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.   

    Due to the busy season, we are condensing the final two weeks of 1959 into one post. This post will be short on news but will have all the photos we can find. The staff of the Huronia Museum wishes everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and all the best in the coming year! 

Click on photos to enlarge.This has been a big week in CPR shipping circles at Port McNicoll, with no less than three receptions to honour retiring personnel. Miss Rose Juneau of Victoria Harbour, who spent 47 years in the laundry department, was honoured Tuesday. Taking part in the presentations were, left to right, E. J. Cadeau, R. Young, Miss Juneau, A. A. Bell and S. F. Malin, steamship superintendent. 

Clean-cut lines of this combined boathouse and sun-deck at Thunder Bay Beach are reflected in the freshness of new-fallen snow on a sunny December day. More utilitarian in style, but perhaps just as useful for its prime purpose, is the older boathouse at the right. 

Now 96 and still going strong, Mrs. John Hare of Waubaushene is seen above with two of her daughters, Mrs. R. J. Wilson, left, and Mrs. Arthur Ireland of Alliston. Mrs. Hare, who lived in Coldwater for 15 years and Midland for nearly 50, has lived with her daughter in Waubaushene for the past seven years.

Long one of Midland’s top women trundlers, Mrs. (May) Ken Williams set a new mark for herself, and Midland Bowling Academy, last Monday night when she rolled a 417 single. She fired ten consecutive strikes before running afoul of the headpin. It was the highest single ever rolled here, for men or women. Mrs. Williams also compiled a 919 triple for the night, topped only by Mrs. Spicer’s 959 for the women and Gord Ross’ 1,015 to head the men’s scores. 

Charles O’Dale was appointed a director of Ontario Land Surveyors Association, Northern Region, at a meeting in North Bay Dec. 14.  The Northern Region extends from the north half of Simcoe County to James Bay and west to Thunder Bay. Mr. O’Dale is one of six regional directors and, specifically, is the director for Simcoe County and Muskoka, Parry Sound and Haliburton Districts. 

Midland and district citizens have been sharing their Christmas by contributing their bit to the familiar Salvation Army “pot” on King Street. Lieut. William Johnston of the Midland Citadel said the response with funds to help the less fortunate families so far this season has been good. 

Santa Claus stopped off at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, on his way back to the North Pole Christmas morning long enough to leave a baby girl for Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Herron, 195 Yonge Street, East, Midland. A first child for the Herrons, Suzanne Barbara arrived at 11 a.m. and weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 1/2 ounces. She was the only Christmas arrival at St. Andrews this year. 

James Lenzo of Quebec Street, Midland, holds his home-grown watermelon which he is going to “cut and serve early in the New Year”. The melon, which came out of Mr. Lenzo’s garden Sept. 10, and has been covered in the cellar ever since was 12 inches long, had a circumference of 20 inches and weighed an estimated 15 pounds. 

Happy days are here again for post office employees in Midland, as elsewhere, as they try to cope with the annual Christmas flood of postcards and parcels. Albert Thiffault (left) and Ed Marchand are seen with a small portion of the outgoing mail last Friday. 

By now, these parcels will be under Christmas trees in Midland and out on the rural routes. They represent only a fraction of the number handled by Midland post office in recent days. Left to right are George Thompson, Jim Brechin and Postmaster William Bourrie. 

Putting incoming mail into the correct boxes are, left to right, Armand Marion, “Chuck” Stelter and Howard Smyth. 

Getting ready for the Christmas concert presented by Midland’s Sacred Heart School, Mary Lou Montgrain gets help with her hair from three of her schoolmates. Left to right, standing, they are Dianne Berrube, Peggy Hamelin and Shirley Proulx. 

“Just hold still a minute”, says Mrs. Veronica Lindale, as she helps make up Linda Roach for her part in the Christmas concert presented by pupils of Sacred Heart School, Midland, last Wednesday night. Climaxing the concert was the play “No Room in the Inn”. The concert was held in the auditorium of St. Theresa’s High School.  

Helping to decorate one of the trees used in the Christmas concert staged by pupils of Sacred Heart School last week gave these four girls something to do while waiting their turn on stage. Left to right are Sally Latour, Doreen Caston, Romelda Belanger and Valerie Cosey.

