Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – Sept 1st to 7th, 1958

Click on photos to enlarge;

Senseless vandalism seems the only way to describe this scene, taken in D. MacNabb’s garden at 157 Fifth Street, Midland. Numerous tomato plants and many hours of work were ruined by the invaders, who also uprooted cabbage and flower plants. Marks on the ground indicated the vandalism was the work of adults. 

These two men, Kenneth Price, left, and Kelvin Ward, are in charge of the paving program now underway at Port McNicoll. Mr. Price of Toronto is an engineer for 0. A. Meadows and Associates Ltd., while Mr. Ward, from Barrie, is foreman for the Disher-Farrand Co. Portions of three village streets are getting new paved surfaces. 

It’s quite a mess right now, but Port McNicoll’s Fourth Ave will be a much-improved thoroughfare in a few weeks when badly-needed new paving is installed. Seventh Ave. and Third Street will also be paved in a program which also includes ditching, curbing and the laying of some sidewalks. 

Deep in delphiniums is Arthur Rollinson, whose Pacific Hybrids add color to the many gardens blooming in Waubaushene these days. Mr. Rollinson is secretary of the community’s bustling Chamber of Commerce. 

A good time was had by all apparently, according to the girls returning from Camp Kitchikewana on the S.S. Dover August 27. Despite mediocre weather for the past two weeks, the young campers sported good coats of tan to show their waiting parents. The event also marked the end of camp “Kitchi” for another season. 

Load of lumber bound for Penetang Tuesday, Sept 2, was too high to go through the CPR subway about five miles east of Midland. When driver Bert Bridges tried to turn around and find an alternate route, his vehicle became stuck while straddling Highway 12. 

Making sure of the ground rules before Monday’s OBA playoff game in Midland are Indians’ Murray Yorke, umpires A. MacLean and R. Horne, and Bowmanville manager Fred Cowle. Indians won 2-0. The second game of the best-of-three intermediate A playdowns is slated for Bowmanville Saturday. 

Heroes in Midland Indians’ 2.0 win over Bowmanville Harvesters Monday were Gord Dyment, left, and Larry Greene. Dyment allowed only one hit and fanned 18 batters. Green produced the needed runs with a homer with one mate aboard in the third inning. 

 The new overflow storm sewer being constructed from Penetang’s Main Street to the bay, alongside Fern Shoe plant, approached completion this week when the contractor finished laying four-foot tile to the street line. Work started Tuesday morning to tear up the pavement for the huge excavation which will be necessary to join, the new line to the existing trunk sewer. The plan calls for the new line to enter the main hole at a lower, level than the sanitary sewer. The top portion of the existing sewer will be cut away, allowing it to overflow during flood conditions with water being carried away in the overflow sewer. 

 

 

(I wonder if Doug can bring back the .50 cent 2×4 to go with the 1.00 beer?)

