to the boys to work with their hands as well as their heads. —Maureen Killoran 12A
[Del died at the age of 91 on January 13^th of this year.] 

Largest crowd of the season is expected at Midland Arena tonight when Flyers take on the Georgian Bay intermediate “A” group leaders, Barrie Falcons. Fresh from three straight wins over the runner-up Meaford club, Flyers hope to extend their streak against the leaders. Seen above are forwards Al Battersby and Morley Spiker. The third player on the right was cropped out of the newspaper photo. He is Nelson Kennedy “Nels”. 

by CHARLIE NOQUET
Larry Merkley, author of a 4-goal scoring spree in a recent OHA intermediate “C”  game in Penetang’s Community Arena, was up to his lamp-lighting tricks again Sunday afternoon as the home-town Hurons played hosts to Stayner Chevys in a district group clash. Only this time the speedy right-winger upped his single game total to seven goals in pacing Hurons to a 15-3 swamping of the visitors.

10 Years Ago
A summer resident of the district, Mrs. Flora B. Lee of St. Louis, Missouri, left a bequest of $5,000 from her $1,801,000 estate to Penetang General Hospital. * * * Montcalm Maurice polled a record 533 votes when elected deputy-reeve of Tiny Township. Reeve Arthur Downer was returned by acclamation. * * * Reeve Wilfred Savage was elected by acclamation In Victoria Harbour. * * * L. H. Taylor was elected president of the Midland Fire and Casualty Underwriters’ Association. * * * Ralph Dalton, deputy-reeve of Tay Township, was asking County Council’s roads committee for improvements on the Waverley – Coldwater road whose sharp curves he described as “very dangerous”. * * * An all-time record for snowfall had been established in Coldwater for a period to the first of the year according to the village’s weather official James Lazonby. Up to Jan. 2 Coldwater had received 115 inches of snow. * * * Leaders of 11 North Simcoe district municipalities took the first step in a joint plan to promote an expansion in tourist and industrial activities in the district. Spearheading the move, was Reeve Albert Calvert of Port McNicoll. * * * Jack Wilson was elected president of the Midland Y’s Men’s Club with Morie Whitcher as vice-president. * * * Arthur McKee, Charles Martin and Ted Cuthbert, three newcomers were elected trustees, in the first contest in many years for seats on Penetang’s Public School Board. 

Five big freighters are wintering in Port McNicoll, providing work for elevator and railway employees. In TOP picture are the Sir James Dunn and the Whitefish Bay, the latter carrying the largest cargo ever to dock at the elevator. Ships in BOTTOM picture, left to right, are the John O. McKellar, Scott Misener and J. N. McWatters. 

Long lines from the sterns to dockside signify the end of another shipping season for these three giants of the Great Lakes, tied up at the CPR elevator in Port McNicoll. In all, five ships wintering at Port brought a record 3,450,000 bushels of winter storage grain. 

Expertly executed, this giant “snow woman” on a lawn on the south end of Manley Street proved a traffic-stopper last week.  (Not built by D. and K. Battrick)

 

Only a shell remains of this small frame dwelling owned by old age pensioner James Usher at 368 College Street, Midland, after fire raged through the interior Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Usher was attempting to thaw out frozen water pipes when the fire occurred. He escaped with only the clothes he was wearing. 

Action like this kept a near-capacity house at Arena Gardens on the edge of their seats Wednesday night as the Midland Flyers downed the Barrie Falcons 8-3. Flyer goalie Terry Moore drops on a loose puck with enemy cruising by at close range.