Sightless persons in North Simcoe displayed their handiwork of leathercraft artificial flowers, sewing and knitting at Midland YMCA last week. Purpose of the display, sponsored by the district advisory committee to the CNIB, was to encourage the blind folk to sell their crafts. Here home teacher Miss Emily Philpott, Mrs. D. R. Campbell and Mrs. George Smallwood examine some of the work.

Five of the largest ships on the Great Lakes, carrying more than three million bushels of grain in their holds, are berthed alongside the CPR elevator in Port McNicoll for the winter. Three of them, the Sir James Dunn; John O. McKellar and the T. R. McLagan, are seen above. Hidden from view are the Scott Misener and the Thunder Bay. The stern of CPR’s Keewatin is seen across the slip, under the Dunn’s nose. 

Except for the winter clothes on the people in the foreground and no leaves on the trees, this might be Midland’s King Street on Civic Holiday weekend, with traffic jammed bumper to bumper. Instead, it was the scene Saturday, Dec. 19, as town and district residents went about another day of hectic Christmas shopping. Taken from the marquee of the Roxy Theatre, the picture looks north on King Street to the bay. 

    County Herald headline of December 18, 1959; Report Japanese Imports Hit Local Shoe Factories. Increasing competition from low-wage imports from the Orient and from manufacturers in depressed areas of Canada is dimming the 1960 prospects for footwear factories in Midland and Penetang. “While both Midland Footwear and Fern Shoe, which between them employ nearly 375 persons in the Penetang-Midland district, have remained relatively busy throughout 1959, orders so far booked for the coming year are somewhat lower, Jerry Zabransky explains. 

    Free Press Herald headline of December 21, 1959; Flee Smoke-Filled Home Lads Escape Suffocation. Two young Penetang lads had a close scrape with death by suffocation early Saturday morning when the house in which they were sleeping became filled with smoke from a smouldering fire. Joe Charlebois, 14, and his cousin, Paul Charlebois, 11, were asleep in the home of Joe’s father, Andrew Charlebois. About 1.15 the younger lad awoke, choking from the smoke and, after rousing the other boy, the pair attempted to quell the fire they could see around a hot air register. When smoke forced them out, the one escaped in his underwear and trousers, while the other only his shirt. 

    County Herald headline of December 23, 1959;

    Free Press Herald headline of December 30^th, 1959; Worst Storm in 20 Years Coats Area in Ice Armour. A severe ice storm said to be the worst to envelop the central and southern part of this province in the last 20 years, left a trail of disrupted telephone and telegraph services, toppled TV aerials and broke limbs and trees in North Simcoe over the weekend. The freezing rain, which commenced Christmas Day and continued Saturday and Sunday turned roads into skating rinks and left trees and power and communication wires thickly coated in an armour of ice. 