  • Free Press Herald headline of September 3, 1958; Volunteer Fire Fighters Launch Bicycle Safety Plan. Midland Fire Brigade will start a “bicycle safety program” in all Midland primary schools next week, both public and separate. Firemen Dave Hudson and Fred Grigg are in charge of the program which will seek the co-operation of teachers and parents as well as the young bike riders. The brigade hopes to have at least two firemen visit each school next week to explain the program to the children. Teachers will provide further instruction, it is hoped, following the initial visits. The young bicyclists will be divided into four groups, including Grades 3, 4 and 5, and 6, 7 and 8, both boys and girls. Each child will be given a written test in school, and have his bicycle inspected for mechanical faults. Climaxing the instruction, the boys and girls will cycle through a test course to be painted on the municipal parking lot on Second Street. Each child who passes the course will get a colored decal for his bike. Trophies will be presented to the winners in each group, and badges to those finishing a bit farther down the list.
  • County Herald headline of September 6, 1958; Increase in Enrolment Crowds MPDHS Classrooms. Things are a bit too crowded for comfort at the new Midland-Penetang District High Sçhool on Hugel Ave., west. And, until the proposed new addition is built, it is going to be even more crowded in the next few years, according to L. M. Johnston, principal. It all began a couple of years ago, said Mr. Johnston, when the Grade 9’s started getting larger. Now, these larger classes are beginning to show up throughout the entire school. Some of the classes now have 37 pupils. Mr. Johnston and Department of Education officials feel that 35 is about the maximum load for best results. Increase in the number of pupils attending school this year, 32 would make a good-sized class in itself. Enrolment Wednesday was 812 pupils, compared with 780 last year. Department of Education officials say the ratio of pupils to teachers should be around 25-1. There are 33 teachers at present on the MPDHS staff. This would mean they could handle 825 pupils only 13 more than Wednesday’s enrolment figure, the MPDHS principal said.
  • Dame fortune refused to smile on the Avro Marine Club, so far as weather was concerned, when the club held its first annual regatta on Penetang Bay over the holiday weekend. With events scheduled to get underway at 1 o’clock Saturday, and a full program to follow for the next three days, officials were constantly kept on the run changing the program to suit the weather. At the scheduled time of opening, rain was falling, so a one-hour delay was announced. The rain stopped, but a south wind was blowing the bay waters into whitecaps. So it was decided to carry through the opening ceremonies and call off marine events until Sunday. With C. J. Thomson, an Avro executive at the microphone, Jack Denton, president of the Marine Club was introduced. Officials of Tiny Township, the town of Penetang, and Penetang Chamber of Commerce were introduced as well, and each welcomed the visitors to this area. Low clouds, wind and scattered showers continued to dog the regatta through the following two days. The committee, however, managed to squeeze most of the competition in between showers, and heavy winds.
  • An attractive red-haired woman, believed to be acting as a front for a gang of bond thieves, was able to cash nearly $10,000 in bonds in banks in Midland, Orillia, and Ottawa valley centers before she was nabbed by police in St. Catharines last week. A woman swindled banks in Midland and Orillia of $2,700 and took banks in Perth, Arnprior, Carleton Place, and Trenton to the tune of $5,000, police in that area said. It is understood one other Midland bank was victimized the same day as the Bank of Montreal, by a woman who used forged passports to identify her as the person in whose name the bonds were registered.
  • The old bridge on Highway 103 across the narrows at Waubaushene had a lot of motorists talking to themselves Monday afternoon. En route to Southern Ontario points after holidays in the northland, the motorists had been overjoyed to find much of the 26-mile stretch of the new Trans-Canada Highway north of Waubaushene freshly paved. Their joy turned to something else when they became part of a line reportedly two miles long waiting to cross the bridge. Heavy trucks which damaged the structure many months ago have resulted in the bridge being limited to one lane traffic, regulated by a stoplight. A new bridge is slated to be ready by Thanksgiving.
  • Dr. C. A. Talbot said Monday he credits the Volunteer Fire Department here with saving the life of Linda McArthur Sunday evening when she suffered an attack of asthma, causing a severe lack of oxygen and convulsions. Linda, 9, is the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Neil McArthur of Port McNicoll, and has been subject to mild attacks of asthma from birth. She was playing with friends Sunday evening and had just returned home when the attack struck her. Dr. Talbot was called and had administered necessary drugs and was waiting for the arrival of the ambulance when Police Chief John Magnus suggested the resuscitating equipment of the fire department. He immediately went after Fire Chief Lloyd Cameron who brought the equipment to the scene and administered oxygen to the unconscious Linda during the ambulance trip to St. Andrews Hospital, Midland. Dr. Talbot said it was mainly the foresight of Chief Magnus and the prompt response by Fire Chief Cameron which saved the girl’s life; as the drugs, while effective, take a certain length of time to relieve the patient. Linda will celebrate her tenth birthday today.
  • Ten Years Ago This Week – Temperatures the last week of August and early in September hovered between the 93 and 95-degree mark during the day with lows at night of between 62 and 64 degrees. * * * The Department of Highways announced that it planned to start construction on a $100,000 road from Lovering to Severn Falls. * * * When Midland Public Schools opened for the fall term, they included kindergarten – primary classes for the first time in their history. * * * Port McNicoll officially launched its new municipally owned waterworks system. Man mainly responsible for the project was Reeve George Patterson.  * * * Prompt action by the residents of Waverley area, headed by Herb Hornsby, saved many acres of timber in a reforested area near the village when a fire broke out in a bush nearby. * * * Three hold-up men invaded a bank at Elmvale, slugged the manager on the head, lifted the contents of 11 safety deposit boxes and fled. All three were masked. * * * Victoria Harbour council was requested by petition to submit to a vote the question of the sale of beer and wine within the village. A total of 180 persons signed the petition. It was the second time in seven years that a request had been made for a vote. * * * Eight gasoline vendors in Penetang had submitted a request to Penetang council to rescind the existing bylaw which restricted the sale of gas after 7 p.m.
  • Editorial – Wise & Otherwise – W. H. “Bill” Cranston, vice-president of the Shoe Corporation of Canada and the chairman of the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board has been given a free hand by the Ontario government, it seems. At least Ontario Minister of Transport M. D. Dymond said at the unveiling of the historical plaque at Epletts’ mill in Coldwater the other day “that anything Bill Cranston does is all right with the Ontario government”. With one of its citizens given this carte blanche authority, Huronia should be sitting pretty. The line for those with requests forms to the right.
  • Obituary – George F. Walmsley a resident of Port McNicoll for 40 years, George Finlay Walmsley died August 24 at Toronto following a heart attack. Funeral service was held August 29 at Nicholl’s funeral home and interment was in Lakeview Cemetery. Rev. George Johnson officiated and the service was under the auspices of the LOL. Pallbearers were Michael Kelly and Herb Richardson of Port McNicoll, Wm. Bowen, Leslie Ney, Robert Davis, and George Richardson. Mr. Walmsey was born July 17, 1871, in Glasgow Scotland, and was educated in Glasgow and Gamebridge, Ont. He married Mabel Maughan in Midland. Mr. Walmsley was employed as a grain distributor at the CPR Elevator Port McNicoll, until his retirement and since then had kept a large vegetable garden. He had served with the 42nd Black Watch during World War II. A member of the United Church, he belonged to the Orange Lodge and the Black Knights in Midland. He was a life member of the Black Watch Association and president locally, as well as being a member of the Black Watch Association in Toronto. He was also a life member of Branch 80, Canadian Legion, Midland. Predeceased by his wife in August 1948, he is survived by one son, William S. Walmsley of Toronto; two daughters, Mrs. C. J. Duncan (Jesse) of Galt, Mrs. R. B. Duncan (Florence) of Port McNicoll; and seven grandchildren.