• “We hope to have all the new mercury-vapour lights up on Yonge Street from King Street to the town limits by Christmas,” Stewart Holt, secretary-manager of Midland’s Public Utilities Commission said yesterday.
• In the 10-day period between Dec. 8-17, inclusive, Midland post office has sold more than three miles of two-cent stamps. At least if they were laid end to end the 235,000 stamps sold would reach that far. It would also be pretty hard on the tongue if one customer had to lick them all.
• “We had 50 students away Friday with mumps and it seems to be approaching epidemic proportions,” M. O. Lewis, principal of Regent Public School, revealed. When the principals of other schools were contacted Friday afternoon they reported no cases of mumps or only a very few.
• Physician and surgeon in Midland for nearly half a century. Dr. Thomas James Johnston died in St. Andrews Hospital Friday. “He was in his 80^th
• TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – Most civic employees, applied for admission to Midland’s first contributory pension plan. All municipal employees were eligible except those of the Public Utilities Commission who had already been “covered” by a pension plan through the HEPC. * * * Mayor O. H. Smith charged that political influence by Rt. Hon. C. D. Howe, federal minister of Trade and Commerce, was responsible for the loss of a contract to build an Imperial Oil tanker at Midland shipyards. * * * High expectations for the future value of the new summer cottage area at Paradise Point were voiced by Reeve Albert G. Calvert at the Port McNicoll nomination meeting. * * * Midland Kiwanis Club celebrated its 25 years of service to the North Simcoe community. * * * Coldwater Memorial Library Board was considering the advisability of changing from an association library to a public library. The estimated per capita cost of the change would be “less than a couple of packages of cigarettes”, it was stated. ** * Midland Flyers hockey club had their troubles, having just completed a four-game losing streak. ** * Dick Simpell of Midland sailed the “S.S. Santa Claus” (Patterson’s S.S. Soreldoc) from Three Rivers to Chicago. Going right into the heart of the Chicago loop and on to the Chicago Daily news plaza, the ship had Santa waving from atop the wheelhouse and a three-ringed circus performing on stages constructed on the hatch covers. * * * Through the efforts of “Pete” Pettersen, two top-ranking provincial ski meets were scheduled for the Midland club and arrangements were being made to enlarge the existing ski jump.
• Commanding Officer of RCSCC “Huron”, Midland, Lieut. Gordon G. Glover will command a party of 17 Royal Canadian Sea Cadets which will attend the fifth Empire and Commonwealth of Nations sea cadet camp being held in New Zealand in January and February. Lieut. Glover, who attended his last parade of “Huron” cadets Wednesday night, left Midland for Toronto on the first leg of his long journey yesterday morning.
• Midland Printers Limited commercial printing division today completed the final stage of its shift of equipment to its new quarters, 189 Hugel Ave., E. The move, made necessary because of the growth of business in the newspaper, commercial printing and special publications field, got underway Monday afternoon when bindery equipment was transported to the new location.
• BIRTHS – BATH — To Mr. and Mrs. David Bath, 190 Fifth St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, December 9, 1959, a son. BERGIE — To Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bergie, Victoria Harbour, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Monday, December 14, 1959, a son. BOWEN — To Mr. and Mrs. George Bowen, 278 William St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, December 2, 1959, a daughter. CADEAU — To Mr. and Mrs. Russell Cadeau, 298 Third St. Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, December 16, 1959, a daughter. CADIEUX — To and Mrs. Walter Cadieux, R.R. 1, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Tuesday, December 15, 1959, a daughter. CRUISE — To Mr. and Mrs. David Cruise, Wyebridge, at St. Andrews Hospital, Thursday, December 17, 1959, a son. DENHOLM — To Mr. and Mrs. William Denholm, 173 Lindsay St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Monday, December 21, 1959, a son. DIVER — To Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Diver, 372 Hugel Ave., Midland, at St Andrews Hospital, Tuesday, December 15, 1959, a son. DUMONT — To Mr. and Mrs. Onesime Dumont, Park St., Penetanguishene at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Friday, December 11, 1959, a son. EVELINE — To Mr. and Mrs. Harold Eveline, King St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Thursday, December 10, 1959, a son. HAMELIN — To Mr. and Mrs. John Hamelin, 295 Russell St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Thursday, December 3, 1959, a son. HANSFORD — To Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Hansford, 135 Yonge St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, December 2, 1959, a son. JONES — To Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Jones. R.R. 1, Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Saturday, December 5, 1959, a son. KENT — To Mr. and Mrs. John Kent, 4th Avenue, Port McNicoll, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Monday, December 21, 1959, a son. KUHN — To Mr. and Mrs. Antonia Kuhn, 28 Sixth St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Thursday, December 17, 1959, a son. LACROIX — To Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lacroix, 138 Yonge St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Sunday, December 20, 1959, a daughter. LAWSON — To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lawson, 178 Colborne St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Wednesday, December 16, 1959, a son. LEONARD — To Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Leonard, 236 Elizabeth St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Sunday, December 20, 1959, a daughter. MERKLEY — To Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Merkley, 111 Elizabeth St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Thursday, December 10, 1959, a daughter. MONAGUE — To Mr. and Mrs. Russell Monague, Christian Island, at St. Andrews Hospital Midland, Wednesday, December 16, 1959, a son. O’HARA — To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas O’Hara, Coldwater Road, Waubaushene, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Tuesday, December 1, 1959, a son. PALMER To Mrs. W. J. Palmer, and the late Mr. Palmer, Port Severn, at St. Andrews Hospital, Midland, Friday, December 11, 1959, a son. VOLLICK — To Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Vollick. R.R. 3, Elmvale, at St. Andrews Hospital Midland, Sunday, December 6, 1959, a son. WRIGHT — To Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wright, 104 Elizabeth St., Midland, at St. Andrews Hospital, Sunday,  December 20, 1959, a son.
• 25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – Winter horse racing, dog derbies and skijoring sports were planned for J. T. Payette’s driving park in Penetang. Mr. Payette had developed a roller which he planned to use to pack the snow on the track. In previous years snowploughing had proved unsatisfactory. * * * Several Tay Township farmers complained to the township council that the Department of Highways was putting to much sand on the road, preventing them from hauling their produce on sleighs. * * * Mayor Joseph Hatton of Penetanguishene was elected worshipful preceptor of the local Black Knights Preceptory. Deputy preceptor was Herbert Fleming of Elmvale. * * * Winter tightened its grip on Western Canada Dec. 26. The cold wave, which saw temperatures plunge to 30 degrees below zero, was blamed for the loss of three lives and numerous house fires. * * * S. Black, who had served 31 years as financial secretary for LOL No. 947, was re-elected to that post for 1935. W. J. Ellison, a brother-in-law of Mr. Black who had served a similar period as lodge treasurer, also was re-elected. * * * Wiley Post, round-the-world flier, established a new altitude record for heavier than air craft. He climbed to 48,000 feet and announced he planned to take another flight in which he hoped to go even higher. * * *  The worst blizzard of the season whiplashed its way across  North Simcoe, leaving a trail of heavily drifted highways and stalled motor cars, buses and trucks in its wake.