  • (A letter to the editor that will be of interest to our marine historians.)  Dear Editor: The single-screw wooden freighter C. N. Pratt, official No. 80574, was built at Walkerville in 1681 by Jenkins for C. N. Pratt and others of Windsor. Oak was used throughout, except for her cabin and pilot house. She measured 127 feet 26.6 feet and 9.9 feet depth, gross tonnage 385. In 1890 she was sold to Beck and Co., Windsor. The International Wrecking Co. of Windsor installed a fore-and-aft compound engine with 18 and 32-inch cylinders having a 26-inch stroke and Scotch boiler measuring 10 feet by 11 feet. She was renamed C. W. Chamberlain, a steam barge of the type popular in that era for transporting lumber and coal, besides towing schooners and log rafts. In 1908 she was sold to Charles Beck, lumber manufacturer of Penetanguishene, and in 1913 to the late Capt. Edward Francis Burke of Midland and during 1913 she was sold to Midland Transportation Co. of Midland. In 1917 she passed to the joint ownership of James Henry Milnes, James Herbert Milnes, and John Percy Milnes, all of Toronto. In 1919 her registry was transferred from Midland to Kingston. In 1920 she was sold to James Swift, James Swift Jr., Harry J. Martin and James Martin, joint owners, all of Kingston. The same year Harry J. Martin became sole owner and he sold her to Alphonse Arsène Larocque of Montreal, and her registry transferred from Kingston to Montréal. In 1920 also she was sold to Sencennes McNaughtan Limited of Montreal and, in 1923 to the Consolidated/Sand Co. of Montreal and in 1928, to Consolidated Oka Sand and Gravel Co. Ltd., of Montreal. In 1929 her name was changed to Glenarm. Her registry was closed Sept. 16, 1932; after she had been sunk in the St. Lawrence River by order of owners and direction of Marine Department because she had become unseaworthy. W. R. Williams.
  • Textile Workers Union of America (CLC-AFL-CIO) was certified by the Ontario Labor Relations Board yesterday morning, to represent employees of United Shoe Plastics in wage contract negotiations. About 16 employees of the Midland firm, a division of the Shoe Corporation of Canada, are members of the union, it was stated. No opposition to the union certification was presented by United Shoe Plastics at the hearing held in the OLRB offices on Harbor Street, Toronto, Tuesday morning. The firm manufactures plastic shoe components such as heels; counters, lifts, and soles used in the production of footwear.
  • COLDWATER — As contractors are at work in the area paving the Trans-Canada Highway link from Waubaushene north, Lloyd Letherby, MPP, considered it advisable if possible to persuade the Highways Department to hard-surface the old road into Port Severn which will be by-passed by the new highway. Last weekend, successful representations were made by him and assurance received from officials of the department that the old road would receive hot mix paving, which includes a stretch from the southern approach to Port Severn, near the schoolhouse, to the junction of the new highway near the Roman Catholic church. At the same time, Mr. Letherby said, the department also agreed to surface the short link on the old highway from the point on a hill where Highway 103 merges with Highway 12, to Russell’s store, in Waubaushene.
  • Marriage – Verna Merle Lambie, daughter of Mrs. Winnifred Lambie, became the bride of Kenneth John Webb, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Webb of Midland August 16 in Knox Presbyterian Church. Rev. Alex MacLean of Toronto officiated. The bride was given in marriage by her brother, Raymond Lambie. Her gown of heavy white taffeta was trimmed around the neckline and bodice with an overlay of floral lace inset with tiny seed pearls and sequins. The sweeping skirt with bustle back fell to a chapel train. A sequined tiara held her finger-tip veil and she carried white sweet peas, stephanotis, and red roses. Thelma Lambie, matron of honor, and bridesmaid Mary Webb wore short gowns of turquoise and mauve taffeta with matching headbands. They carried nosegays of coral and yellow gladioli. Flower girl in a pink nylon dress over taffeta was Lynn Lambie, niece of the bride. Groomsman was Daniel Webb, brother of the groom. Murray Reid and William Jarman ushered. At the Midland Golf and Country Club, the bride’s mother received wearing a dusty rose, lace-over-taffeta dress, and pink accessories. The groom’s mother chose a blue shantung dress and pink accessories. For their honeymoon trip to Eastern Canada, the bride chose a chocolate brown and white shantung sheath with brown shoes and bag and white feathered cloche hat. Out-of-town guests came from Toronto, Buffalo, Owen Sound, Victoria Harbour, Penetang, Vasey, Detroit, and Sturgeon Bay.
  • While he could not guarantee the continuance of the Conservation Farm at Hillsdale, Hon. Ray Connell, Minister of Reform Institutions, said Wednesday he was both interested and impressed with the unique project. Mr. Connell addressed Flos, Medonte, Tay and Tiny Township officials at a dinner in Hillsdale United Church Wednesday evening, following an inspection of Conservation Farm work. “As far as I am concerned, a project like this will have my support although problems can crop up, we hope they won’t,” he said. It was the newly-appointed cabinet minister’s first visit to his department’s Conservation Farm, where carefully screened inmates serving short terms have been doing conservation work in Medonte and neighboring townships for the past three summers. Mr. Connell was not left in doubt as to local support of the camp.

Hon. Ray Connell, at left, found time for a joke Wednesday when, as Minister of Reform Institutions, he visited his department’s conservation farm at Hillsdale. With him is W. H. Cranston of Midland, center, an early backer of the project; and Lloyd Letherby of Coldwater, MPP for Simcoe East.

Sleeping tents used by inmates of the Reform Institutions conservation farm near Hillsdale were inspected yesterday by department officials. Left to right are Lieut. C. Clarke, officer commanding the camp; E. Griffin, superintendent of Mimico Reformatory, where men are chosen for the North Simcoe project; and Hon. Ray Connell, minister of Reform Institutions.

The 36 men of the conservation farm of the Ontario Department of Reform Institutions near Hillsdale have completed 21- projects so far this season. Lieut. C. Clarke said Wednesday almost all the projects were in the townships of Tiny, Tay, Flos and Medonte and were completed since the camp opened this season on May 22. The men are all short-term prisoners who have committed such offenses as petty theft and minor liquor infractions. They are carefully screened before being transferred to this district from Mimico Reformatory. Projects completed are as follows: Medonte— Planting 4,000 Austrian Pine. Medonte—Cleaning and brushing conservation lot. Cutting fence posts for Mimico Reformatory. Medonte — Hillsdale Community Park; brushing and cleaning, building pavilion and tables. Cutting fence posts for the Ontario Hospital, New Toronto. Midland Kiwanis — Planting 15,000 Austrian Pine. Medonte— Vasey Park; brushing, cleaning, and picnic tables made. Tay — Waverley Park; brushing and cleaning, children’s swings erected. Tay — Excavation at Iroquois village on Forget site. Flos—Brushing and cleaning on 9th Concession. Cutting and loading 1,000 cedar poles for Burwash Industrial Farm. Erecting new buildings on the campsite. Flos — Picnic tables made. Flos-Medonte tables made. Park — Picnic Medonte — Thinning out timber on reforestation lot at Coldwater. Tay — Brushing and fencing at McKenzie Park, Victoria Harbour. Medonte — Brushing between rows of pine on Reforestation lot. Tay — Brushing and cleaning at Waubaushene. Tay — Brushing and cleaning at Scott’s Line. Tay — Midland Park; new extension; brushing and clearing timber. Midland Kiwanis — Picnic tables made for Crippled Children’s camp.

 In addition to the 21 projects already completed by the conservation farm workforce in North Simcoe this summer, officials hope nine more will have been finished when camp closes for the season late this fall. 

1973 First Annual Inter Reserve Georgian Bay District Men’s Hockey Tournament.

Note from a a volunteer (Thank you Randy!)
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Just passing along a few Free Press negatives that I scanned a while back. I just came across the story on microfim. The team is from Christian Island. It was the First Annual Inter Reserve Georgian Bay District Men’s Hockey Tournament. It was held in Elmvale. This was back in 1973. Rev. Len Self who is in the pic was the organizer. (I believe he was a Midlander and was quite involved in hockey)

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This is the winning team and it was from Parry Island

 

Huronia Museum – Looking Back 60 Years Ago in North Simcoe – Aug 24th to 31st, 1958

Click on photos to enlarge; 

Citizens from many walks of life were at Knox Presbyterian Church Tuesday to pay their last respects to George Ross, veteran Midland businessman and sportsman who died unexpectedly at the golf club Saturday. The funeral was under Masonic auspices. 

Born at Hardwood on Rice Lake, Ontario, the eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Ross, he moved to Midland with his family at an early age. He received his elementary and secondary school education at Midland. Following his graduation from high school, Mr. Ross apprenticed to Midland druggist J. S. Fraleigh in 1909; completed his apprenticeship with W. J. Kent in Peterborough, and enrolled at the Ontario College of Pharmacy, graduating with honors in the 1913-14 class, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Pharmacy in 1914. That same year he served with Wm. B. Riker and during his years in business, he saw the transition of the drug store to a department store type of business. He also saw the changes in public buying habits from the days when customers bought a supply of herbs and mixed their own medicines, to the modem day demand for nationally advertised remedies. He served on Midland council two years, was one of the founders of Midland Chamber of Commerce and served as its president for 20 years, was president of the Arena Gardens Company which up until a few years ago operated the town’s hockey rink, was instrumental in having large American passenger liners make Midland a port of call, was a director of Midland Boat Works and Honey Harbour Navigation Company. A member of Knox Presbyterian Church he was chairman of the church’s board of managers and was a charter member of the Midland Kiwanis Club and Midland Curling Club. He was also a past president of Midland Shrine Club and served many years as Potentate’s Aide, Rameses Shrine Temple, Toronto. In his early years, Mr. Ross played on the defence for the Midland Junior OHA team, was a forward on the senior basketball team and pitcher on the high school baseball team. He also played hockey and football with the Ontario College of Pharmacy team and hockey while he worked In Peterborough. In later years his favourite sports were golf, fishing, and hunting. Besides his wife the former Ida Baker of Port Elgin, he is survived by a sister, Mrs. R. R. Wilson and a niece, Margaret Wilson both of Midland, a brother, Andrew of Chicago predeceased him 12 years ago. Funeral service, under Masonic auspices, was held in Knox Presbyterian Church, Midland, at 2 p.m., Tuesday. Dr. John McNab moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and a former minister at Knox conducted the service. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery, Midland. 