Huronia Museum wishes our readers and friends all the best for a happy and safe holiday season.

We will be closing on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at noon and will re-open on Monday, December 30. 2019 at 9 am.

 

 

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. 

Click on photos to enlarge.Touch of Winter 

December 9^th, 1959 Midland Free Press headline; HEAVIEST  VOTE  IN  YEARS 49.1  PERCENT  TURNOUT 

    Defeated in the 1958 election by 49 votes, Charles N. Parker, eight times mayor of Midland, Monday night made a successful comeback at the polls, obtaining a majority of 461 over the combined votes of his two opponents. The three-way mayoralty contest saw Mr. Parker rack up a final vote of 1,330, compared with Charles Stevenson’s 552 and W. H. Keller’s 317. Mr. Parker obtained a clear-cut majority in all but one ward. In his home ward, Ward 2, he had a plurality of 84 votes over 1959 mayor Charles Stevenson. GREATEST GAIN  – Mr. Parker made his greatest gain of the day in Ward 1 where electors accorded him a 254 vote lead over the other two contenders for the top municipal office. Both Mr. Keller and Mr. Stevenson received their strongest support from Ward 4 electors. In the contest for the deputy-reeve-ship, Mr. Smith made a clean sweep of all four Wards, to defeat ex-alderman Wm. Wilcox by 407 Votes. In the final tally, Mr. Smith obtained 1,305 votes to Mr. Wilcox’s 898. 