N. Larose (Wilf), manager of Roxy Theatre and the Midland Drive-in, right, presents a copy of “Moses and Egypt” to Don Swinson, vice-chairman of Midland Library Board. The book was published by University of Southern California Press, and is the story of the research done in preparing the movie, “The Ten Commandments”. 

A cheque for $250 from Branch 80, Canadian Legion, Midland, brings a smile of appreciation from Gordon Moss, chairman of St. Andrews Hospital Board. Presented by Legion President Charles Scott, right, the cheque is the third given by Branch 80. They total $1,000.

A souvenir to take back to Toronto with him prompts a happy grin from John Mulvihill. He caught the five-pound, 12-ounce largemouth black bass while surface fishing at Little Lake Saturday night. 

Everybody helps at harvest time, on Tay Township farms as elsewhere. Above, Mrs. John Isaac drives the tractor while her husband (on the wagon) and her father-in-law, Elmer Isaac, gather up-the last sheaves of oats and barley, in this field on their Con. 3, Tay, farm. Meanwhile, Rover goes in search of a few field mice. 

The thrill of a lifetime for Lorne Fenton, son of Mr. & Mrs. Roy (Eunice) Fenton, Midland came on his 11th birthday Tuesday when he got a chance to make like Casey Jones on the engineer’s seat of the Midland-Orillia afternoon train. It was Lorne’s first ride on a train, much less the engine. With him is fireman George Watson. 

First train trip “Hmm, so this is a train,” mused these youngsters as they set out Tuesday for what was their first train ride, from Midland to Orillia. The occasion of the picnic was the 11th birthday of Lorne Fenton, top right, and other children, from bottom to top, are Ruth Davidson, Craig Davidson, Ann Davidson and Bruce Henderson. 

Buckled timber can be seen beneath the bridge over the creek which joins Tee Lake and the Severn River (Just east of the marine railway). The driver of the heavy truck which caused the accident was heading for Elliot Lake, but became lost and ended up on the Severn Falls Road. 

Repair crew rushed from Waubaushene Lumber Co. Friday morning made temporary repairs to the Tee Lake bridge after a heavy tank truck caved in the main supporting timber. Provincial member Lloyd Letherby of Coldwater, at right in light shirt, talks over the situation with workmen. (If you haven’t travelled this road in a while consider the trip from Hwy 400 around to Coldwater in your fall colours itinerary, the road is much improved recently.) 

Plans announced this week by Alvin Gropp, chairman of the committee in charge of completing the Penetang arena, indicate an ambitious piece of work, which should provide the town with winter ice facilities second to none in a community of this size. According” to the chairman, work includes completion of the building both inside and out, as well as the installation of an artificial ice plant and heating system. Work planned for the building itself includes adding a 45-foot canopy over the entrance, installation of large double swinging doors, and finishing the front elevation with a stucco surface. With the plan calling for use of the building and ice surface by curlers, the interior work will include a considerable amount of construction. Complete dressing room facilities will be built inside as well as washrooms, and office space. A snack bar is planned which will be capable of turning out complete meals when required. Seating capacity installed last year on the north side is to be increased to accommodate 500 people. South side of the ice surface will be left bare as at present with the exception of a concrete floor for standing room patrons. A large mezzanine floor is to be built across the entire front of the building and extending out to the ice surface. This will provide space for a club room and lounge for the curlers. It will have a 45-foot glass wall in the front providing for a view of the curlers on the ice. The glassed area will be built several feet out from the rest of the floor. Provision is being made to serve meals, to patrons at tables and chairs. If sufficient funds are available lockers and a washroom will be installed in the one end of this floor. As the second floor is to be available to members of the curling club only, an outside stairway and entrance will be added. The chairman said a heating plant will be installed capable of heating all dressing rooms, office, snack bar, and the curling club quarters. This plant will be installed, along with the ice machinery in a new section of the building to be erected on the south side. 

Gay decorations greeted the more than 250 guests who gathered on adjoining lawns to witness the unveiling ceremony, sponsored by the village council. Chairman was clerk Chester Martin, and Reeve Lawrence Devine welcomed visitors. 

“Present mill owner C. H. Eplett, centre, with descendants of Indians who were herded out of the area soon after the mill was built for them. Smiling braves are Abraham King, Leo Norton.”