    Battered around from pillar to post, from one government department to another, for the past five or six years, the proposal to turn Tiny marsh into a conservation area for waterfowl appears doomed to failure following a recently reported decision of the Department of Lands and Forests. The parks integration board, in whose lap the project finally had been dumped, is reported in a daily newspaper to have returned the file to Premier Frost’s office with the final notation “that a marsh would not meet the requirements of a provincial park since understandably it could not be used for picnic or campsites. The daily went on to state: “The parks integration board, in effect, said there was apparently no legislation under which the province could operate a marshland.” Among the many persons and groups showing concern over the apparent demise of the project, started originally by the Humber Gun Club, is Tiny Township council. At a meeting Saturday, one person asked, “Would you be satisfied to have a local club take over the project?” The consensus of council was that it would sooner have it sponsored by the government, as the government has the facilities as well as the personnel for maintaining control. In the eyes of Frank Ridley, well known in this area as an amateur archaeologist, the park integration board’s decision, in the face of a more recent announcement, is enough to make “one blow his top”. The latest item, quoted a Lands and Forests official as decrying the great shortage of public marshlands in the province — wetlands where water birds can take refuge from the increasing fury of the shot-raked Ontario autumn skies. The idea of turning Tiny marsh into a conservation area is actually the brainchild of Frank Ridley. He enlisted the assistance of the Humber Gun Club in an attempt to give Ontario a 1,2O0-acre marsh as a game refuge. Obstacle after obstacle has been placed in the way of this gift during a six-year runaround by government departments, it was stated. Tiny marsh, situated in the 1st and 2nd Con. of the township, is about 11 miles south of Penetang. It was first charted on the 1650 map produced by Jesuit Father DuCreux as “Lacus Naouites”.  During that 300 years, it has stoutly resisted the efforts of man to reclaim it and turn it into arable land. Drains and ditches have been dug, and some areas around the outer rim have been converted, but never has the greater portion given up its marshy characteristics. Deer and bear, ducks and geese are drawn to it by the very nature of the protective grasses and sheltered ponds. (Public access is off the 1^st concession.) 

   “Tiny land-sub-dividers in future will find it a great deal more expensive to open a new sub-division than it has been in the past. Passing of a bylaw by Tiny council, Saturday, setting forth minimum standards for building roads, and providing “that the sub-divider must carry out this work, will account for the increased expenditure. Under the new set-up, it will be necessary for the sub-divider to completely finish road construction in his plan before the township assumes responsibility for the road. Earlier regulations in this respect have been tightened. The- bylaw also provides a means to ensure that sub-dividers carry out the road-building through agreements, which must be signed before their plans are approved. 

    Tall, slim, dark-haired, Mrs. Hamelin was non-plussed when a representative of this newspaper visited her Broad Street home and asked to take a picture including her six oldest children. Completely at ease, as though it were an everyday request, she herded her brood into a bedroom where, with a minimum of fuss, she changed them into “presentable” clothing. Anyone who, on a moment’s notice, has been given the task of changing and dressing six children can realize readily what a job it is. But this office seeker soon had the half dozen ready for the camera, still looking as fresh herself as she had before commencing the task. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Basinet, Mrs. Hamelin was born in Penetang and attended school there. When she was ready for the workaday world, she went to Toronto where she became a stenographer. Later she returned home to marry Mark Hamelin of Midland. Asked where her interest in school board matters arose, she said, “Well, with seven growing children, I have a natural interest in the education they will be receiving.” In addition to that, Mrs. Hamelin has gained further interest in school matters through her association with the PTA, on which she has served as a regional councillor. 

    A Penetang store manager was chuckling when he came into the office of this paper yesterday. “I’ll bet that woman won’t leave her phone off the hook again after she made a call,” he said in a way of greeting. Realizing that the phone in his otherwise busy store hadn’t rung for a considerable period, the manager had picked it up and could hear voices. After some futile attempts to get the attention of the party at the other end of the line, the manager finally let go a shrill whistle into the mouthpiece. The effect was electrifying, according to the merchant. There was a dog in the house, and the animal immediately set up “a terrible fuss.” Realizing this might bring an end to his problem, the manager continued whistling, and the dog kept on barking. Finally, the householder apparently realized where the sound was coming from and hung up the phone. 

    Six senior student nurses from this district, training at Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie, were presented with pins and badges Dec. 2 for their successful completion of a first aid instructors course as laid down by the Canadian Red Cross Society. The successful district nurses were Anne Bertram, Elmvale; Lynne Crippin, Penetang; Judith Quesnelle, Port McNicoll; Sandra Robinson, Vasey; Deanna Slessor, Hawkestone, and Ruby Wood, Elmvale. 

    Largest enrolment of new members in the church’s 85-year history took place at a special service in Knox Presbyterian Church Sunday night. The outcome of an every house visitation Nov. 22, 118 persons indicated their desire to become members of the church. Included in the group were a number joining by certificates. The majority were new members and adherents joining by profession of faith. Several older members of the congregation remarked that they could not remember when such a large number joined Knox congregation at one time. 

Returned by acclamation to seats on the 1960 Tay Township council were Deputy-reeve Ray Atkinson (left) and Reeve Fred Kinnear. It will be Mr. Kinnear’s 12th term as reeve. Ratepayers will have to choose three councillors from a field of five in elections to be held Monday. 

Only two persons not already connected with village affairs or to be nominated, turned out for nominations at Port McNicoll last Wednesday night. Left to right, Alex McCullagh, a veteran councillor who was acclaimed to the school board this year; Lloyd Cameron, returned as PUC commissioner; Ernest Quesnelle, returned to the board of school trustees; and David Duncan, who resigned from the latter board. 

All positions on various municipal bodies at Port McNicoll were filled by acclamation last Wednesday night. This year’s council is seen above as Clerk B. J. Brownell, seated left, watches Albert G. Calvert “sign on” for his 12th term as reeve. Councillors in back row are Arthur Worth, Jack Fisher and George Burns, returning members, and Robert Smith, a former school trustee making his first appearances as councillor. 

The first lady to run for council in Midland, Mrs. Hector Adams lost out in her bid to become alderman for Ward 2. With her are Leslie Barber, left, who led the voting for the two positions open on the PUC, and Clinton Smith, newly elected deputy-reeve. 

Despite slippery road conditions, even the older Midland citizens were turning out in near-record numbers for Monday’s municipal election. One of this group of citizens was Mrs. Rita Currie, waiting to get her ballots at a Ward 4 poll in Regent Public School. 

Scenes like this were common in many Ontario communities Monday night as officials awaited election returns. Gathered in the CKMP newsroom to tabulate results in Midland were, left to right, R. B. Moffatt, secretary-manager of the chamber of commerce, Grant Forsyth and Bruce Armstrong of CKMP, editor Wils Harrison and Mrs. C. McGrattan of the Free Press Herald, and John McCullough, CKMP. 

It was good news for some of the candidates and not so good for others as the results poured in on election night in Midland. Three aldermanic candidates in Ward 1 are seen above checking with John McCullough, CKMP news announcer. Left to right are John Burke, Tom Downer, Mr. McCullough, and “the winnah”, Percy Crawford. 

Returned for his ninth term as mayor of Midland, Charles N. Parker is shown with his wife after his victory at the polls had been confirmed by a substantial majority. The mayor-elect spoke to citizens from CKMP radio studios, where election returns, compiled by the staffs of the radio station and this newspaper, were broadcast. 

Returned for another term on Midland PUC in Monday’s election, Alex Macintosh, left studies the returns with Grant Forsyth (centre) and Bruce Armstrong in the CKMP studios. Midland electors turned out in force for Monday’s balloting. 

Manager Larry Curran and Robert Cuthe try out a new precision welder. Nearly completed Bausch and Lomb’s modern addition adds 10,000 square feet to the factory.        
    Although it doesn’t always get the headlines which greet new industries in most communities, of equal importance is the expansion of existing industries in a community. Municipal officials and citizens are agreed, Midland’s Bausch and Lomb Optical Company Ltd. falls in the latter category, with a large new addition just about ready to go into production. Nearly 10,000 square feet in size, the new wing will give B and L a total floor space of around 25,000 square feet. It is primarily intended for frame manufacturing and assembly. However, its effects will be more far-reaching than that. Completion of the new wing will make possible a number of changes in the original plant. When the present offices and employees’ lunchroom are ready in the new section, more space will be provided for storage and other needs in the older part of the plant. At present Bausch and Lomb has between 50 and 60 employees on the payroll, and another dozen will be added when the new plant goes into production. 

More than $15,000 worth of new machinery is being set up in Bausch and bomb’s addition to fits Midland plant. Above, Bill Taylor (seated) tries out a slotting machine while R. S. Ingram, secretary of Bausch and Lomb of Canada, looks on. The new addition is expected to be ready for production later this month. 

Wasaga Beach and Elmvale-Flos fire brigades battled a stubborn blaze which broke out in Phelpston early Saturday, Nov. 28. The fire completely levelled a store and restaurant and gutted this nearby home. The fire in the store was first noticed at about 1.45 a.m. 