 

  • The Free Press Herald headline of August 27th, 1958; To Expand Park Facilities in Move to Increase Revenue. An efficiency move, now being studied by Midland Parks Commission, will see Little Lake Park’s trailer and cottage facilities expanded. Although complete details have not yet been decided on, Mr. Murray said between three and five of the new-type cottages would be built next spring and the existing trailer camp facilities extended and equipped with electric lights and outlets and water mains. The section to be developed is in the north and northwesterly area. To make room for the proposed new cottages and trailer site nearly all of the small cabins now in what is known as the cottage area will be removed and sold. These cabins, and those in the back row, about 26 in number, are among the original ones built in the park. As well as being old and substandard the revenue derived from the 26 cabins does not warrant their continued maintenance. When Superintendent McAllen informed the commission that he had been forced to turn away many trailers this season it was decided to expand this section, the chairman stated. As most of the trailer guests stay all season causing little or no maintenance for the parks department, it was felt more revenue would be derived from them than from the small outmoded cabins. Even with the removal of the 26, 54 small cabins will still remain in the park, as well as the 24 large cottages, he said. Long-range plans of the commission call for the removal of all the small cabins.
  • The County Herald headline of August 29th, 1958; Expect Influx of 4,000 for Three Day Regatta. The regatta is the brainchild of Cliff Thomson an executive of the Avro Co. at Malton, who owns a summer cottage at Highland Point. The event is being run under the guidance of Avro Marine Club. Included in the program are boat races, swimming contests, water skiing contests. Plans call for water sliding demonstrations including double and single skis, doubles and pyramids, team skiing and barefoot skiing. With an eye to safety, arrangements have been made to have demonstrations of the correct handling of boats and motors by manufactures. A large group of Indians from Christian Island will be present, in full tribal dress, racing their trick canoes, and providing other entertainment.
  • Residents of this area who heard what they believed were big explosions Saturday afternoon, were actually listening to Canada’s newest aircraft, the CF 105, breaking the sound barrier. Official sources say the “Arrow,” as the jet aircraft is known, was flying tests over our area during the weekend. The sonic booms are said to have come when the machine was at a height of approximately 50,000 feet. Reports that a “Sputnik” or satellite was seen over Midland during the evening hours toward the end of last week, probably came from flights of the new aircraft. The great speeds which it is supposed to attain would mean it would pass quickly from the vision of persons sighting it in the air. The altitude at which it flies would deaden the sound of jet exhausts.
  • 25 Years Ago This Week – M. J. Bray and Frank Cook of Midland entered flowers in the Ontario Gladioli Society show in Toronto. Mr. Bray with nine entries won five firsts, three seconds and a third. Mr. Cook won a first and a second. * * * Fire, believed to have been caused by defective wiring, swept through the main auditorium of the Ontario Hospital at Orillia. Damage was estimated at $20,000. * * * The Cleveland and Buffalo steamer Seeandbee arrived at Midland with 451 passengers on board. The ship was met by Midland civic officials, the Midland town band, and fire brigade. Stores along the business section were festooned with flags. * * * The Workers’ Association of Midland had made plans for a big Labour Day celebration at Little Lake Park. Included in the program was a parade of floats, a track and field sports, costume contests and a dance at night. * * * A Midland youth, Frank DuBray, won the across-the-bay swim sponsored by Barrie Kiwanis Club. * * * Under new regulations of the Ontario Department of Game and Fisheries, all residents of Ontario had to have a licence to carry firearms for hunting or shooting. * * * Fire swept through the lumber yard of the McGibbon Lumber Co, of Penetang and consumed the firm’s entire stock of hardwood. Firemen were handicapped in fighting the blaze owing to lack of water.
  • Lloyd Letherby, MPP for Simcoe East, said this week he had received assurance that the Department of Highways is likely to go ahead with the Coldwater bypass in the fall. The extension of Highway 400 passes the village outskirts. It is now expected the extension will be continued past Coldwater to Gravenhurst, by a direct route. Mr. Letherby also announced that two-lane Highway 11 from Crown Hill to Washago will soon be enlarged to four lanes, adding a third lane had at first been contemplated.