Now ready for operation, Midland PUC’s new Scott Street sub-station is seen above. The 3,000 K.V. station, designed primarily to relieve some of the load on hydro services to Midland’s fast-developing Wireless Hill area, will also take care of any future expansion for some time to come, PUC officials state. Roadway with houses on is actually Hillcrest Lane. 

Taking part in the official opening of Midland PUC’s new Scott Street substation last week were left to right, Commissioner William Beaton, Mayor Charles Stevenson, and Commissioner Alex Macintosh. 

December 12^th, 1959 County Herald headline;  START  WINTER  WORK  PLAN  TO  ASSIST  TOWN  JOBLESS. 

    At a meeting called by Deputy-reeve H. J. Beauchamp Wednesday, Midland council approved a motion to start at least a portion of its winter work program at once. A gang started on Hugel Ave yesterday. “It will be a big help to a number of our unemployed if they can get in a week or 10 days on the job just before the Christmas season.  Otherwise, things might be pretty bleak for some families,” said Mr.  Beauchamp, chairman of the public works committee. Installation of new curbing likely will form the bulk of the work to be undertaken in the immediate future. Also on the proposed program are a number of new sidewalks. Much of the latter work, particularly as it affects King Street, will be left until early spring, it was stated. If the council proceeds with the full program discussed Wednesday, the total cost could be in the neighbourhood of $84,792 of which it was estimated $21,235 and $31,010 would be returned in subsidies by the provincial and federal governments respectively, providing the program is approved by government authorities. 

   New medic chooses Midland – After travelling far and wide throughout Canada I was attracted by the beauty of this area and my general impression of the town and the people living here. These were the words of Dr. H. Kiefer, who recently came to Midland to take over the practice of Dr. T. J. Johnston. Dr. Kiefer explained, Wednesday afternoon, that negotiations had been underway for two months prior to Dr. Johnston’s illness which had precipitated his arrival in Midland. Dr. Kiefer, a native of Germany and a graduate of Hamburg University in 1953, came to Canada in 1954. The following year he received his LMCC, Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. He will carry on the general practice of physician and surgeon in Dr. Johnston’s King Street office. Miss M. McMurtry will continue in her duties, the doctor stated. The 35-year-old doctor has just completed four years practice at Prelate, Sask. Dr. Kiefer’s wife was born near Brighton, England, and came to Canada in 1946. The Kiefers have two daughters, Pauline and Carmen. Languages are Dr. Kiefer’s hobby and he speaks French, English, German and Italian.  

   Gordon Yearsley, Midland artist, told Midland Y’s Men’s Tuesday night that Canada’s present administrative policy with respect to the country’s Eskimo population is too inclined towards treating the Eskimos as so many statistics in a welfare report rather than as people. Mr. Yearsley has spent about a year in Canada’s northland where he got to know the Eskimo well. He felt Canadian tax funds being spent on Eskimo welfare work are out of line. He said the Department of Northern Affairs budget amounts to $45,000,000. The speaker held that, if the government was solely interested in the Eskimos’ welfare, it should not need to spend nearly so much money. An Eskimo family can live quite easily on $2,000 per year and since there are only 10,500 Eskimos and roughly 3,000 families, he inferred that cost for this type of welfare would be roughly $6,000,000. Yearsley submitted that another body other than the civil service might better serve the needs of the Eskimo. The civil service is competitive, he said, and the Eskimo needs more downright understanding than red tape and organization. They need people who are dedicated to the service of other people. He contended that the Northern Affairs Department’s policy is to force a wage economy on the Eskimo. “Our dynamic western culture is being rammed down the Eskimo’s throat,” he said, by an arbitrary authority that is answerable to the Canadian taxpayers only.     