  • For the first time since it entered the competitions ten years ago, Midland Citizens Band yesterday won first-place honours at the Canadian National Exhibition band music contest. The Midland bandsmen defeated two other strong contenders for the crown, Metropolitan Band Toronto, and Orillia Silver Band.
  • That big win so necessary to get a club off on the right foot in a title playoff series came up for Midland Indians at the town park diamond Saturday night as they threw a 5-0 shutout at Stayner Motormen. The game was the opener of a best-of-seven final set for the Bruce Baseball League crown with the triumph for coach “Bun” Deschamp’s Braves giving them a much-needed margin to work on for the return trek to Stayner for their second meeting slated for last night. Deschamp’s Dandies said it with equal effectiveness for pitches and hits in applying the Kalsomine (whitewash) brush to Stayner’s hopes for a series opener victory here Saturday. Dyment, in going the full 9-inning route, was working on a brilliant one-hit effort over the first seven chapters. A high spot in his sharp clutch pitching chore came in the fifth as he closed the scoring door abruptly on the Motormen with a runner on third and none out.
  • Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception convent will have a new sister superior and pupils of St. Mary’s Separate School will have a new principal this year. She is Sister Mary Bernadette, a native of Ottawa, who taught in Midland’s Sacred Heart School when it was first opened. A specialist in kindergarten work, Sister Mary Bernadette also taught school in the Dominican Republic for seven years. She came to Midland from Our Lady’s High School in Pembroke where she had taught for 21 years. She succeeds Sister Frances Matthew who has gone to Sault Ste. Marie to open the new St. Anne’s School. Sister Frances Matthew had been in Midland for six years. Other teachers at St. Mary’s are Mrs. Buttineau, Sister Mary Imelda, and two new student teachers, Joseph Lalonde and Paul Henderson, both of Midland.
  • Ken J. Ellis of Midland, public school inspector for Simcoe Inspectorate No. 1, has 55 public schools and 109 teachers and principals under his jurisdiction. Of this total 47 are rural schools of one, two and three rooms. Fifty-four teachers provide the instruction in the schools. Pupils attending the eight urban schools in the inspectorate are taught by 55 teachers and principals. In Flos Township there are 15 schools and 17 teachers; Medonte, 12 schools, and 14 teachers; Tay, 11 schools, and 15 teachers; Tiny, seven schools and eight teachers. Coldwater Public School has a teaching staff of five; Elmvale, four; Parkview, Midland, 10; Regent, 17; Sixth Street, six; Penetanguishene Protestant Separate School, seven; Port McNicoll, five; and Victoria Harbour, two. Thirteen of the teachers in the inspectorate have homes in Elmvale or the Elmvale area, and 11 reside in Coldwater or Coldwater R.R. Inspector Ellis came to Midland from Owen Sound, where he was principal of Victoria Public School, in 1954. He succeeded J. Gibson of Orillia who was transferred to Weston.
  • Sacred Heart Separate School Midland, will have two new student teachers on its staff when the fall term commences Tuesday, Sept. They are Gail Grant and Phillip Pilon, both of Midland. Both will be teaching junior grades. The principal of the school is Sister Mary Ruth of the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception from Pembroke, a member of the Midland convent of the order. Other Sacred Heart teachers are Sister St. Barbara, Mrs. Ernie Bourrie, Mrs. Margaret Fallon; Phelpston, Mrs. Veronica Lindale, Sister Mary Rose and Guy Johnstone.
  • A brief history of the Georgian Queen received as a letter to the editor from W. R. Murray.; Dear Editor: The steel single-screw steamer Murray Stewart, official No. 138,848, was built and registered at Port Arthur in 1918 for the Minister of Marine. Her length was 119 feet, width 26 feet, depth 15 feet 9 inches gross tonnage She had two Scotch boilers and a triple expansion engine and carried a crew of fifteen under Capt. Patchell and Chief Engineer Smallwood, both of Midland. She was used as a lighthouse tender on Lake Superior, and Georgian Bay, and was built with a deck crane for handling navigation buoys. She wintered each year at Sault Ste. Marie. After the outbreak of World War II, she unloaded all her equipment at Blind River and was taken to Halifax to be used in naval service. After World War II she returned to the Great Lakes and is now tied up at Midland shipyard, owned by the Waubaushene Navigation Co., who removed her engine and boilers, expecting to install a diesel motor but this has not yet been done due to slackness in the demands of business. Her name has been changed to David Richard.