Dredging operations which have been underway in the slip at Port McNicoll for the past three weeks are slated to wind up this week. “At zero water level, we hope this dredging will give us 25.5 feet of water the entire length of our dock (2,200-feet) and for 250 feet out,” Bert Armstrong, manager of the CPR elevator at Port, told this paper. Mr. Armstrong said the dredging would make it possible for any three of even the largest bulk carriers to be berthed side by side along the elevator, with plenty of water under them. “We will have at least three big ships this winter — the McLagan, Sir James Dunn, and the Coverdale — and quite possibly others with winter storage this year,” said Mr. Armstrong. Ontario Dredging and Marine Ltd., Toronto, is carrying out the dredging operations. Already a number of large boulders which have caused trouble to ships attempting to dock at the elevator have been removed. One clam, one dumping scow and two ordinary scows are being used on the job. Earth and rocks dredged from the slip are being dumped around the corner in Hog Bay.

New officers of Caledonian Lodge, AF and AM, Midland, were installed Monday night. Left to right are, front row, Bro. John Dalrymple; Wor. Bro. J. A. Lennox, new master; Bro. Lloyd Wilcox; second row—Rt. Wor. Bro. George S. Dudley; Bro. Frank Powell; Wor. Bro. Lorne Watson; IPM; Very Wor. Bro. C. Flowers, installing master; Bro. W. W. Struthers; Rt. Wor. Bro. J. J. Robins; back row —Bro. H. Humphries; Bro. Ken S. Lewis; Wor. Bro. M. McCullough; Bro. Stan Burton; Bro. Ken Hawkes. 

TEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK – A cast-iron cross, found by Penetang duck hunter Arthur S. Gendron along the shore between Pinery Point and Champlain Cross, was posing a mystery for Huronia historians. Mr. Gendron recovered the 16 by 12-inch cross off the sandy bottom of the bay. * * * V. S. Struthers, chief engineer on the S.S. Assiniboia, ended 38 seasons of sailing on the Great Lakes when the CPR passenger ship tied up at Port McNicoll for the winter. He was feted by a group of friends at the lakehead before the vessel left on her last run of the season. * * * Immunization teams of Simcoe County Health Unit were at work in Midland’s public and separate schools inoculating pupils with diphtheria toxoid. The clinics, headed by Dr. Robert King, MOH for North Simcoe, were the result of an outbreak of diphtheria in the town. Three of the four cases reported involved school children. * * * Twelve men, only four of whom were on the 1949 council, were contesting the six vacant seats in Penetang council. Mayor W. D. Hunter, elected by acclamation, said the number of candidates set a record for the community. * * * A record was also set by the Free Press Herald, then being published once a week. The Wednesday issue of the second week of December contained 36 pages in five sections, the largest in the paper’s 66 years of publication. Seven and one-half miles of newsprint were used. * * * Following 13 years of service in the municipal field, Reeve George Widdes of Tay Township announced at the annual nomination meeting that he planned to retire at the end of the year. 

Members of Midland PUC got down in this hole last Wednesday afternoon to witness the laying of the last sections of the new 10-inch water main which will service the huge new Greening Wire Co. plant. Left to right are; Thomas Wilcox, contractor; Commissioner William Beaton; Mayor Charles Stevenson; and Commissioner Alex Macintosh. It is hoped to have the job completed and water running in the plant this week. 

     Early days of Midland with “the saw-mills and smelter” were recalled in an item sent to this newspaper by Jane LaVigne, now living in Galt, Ont. In her stroll, in memory, down the main street, she recalls the store of J. B. Horrell and Peters Hardware and Tin Shop, then next door was Morrow’s Furniture store. The general store of Dave McCoy with its dry goods, groceries and coal oil came next to Ray Burns’ harness shop and then the Timmins Furniture store, with its hanging rocking chairs. The writer then recalled Duncan’s store and the Salvation Army hall next to a vacant lot where the Post Office now stands and finally the bakeshop before the vacant lot called “Ackerman’s Green,” where the young and young of heart used to play after school. View from “The Lookout” at Martyrs’ Shrine is even more spectacular in winter than during the summer months. The “Gateway to Huronia”, marked by the historical plaque in the foreground, is laid out geographically by Midland Point and Beausoleil Island in the background. It was the route of Champlain and the Huron Indians of 300 and more years ago. 

Something new has been added to the view from the Lookout atop the hill back of Martyrs’ Shrine. In the middle distance is the huge new plant of the B. Greening Wire Company, now rapidly nearing completion. The Wye River, flowing quietly in the foreground, was frozen recently.